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Post by starlight on Sept 5, 2016 8:00:03 GMT -6
I'm still studying and researching, so I've been quiet here on the boards. I started out from a CR perspective, but that quickly morphed into digging deeper into what religion is, and how to identify which ones resonate. My journey has taken me all over the place, from the history of ancient civilisations to philosophy forums, and, just now, to an article on the Huffington Post site. The article made me sit up and think about what I am doing and why. www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/14/choosing-your-religion_n_118907.htmlApparently, there is a gene which scientists have called the God gene, which makes an individual more likely to seek out religious experiences. Who knew?!  The article's conclusion is that you don't have to believe anything - just meditating will be enough to satisfy the yearnings.  It also suggested that the reason humans have that gene at all is because having a belief system to follow is more likely to help the individual stay safer and so have a longer lifespan. Also, being connected to others of the shared religion is good for your health and mental wellbeing. But. I don't know. Science and religion can have an uneasy relationship at times, but these explanations don't really seem to operate on the same level a seeker (for want of a better word at this time of the evening) is seeking on. Is it really only about neurons firing in the right temporal lobe? It's always a good thing to have ideas to mull over and either accept or reject. It helps us to better understand our values and how we would like to live our lives. And I suppose I now have to answer the questions for myself. Why am I seeking at all? What am I hoping to find? I understand that our beliefs are personal, but if anyone has anything they'd like to add to this, I'd love to read it. |
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Redfaery
Junior Member
Posts: 72 
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Religion: Buddhist Polytheism
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Post by Redfaery on Sept 5, 2016 10:57:01 GMT -6
I have so many thoughts on this. I mean, like my brother in law WANTS to be religious, but he just... isn't. And for a long time I *didn't* want to be religious, but I couldn't stand how empty that made me feel.
But there's also the fact that...I mean...just because they've found the part of the brain that fires off doesn't mean spirituality isn't "real".
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aondeug
Full Member
Posts: 141
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers, He/Him/His
Religion: Thai Theravada, Irish polytheism
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Post by aondeug on Sept 6, 2016 15:01:51 GMT -6
I will fucking fight all who say it is just neurons in my brain. Just because it might be neurons doesn't mean it isn't real, necessarily. Is love somehow fake because it's chemicals in my brain? No. Of course not. Maybe my experience with the divine sets off weird chemical reactions and I happen to be one of those who is more predisposed to it. I don't know.
What I do know is that I've seen the gods and heard them. I can't prove this with science but to hell with science. The Fog Sovereign doesn't bow to you!
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Post by starlight on Sept 7, 2016 4:35:48 GMT -6
Thank you, Redfaery and aondeug. I love how you both say that neurons firing in the brain doesn't mean our experiences aren't real. I was coming at it from the perspective of addiction. In the article, the writer says that the search for religion or faith is akin to needing a fix. Only in this case it's religion and not sex or food or narcotics or medication. I agree with you, Redfaery: I, too, feel empty without this added dimension in my life. It feels like something very important is missing and without it I'm adrift. Can Science really conclude that that is an addiction? Cos that's just - sad. Your point is interesting, too, aondeug: perhaps those with the gene are more predisposed to seek religious/transcendant experiences, but that does not invalidate them. At the end of the day, if our experiences make us more grounded, more aware of the divine in all things, more likely to make an effort to behave according to our consciences, more likely to examine our motives and behaviours and try to do better next time, then is it so bad? If it brings us peace, does that make it meaningless? If we feel ourselves to be better human beings as a result of our experiences, and it causes ripples to flow out from us to those in our circles, and beyond them to others, then hasn't that been of benefit? Like I said, I think sometimes these challenging findings can help us make up our minds what we believe and what we still question, and I can see already that I have moved on in the couple of days since I read this article. This is an interesting journey, for sure. I'll keep plodding away.  Thank you both for your thoughts. |
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mitch245
Newbie
Posts: 32
Pronouns: He/Him
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Post by mitch245 on Sept 11, 2016 12:06:02 GMT -6
