Brain Waves and God

[Tabby]

After reading a very intruiging article from EbonMusings, and then citing "the God Helmet", I came across the Dr. Michael Persinger--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Persinger

and so I wonder, if the part of our brain that is stimulated that is made us feel like there is an etherial presence in the room, therefore making it a measurable concept, wouldn't that make our experience of god real?
Not that I'm vouching for god's existance--it doesn't seem that there is one--but still...could someone explain this "God Helmet" to me in more detail?

As an afterthought...hasn't Richard Dawkins tried on the God Helmet, lol? I'd like to see a vid, if anyone would be so gracious to provide.

[Overmars]

Found the video where Richard Dawkins puts on the god helmet: http://current.com/items/88832741_richar...helmet.htm

[Purple Rabbit]

Hilarious, "the cutting edge of neurotheology"

I've allways wondered what experiments they are running at the theology departments at universities under the flag of science.

[Tabby]

Found the video where Richard Dawkins puts on the god helmet: http://current.com/items/88832741_richar...helmet.htm

D: the video won't work. Is there another link you could send me?

[Kyuuketsuki]

the video won't work. Is there another link you could send me?

It worked for me ... maybe it's a country specific link?

Kyu

[leo-rcc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_-txbHNyOY

[youtube]Y_-txbHNyOY[/youtube]

[Tabby]

the video won't work. Is there another link you could send me?

It worked for me ... maybe it's a country specific link?

Kyu

Nah, my comp is just dumb. It won't play certain video player online--just youtube or windows media player. e_e

---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_-txbHNyOY

[youtube]Y_-txbHNyOY[/youtube]

Haha, that was funny! Dawkins isn't missing out on anything when he says "I'd have liked to know what it would feel like to experience what relgious people experience..."

But still...
Being that this can all be measured, some people being "more receptive" than most, would it then just be considered a placebo effect?

[Overmars]

This "god helmet" thing seems complete bullshit to me, but I wonder what I would "experience" with that thingy on my head. Probably nothing.

[Edwardo Piet]

I'd be amazed if I did.

EvF

[Tsuyoiko]

and so I wonder, if the part of our brain that is stimulated that is made us feel like there is an etherial presence in the room, therefore making it a measurable concept, wouldn't that make our experience of god real?

It would make the experience of a presence in the room real, but I can't see what that proves. It doesn't seem at all surprising to me that stimulating the brain in certain ways may produce particular sensations.

I don't think spiritual experiences are necessarily related to god anyway. I have had what I would call spiritual experiences, despite being an atheist. Usually they are in response to nature, but sometimes literature. They're just brainstorms, and no more mysterious or mystical than feeling nervous when I have a test.