From: EckertWAIII@aol.com
Date: Wed Aug 13 2003 - 22:11:41 EDT
Does anyone have any thoughts on the strengths or weaknesses of the
hypothesis that there is an area of the brain that causes most/many humans to believe
in God and to have spiritual experiences?
I've read the books, "The 'God' Part of the Brain" and also "Why God Won't Go
Away: Brain Science & The Biology of Belief" and the hypothesis sounds
compelling. In "The 'God' Part of the Brain", the author suggests that such an area
of the brain predisposing people to God supports the notion that no
mind-independent God exists. However, in "Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science & The
Biology of Belief", the authors leave the question open and even seem to lean
somewhat toward the notion that the existence of such a brain area may provide
evidence that God does exist and, among all of the animal life on Earth, has
hard-wired human beings alone to be aware of His existence and to be able to
experience Him directly.
Personally, I am open to the possibility though still skeptical. I am just
starting an intensive literature study of this question which, for me as a
neuroscientist, is a very fascinating place of intersection between science and
religion/faith.
-Bill
-- William A. Eckert III, Ph.D. Senior Research Scientist Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Durham, NC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Wed Aug 13 2003 - 22:11:56 EDT