(February 9, 2014 at 10:05 pm)Shaggy Wrote: I don't recall any "scientific" study saying we have a part of the brain for god. Or that Christians are happier. But I'm the first to admit that I'm no where near as educated on any of this as most of the people here, which is why I'm bringing it to you guys and gals.
(February 9, 2014 at 10:30 pm)Rahul Wrote: I have read studies that seem to imply that the human brain is hardwired to believe in the supernatural. Never heard of a part of the brain that only processes that sort of thing. The guy is talking out of his ass.
I haven't heard of a God Center in the brain personally but that's not surprising as I don't work in the field of neuroscience, nor indeed in any scientific field, and I don't study it.
I did recently read The Believing Brain by Michael Shermer which talks about the phenomenon of patternicity and agenticity which might have a lot to do with why humans interpret otherwise mindless natural phenomenon as being caused by a being and how we're really really good at picking up on patterns that may or may not have any actual meaning - but we see them because seeing them has saved our lives in the past so evolution has selected for it. Perhaps this is what he means by the brain being hardwired to believe in the supernatural?
That's my two cents, someone smarter needs to start talking now.
Teenaged X-Files obsession + Bermuda Triangle episode + Self-led school research project = Atheist.
