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still_unsure
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 54

Posted 1/24/2002 10:56 AM (GMT -6)

While I was in my dentist's waiting room, I was looking for something to read and noticed the latest issue of Readers Digest had a short article (isn't that redundant) about a new branch of science called "Neurotheology". It seems the author of the article collaborated on a book with a Professor Andrew somethingburg (terrible memory) of the University of Pennsivania. The book bears the title of this thread and I was wondering if anyone has read it?
The Professor says that through his research he has found that the human brain is hard-wired to experience the mystical. Although I didn't have time to read the article thoroughly, he feels that his research demonstrates God is more real to us than even our surroundings! Anybody know anything about this topic?

Blessings,
Rob

sean_m
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2002
Total Posts : 17

Posted 1/24/2002 11:25 AM (GMT -6)

Part of me is skeptical of the idea, but if true, it would give credence to the Calvinistic idea of Sensus Divinus, and also to Alvin Plantinga's notion of Proper Basicness of theistic belief (note: for those who don't know what properly basic means, it basically is a way of describing beliefs that are so basic they are reasonable to hold without any evidence. Like 2+2=4; it's possible to argue for and against its existence, but the arguments don't do much, because it is what is known as properly basic). That's just my thoughts on the notion.

Sean

Empiress
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2002
Total Posts : 363

Posted 1/24/2002 7:43 PM (GMT -6)

Hey! I read a good portion of that book in the bookstore and found it FASCINATING!

It's quite a heavy read, but is excellent. The full title is:

Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief

Here's an excerpt from Amazon with quotes from the authors:

quote:

Researchers Newberg and D'Aquili used high-tech imaging devices to peer into the brains of meditating Buddhists and Franciscan nuns. As the data and brain photographs flowed in, the researchers began to find solid evidence that the mystical experiences of the subjects "were not the result of some fabrication, or simple wishful thinking, but were associated instead with a series of observable neurological events," explains Newberg. "In other words, mystical experience is biologically, observably, and scientifically real.... Gradually, we shaped a hypothesis that suggests that spiritual experience, at its very root, is intimately interwoven with human biology."

I want to purchase it when I have money again. I find it absolutely fascinating. Their findings could have real implications for those who wish to demonstrate material, biological explanations for their spiritual experiences.

~E

Springs
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 636

Posted 1/25/2002 2:32 AM (GMT -6)

Thanks for the info.
This is one I want to check out. A professor I used to have, when questioning my beliefs on the influence of the demonic in our lives, asked me how the enemy could communicate to our brains. My response was, How does God?
I'm not surprised science is finding we have receptors for that sort of communication.

Springs

"God has instituted prayer so as to confer upon his creatures the dignity of being causes." — Blaise Pascal

Mephi2K
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 713

Posted 1/25/2002 4:09 AM (GMT -6)

Hey, hey, y'all. Before y'all start buying this book, you might want to check something out. As a habit, I often look at how others critique certain books before I buy. One of the places I go is Amazon.com. Here is a WEBPAGE with some reviews. Phew! Some of the reviews are absolutely scathing. Check em out.

Love God. Love People. Love Truth. Dedicate your all to that which you love.

still_unsure
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 54

Posted 1/25/2002 6:33 AM (GMT -6)

Hi Meph:

Good idea about checking out the reviews although I still haven't made up my mind about purchasing the book. Looks like the worst reviews were posted by offended atheists. Please don't mention God and science in the same book. I wonder what worldview the authors hold? They seem to group any religious experiece as the same animal. Actually the whole idea of neurologically based religious experience troubles me for some reason...I dunno, it seems reductionist. But I guess, of course there must be something occuring in our brains.
Empiress, don't you feel a twinge of anxiety at this...you know- science reducing God to an evolutionary vesticular organ.
God bless(the real God, not the one in my brain)
Rob

Empiress
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2002
Total Posts : 363

Posted 1/25/2002 1:12 PM (GMT -6)

Still Unsure said:

quote:
Looks like the worst reviews were posted by offended atheists. Please don't mention God and science in the same book.

It doesn't at all surprise me that people criticize the book. As soon as I read it I assumed people would misunderstand it (as I think the reviews do). And it's obviously quite controversial!

quote:
I wonder what worldview the authors hold?

From what I remember, the original researcher was an atheist and skeptic. The other two seemed to aim at neutrality with, admittedly, much more interest in things spiritual after their research. That's my memory of it anyway.

quote:
Empiress, don't you feel a twinge of anxiety at this...you know- science reducing God to an evolutionary vesticular organ.

Oh no, they weren't reducing God down to brain science, they're simply pointing to biological evidence of spritual receptivity and experience. I suppose some could read it that way, but I think overwhelmingly it shows that humans may have the capacity for spirituality neurologically. They're not trying to explain away spirituality or God, etc., just reporting their research.

Hmmm...this doesn't make me nervous. I'd like if others read it and gave me their thoughts though. I didn't give it a careful read because I had limited time.

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