Neurophysiology: Religious experiences is really just in your head.

[the_bob_delusion]

There is a likely neural basis for religious experiences which accounts for many if not all such experiences.

From studying epileptic patients who suffer seizures of the brain's frontal lobe, scientists found that patients frequently experienced mystical episodes and often become obsessed with religious spirituality.

The feeling of God's presence that she's there with you, that your prayer is being listen to, the comfort of love, seeing the light. This supposed religious experience has been induced by scientists stimulating the frontal lobe in 80% of subjects including atheists.

Interesting Heh. 

BTW, alternatively alien abductions sensation and demonic posession can also occur by the stimulation of the frontal lobe. 

[lakeland27]

my grown up daughter has epilepsy and tells me she has no spiritual beliefs.

[darksideofthemoon]

"I don't have epilepsy, but I will admit to calling out "Oh my God" on occasion"

]:)  :^O

[superscanner4]

It's true, and there have been other studies and other evidence that supports these findings.  For instance people who have been close to death and brought back have also reported the same experiences, caused by the physiology of the brain beginning to shut down.

[bella_again]

I think the bottom line is what Darkie said that just because our brain is stimulated in a certain way to induce spiritual experiences doesn't mean they don't exist or the experience isn't real to the person.  I do recall some years back another study supporting this theory but then again if you look hard enough you could find many studies that support whatever theory you like!

The bottom line is that it is recognized among Psychs, social workers and scientists that human beings have a spiritual component to them and this spiritual competent is important to well being. However its also recognised that the expression of spiritually in individuals varies.  I don't think its something we should dismiss.

[azureline**]

agrees with Bella.