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Religious Faith and human survival
sniperg
Member Posts: 863
www.independent.co.uk/news/science/belief-and-the-brains-god-spot-1641022.html
Well I was reading the greek version of the article, so I wanted to cross check it a bit and found this.
"Scientists say they have located the parts of the brain that control religious faith. And the research proves, they contend, that belief in a higher power is an evolutionary asset that helps human survival. Steve Connor reports.
A belief in God is deeply embedded in the human brain, which is programmed for religious experiences, according to a study that analyses why religion is a universal human feature that has encompassed all cultures throughout history.
Scientists searching for the neural "God spot", which is supposed to control religious belief, believe that there is not just one but several areas of the brain that form the biological foundations of religious belief.
The researchers said their findings support the idea that the brain has evolved to be sensitive to any form of belief that improves the chances of survival, which could explain why a belief in God and the supernatural became so widespread in human evolutionary history."
I always find amazing how complex the human brain can be.
A friend is not him who provides support during your failures.A friend is the one that cheers you during your successes.
Comments
I'm not saying that there isn't a part of the brain that responds to matters of faith and religion, but I'm not exactly sure how it would aid in our survival to think that there is a God, if anything, one would think that it would cause a decrease in survivability.
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
Actually, I think that since it creates a shared experience between all men, something deep and meaningful, it aids us in voluntary cooperative efforts, thus helping to ensure survival.
Also, it helps people reach for the best within themselves, and that leads to more people coming closer to reaching their potential, and thus increases the odds of survival.
Also, and I think this is most important, it gives people meaning and hope. That alone is reason enough for it.
This "god spot" I believe is the reason that even atheists and agnostics look for something that gives them what religion gives people. Some find it in non-theistic religions like Buddhism, others in political ideas, and other abstractions.
I find this whole line of scientific inquiry fascinating. I want to see more work done here.
fishermage.blogspot.com
I think this is a very interesting subject. Religion is a fact and if you accept evolution as a fact, you must soon come to the conclusion that the two are related. One of the core tenants of Evolution is that traits that do not advance a species are disregarded. Furthermore, man's beliefs in higher beings, and life after death are as constant as anything in his makeup. Civilization, agriculture and war for example. Know one would deny that these have been done to advance the species.
so is he saying that people that beileve in God use more of there brain. (or at lest a diffrent part of there brain.)
he also is saying that the people that believe in a God are higher on the evolutionary ladder.
he is also saying that people that Believe in a God have a improved chance of servival over the ones that do not.
so why would someone want us to not believe in God?
that is unless they want us to die.
www.DigitalMindz.com
so is he saying that people that beileve in God use more of there brain. (or at lest a diffrent part of there brain.)
he also is saying that the people that believe in a God are higher on the evolutionary ladder.
he is also saying that people that Believe in a God have a improved chance of servival over the ones that do not.
so why would someone want us to not believe in God?
that is unless they want us to die.
Not more or less of the brain. Just that brain has some spots that are affected.
Paganism for example it is included into that sphere.
If we think about it the first humans didn't even considered to bury their dead. The moment though they start developing such a concept as "ancestors" or really anything beyond the immediate present they started "believing". Hence shamanism. The fact was that they understood that leaving their dead out would invite for example nasties that would make more of them dead. Hence a religious belief helped their survival.
Morality,or a great deal of it, came from the concept of God also helped survival in a way.
A friend is not him who provides support during your failures.A friend is the one that cheers you during your successes.
i often think that the religious belief is something subjective while the human survival is objective. they don't necessarily have something to do with each other. just don't mix up, i think they won't hurt each other.
Which proves that there is a creator. I mean come on! FOR THE LOVE OF ANYTHING, God has always been there! Since the beginning of time! This is in everyone, but pride is the aegis against God amoung other things. I challenged anyone with an open heart to find God, to truely find Him. If you honestly can not, than I guess that is not your destiny. Poeple will know soon enough the truth.