Does religion produce unique sensations?

[Salacious B. Crumb]

I agree with others on here, that I have had unique experiences that I would have never had, if I were raised to be an atheist. I’d say my catholic and spiritual days were about the same when in deep prayer or meditation. As a catholic, I was focusing my thoughts on the christian/catholic god and the saints, and as a spiritualist more of an unspecified higher power made of loving energy. I would reach intense stages of ecstasy, as Nope has mentioned, probably because of chemicals, such as serotonin, as Spooky mentioned.

I believe, religion is a drug, in most cases. It is highly addictive. Once this high has been experienced once, or a few times by a non-skeptical or an undeveloped mind, you get hooked. It is a unique high compared to other drugs, although I haven’t taken all the popular ones. You get this high, and if you don’t share this high with your god, you feel depressed, guilty, or you just feel like shit. This drug, just like any other drug, can affect the relationships around you. You can’t talk most people out of quitting, because they are so addicted, they can’t think straight. This habit is very difficult to break, and many experience withdrawal and relapse, when trying to get free from it. This withdrawal is a little different than more conventional drugs, but can really screw with your head.

I can’t believe, after all of these arguments against religion, the religionists can’t see how bad it actually is. That just goes to show you, that the non-religious, and the religious, see the world from a whole different perspective. I voted Yes.

@Salacious B. Crumb, a very good post.  I understand why you voted yes, and you defended it well.

I do want to remind anybody who is reading that I was a confirmed member of a Lutheran church who went to multiple church camps every summer, and taught sunday school in the winter.  I have experienced this high.

I see what you guys are saying, but I feel, it's unique in a way, because of the added fantasy aspect. Yes, religion doesn't create new chemicals in the brain, but there's an added story attached to it that makes this ecstatic, blissful 'truth' emerge from the depths of the brain, and it's an indescribable experience. You feel as if you are in contact with a supernatural being. You feel like this being is right there before you, you can't see it, but you think you are feeling its presence. You feel as if all of your ridiculous beliefs have just been confirmed, when every religious person with different beliefs, experience this identical delusion. I feel there is something distinctive about a religious experience, when compared to an atheist, who practices meditation. There is a world of difference there. Just my opinion.