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Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 17, 2018 at 6:58 am
(This post was last modified: March 17, 2018 at 6:59 am by Whateverist.)
Quote:A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia has shown that religious fundamentalism is, in part, the result of a functional impairment in a brain region known as the prefrontal cortex. The findings suggest that damage to particular areas of the prefrontal cortex indirectly promotes religious fundamentalism by diminishing cognitive flexibility and openness—a psychology term that describes a personality trait which involves dimensions like curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/03/scienti...mentalism/
And how do we help those afflicted?
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RE: Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 17, 2018 at 3:42 pm
(This post was last modified: March 17, 2018 at 3:43 pm by robvalue.)
I wonder if both of these are in fact caused by severe indoctrination. Being told "God did it" to everything from a very early age is bound to stunt curiosity and brain development; especially if any sort of questioning is actively dissuaded. More liberal parents will at least allow some sort of science and analysis into the equation, whereas fundamentalists will be building a suspicion of it.
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RE: Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 17, 2018 at 3:46 pm
(This post was last modified: March 17, 2018 at 3:48 pm by Whateverist.)
(March 17, 2018 at 3:42 pm)robvalue Wrote: I wonder if both of these are in fact caused by severe indoctrination. Being told "God did it" to everything from a very early age is bound to stunt curiosity and brain development; especially if any sort of questioning is actively dissuaded. More liberal parents will at least allow some sort of science and analysis into the equation, whereas fundamentalists will be building a suspicion of it.
That seems likely to me as well. Indoctrination serves as a thought limiter much as binding the feet was a growth limiter for another kind of deformity.
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RE: Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 17, 2018 at 3:50 pm
(This post was last modified: March 17, 2018 at 3:52 pm by robvalue.)
How we help them, I'm not sure. On a generational level, trying to educate people and show them the value of asking questions will hopefully lead to less ruthless parenting eventually.
Once it's already happened, I think it's really hard to do very much for an individual. I reckon each new generation is less and less impressed with the backwards and bigoted world views though, and the internet makes it harder to keep people in a bubble. Given time, I think it will only be force that keeps fundamentalism going. They're dying out and being replaced by lesser numbers, in places where you can't go around killing people for disagreeing at least.
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RE: Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 17, 2018 at 4:00 pm
(This post was last modified: March 17, 2018 at 4:01 pm by Mystic.)
Showing belief they can change and that they can research and that they can override whatever state of mind they are in. Make no calculations on whether they would or won't, because no being knows that.
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RE: Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 17, 2018 at 4:03 pm
(This post was last modified: March 17, 2018 at 4:04 pm by brewer.)
I'd think that this would extend to more than just rigid religious beliefs and include any kind of inflexible system of beliefs. One example would be the military. Racism might also fit.
Edit: Understand that they only looked at trauma induced changes.
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
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RE: Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 18, 2018 at 1:14 pm
(March 17, 2018 at 6:58 am)Whateverist Wrote: Quote:A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia has shown that religious fundamentalism is, in part, the result of a functional impairment in a brain region known as the prefrontal cortex. The findings suggest that damage to particular areas of the prefrontal cortex indirectly promotes religious fundamentalism by diminishing cognitive flexibility and openness—a psychology term that describes a personality trait which involves dimensions like curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/03/scienti...mentalism/
And how do we help those afflicted?
Describes me. I was practically just a little above brain death in some reasoning areas of my life and was part of the evangelical Christian fundamentalist "mainstream" for over 3 decades of my life.
The Internet liberated me, YouTube videos, especially. The Carroll/Craig debate from 2014 was especially a liberating experience.
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RE: Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 18, 2018 at 1:35 pm
(This post was last modified: March 18, 2018 at 1:35 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
@OP
Moot point. Impaired brains sometimes happen upon truth. They don't need help.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 18, 2018 at 3:04 pm
(This post was last modified: March 18, 2018 at 3:05 pm by drfuzzy.)
I'm with Jehanne. I was raised Pentecostal and called myself xtian until into my 40's.
The fear of hell was ingrained into my system at an early age, along with the idea that one would be punished for doubting. If you doubted and questioned what you were told, then you probably weren't a true christian. Children indoctrinated in this way almost certainly lag behind in critical thinking skills. It has also been shown that they are more punitive and judgmental toward their peers, and intolerant of anyone who is not a member of their specific religious group.
But education and true searching (I found science and comparative religion and history to be most helpful - along with actually READING the Bible without thinking that it is special) can break the programming, I'm living proof.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
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RE: Which is the cause, which the effect: religious fundamentalism <=> brain impairment
March 18, 2018 at 3:30 pm
(This post was last modified: March 18, 2018 at 3:31 pm by Jehanne.)
You and I are poor anecdotal evidence that parallel universes are true.
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