40sondacurb

Well I'd have to disagree with the guy. There actually may be a part of the brain that tells us to believe in a God, in something intangibly grater than ourselves.

It's being studies by a Dr. Ramachandran, he's a very famous neurologist.


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http://www.godless.org/sci/ramachandran.html

This is a summarry of a talk he did:

"The God Module"

"The final piece of the physiology of the self exhibited by Ramachandran was one that he had to preface with a disavowal of the headline given it by press reports. It cannot (he says) be called "The God Module." It is not the final reduction of God to mere neurophysiology; but he does admit that the finding provides strength to the suspicion that belief in god is "largely protoplasmic."

Certain kinds of epilepsy have long been noted to be associated with a heightened sense of religiosity. After having one of their brain electrical storms, patients may actually speak of having had a "religious experience," or say that they now "know why there is a cosmos." Other symptoms of some temporal lobe epileptics can be hypergraphia (writing large, complicated tomes, often of mystical or personally religious significance) and frequent conversions (to several different religions in sequence). A known feature of epilepsy is what is known as "kindling," the strengthening of neurophysiological connections, often involving the limbic system.

Ramachandran now reports three patients in which he claims that a kindling of connections (to the amygdala, I believe he said) is associated with a specific and selective heightening of response, as measured by galvanic skin response, to religious words and icons. He believes that this can be interpreted as a change in part of the brain leading to either a heightening of religious emotion, or alternatively, perhaps to an enhancement of other emotions or perceptions which lead, incidentally, to to a heightened religious belief (everything feels weird, so the individual "wants to believe in something" to provide an explanatory context for the weirdness)"

If these finding are correct then we are genetically engineered to believe in a God.

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cdfreelancer

Have done pal.

Bah, this dial up is making posting on here difficult because I'm downloading at the same time. Hence the reason for edit.
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I've heard the God-gene theory before. For me, it's not an issue of whether or not there is a God gene but more a question of whether or not religion should be encouraged.

I personally believe in an afterlife and a spirirt world (Based on evidence although it has yet to be proven) but I don't subscribe to any religion. I reject the way that religion has been institutionalised as a mechanism to control - brainwash if you like - the mass population and I agree with Dawkins that it causes more harm than good.

For any UK people; Channel 4 are airing a documentary on the 16th called 'THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL? The Virus of Faith'. It's the second installment of series following Richard Dawkins as he tears religion to peices!

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40sondacurb

at the bottom of the page there is a choice of skins, are you using the dial-up one?

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cdfreelancer

Doh, is that where it says 'html code is off'?

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ebackhus

It's in the user control panel. The Dial-up Skin is very friendly to those who aren't on broadband. As for Dawkins, there was an article about him, I think in Discover Magazine, that referred to him as Darwin's pet dog.

I have faith because I'd rather have a false belief in a happy afterlife than nothing at all. For me it's comfort.

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40sondacurb

below that, yes. Try to make one post in a row.

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GiancarloC

If that were the case why is atheism growing at quite a fast rate? I find that theory as hokey as intelligent design.

ebackhus

Because we have free will. And the research on the god gene isn't yet proven so I don't quite buy it. It's an interesting concept, but rather fantastic in my opinion.

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GiancarloC

I think it is very interesting and rather creative, but not true. Because if there was a gene, wouldn't we be forced into believing in god by our genes?

yustr

This is similar to a point I make when discussing religion with my christian friends: if god wanted us to believe in the one true way, why not hardwire it into our being? Why leave it up for misinterpretation?

But back on topic...

Is it our misunderstanding of other religions that is causing us to go to war with them? Said another way: 200 years from now will historians look back and call these times the 50 year struggle between Christians and non-Christians?

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40sondacurb

no. It doesn't say that part of the brain forces you to do anything, but it does suggest that it's makes you ask the question, "is there a God?" something even atheist do.

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GiancarloC

So if we ask any other questions, like if there are purple unicorns that must be wired into our brain? It is a creative imaginative theory, but it is just simply not true. And no as an atheist, I never asked myself that question because I know I don't have to.

I can't even call this a theory. I think it is more of a crackpot suggestion.

40sondacurb

what do genius doctors of neurology know anyways hu? don't have to believe in it, but calling it a crack pot theory is a little off base.

He is Editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of Human Behaviour and author of a popular book on neuroscience, Phantoms In The Brain.

his awards include a fellowship from All Souls College, Oxford, an honorary doctorate from Connecticut College, a Gold medal from the Australian National University, the Ariens Kappers Medal from the Royal Nederlands Academy of Sciences, for landmark contributions in neuroscience and the presidential lecture award from the American Academy of Neurology.

This guy didn't just say, "hey, you know what? I think there is a god center of the brain!" He studied several cases before he came to his conclusion. He is one of the most respected doctors in his field and his theory is backed up by scientific experimentation and observation.

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GiancarloC

I think it is a crackpot theory. There are very few scientists who back intelligent design, that doesn't make it viable. And remember that scientist in South Korea who claimed all that stuff about cloning? Turned out he forged most of his results. Same thing with cold fusion technology. I really have the sense that this guy is also relying on a small sampling, which can cause a lot of error. You keep saying he is the most respected.. eh.. I disagree because of this theory.

We aren't made to believe in god. It is a choice that we have. We don't put the question before us. Some of us know we are atheist and don't have to question that. So, this theory is BS in the least.

ebackhus

Just think what kinda hell would be unleashed if it was proven!

Does a belief in hell constitute a belief in heaven? It certianly keeps a balance.

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40sondacurb