I'd just like to poke at this idea a bit, the 'god gene'. From what you've been posting, you've done a ton of research. But- be careful. (Disclaimer:I know nothing of this god gene stuff and do not have more than a pre university background in science. So my knowledge is limited). People are prone to believe everything scientists say, and feel forced to believe whatever non-scientists extrapolate from a scientific research. Even science students fall prey to this. But science is theories, and its the constant search for truth. It's not infallible. Contamination happens! (So take it all with a grain of salt. and maybe try and see if there's disagreement on the topic. often, there is). So... maybe there is this gene. Maybe it's something different. Myself, instead of seeing the science as contradicting the spiritual, I see it as the result of it. What if physics are the rules of the gods? What if, as was said, the chemicals are not the cause but the result? The gods (in my opinion) went through all the trouble of building this world with all its intricate rules. Why would they feel the need to break them? If they built them, can't they use them? Isn't the rules of science their pathways to get things done? Sorry for the rant, I'm feeling a little altered (psychiatric condition) so this may be rant-ish, but this is something I've thought abot a lot. I don't feel like science holds all the answers, but neither is it counter to religion. I just feel the perspective people take forces them apart (always throwing the gods into doubt and trying to 'disprove' religious claims). Anyways, I hope this helps, or gives you food for thought! It's my opinion, and I hope it makes sense/is relevant. Im typing on my phone so I can't see the previous comments to try and link it all together. Anyways, good luck! |
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Post by starlight on Sept 11, 2016 19:14:32 GMT -6
I'd just like to poke at this idea a bit, the 'god gene'. From what you've been posting, you've done a ton of research. But- be careful. (Disclaimer:I know nothing of this god gene stuff and do not have more than a pre university background in science. So my knowledge is limited). People are prone to believe everything scientists say, and feel forced to believe whatever non-scientists extrapolate from a scientific research. Even science students fall prey to this. But science is theories, and its the constant search for truth. It's not infallible. Contamination happens! (So take it all with a grain of salt. and maybe try and see if there's disagreement on the topic. often, there is). Thanks, Mitch! That's a good point. I remember reading somewhere that whatever the scientist expects the results to be usually sways the results in that direction. Whether that's quantum energy at work, or a wilful interpretation of results is up for debate. So... maybe there is this gene. Maybe it's something different. Myself, instead of seeing the science as contradicting the spiritual, I see it as the result of it. Mitch, that's absolutely beautiful. I'm going to remember this next time I read something scientific or something pseudo-scientific. What if physics are the rules of the gods? What if, as was said, the chemicals are not the cause but the result? This was where my thinking was going but you've expressed it so much more clearly than the vague idea I had in the back of my mind. The gods (in my opinion) went through all the trouble of building this world with all its intricate rules. Why would they feel the need to break them? If they built them, can't they use them? Isn't the rules of science their pathways to get things done? This makes sense. If I believe - and I do - that something caused this universe into being, it makes sense that science is working backwards from the end result. Looking only at the end result. Sorry for the rant, I'm feeling a little altered (psychiatric condition) so this may be rant-ish, but this is something I've thought abot a lot. I don't feel like science holds all the answers, but neither is it counter to religion. I just feel the perspective people take forces them apart (always throwing the gods into doubt and trying to 'disprove' religious claims). Anyways, I hope this helps, or gives you food for thought! It's my opinion, and I hope it makes sense/is relevant. Im typing on my phone so I can't see the previous comments to try and link it all together. Anyways, good luck! This has helped a lot! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Much appreciated. |
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Post by starlight on Sept 11, 2016 19:21:15 GMT -6
I really appreciate everyone's thoughts on this. I've been doing a copious amount of reading and this article coupled with something I read in "Spirituality without Structure" by Nimue Brown basically caused my beliefs to take a bit of a hit. What if there's nothing after this life? What if it's all wishful thinking? What if I am believing only what brings me comfort? More recently I remembered the Conservation of Mass: Matter is neither created nor destroyed, but can change form. (In a closed system.) Looking at Wikipedia I see that quantum physics has exceptions, but again I think that's science not being able to keep up with the enormity of that particular field. Wherever that energy goes (the Otherworld, anyone?) it's still there. Just in a different form. Can I prove this? No. Does it matter? Not really. So, my thanks again to everyone for sharing their thoughts and ideas. |
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