This is Your Brain on God | Michael Ferguson | TEDxSaltLakeCity
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2016
- Can science give us insights into age-old questions about religion? In this talk, Dr. Michael Ferguson describes the study he and his team conducted on believing Mormons when they reported to "feel the Spirit," a central event in Mormon worship. What they found might surprise both believers and skeptics.
Michael Ferguson is inspired by questions about human brains and the gods they adore. His research program examines the intersections of culture and brain through the lenses of cutting-edge fMRI methods and cognitive neuroscience. Most recently, he is conducting interdisciplinary work with philosophy of mind to analytically describe intelligence. As a graduate student at the University of Utah’s department of bioengineering, he, his committee chair, and co-investigators designed and executed a first-of- its-kind fMRI study, looking at the brain activity of returned missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while the research participants were involved in acts of religious worship and devotion. Michael and his husband were the first same-sex couple legally married in the state of Utah, and they retain a major portion of their heart and love in Salt Lake City. They currently live in upstate New York, the spiritual cradle of their native faith.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
Religion is a placebo that triggers deep emotional response.
Placebo is life - you BE-LIVIN what you BELIVE-IN
@@directordank i live but do not beleive in anything
@Red Falcon no the first self-replicating molecule it came form naturaly occuring carbonate elements not "nothing"
and those element where forged thanks to star dying.
there is no void to fill skydaddy anymore, we scientist know too much now
@Red Falcon yes in the broad meaning poeple like to use, i actualy do computing science.
but that's mainly what i know from other science (physics, biology, antropology esc) that made me see that god isn't a anwers to anything, it's admiting that you donnot have one. we have real answers. you have magic
@Red Falcon no i would not agree i've stopped beleiving in magic the second i understood the magic trick behind it.
we can see every type of stars with every stage of developement from theirs birth to death. we not need to replicate a star to know the sun is converting hydrogen into heluim right now.
what's "too perfect" ?
This talk is so unbiased that I can't even tell if he is religious or not.
That's a pretty vital goal in peer reviewed research.
he is clearly atheist.
The emphasis given in his speech to the classic anti-religion "religious belief used to justify war and atrocity" makes it undebatable.
@@lemondeestloeuvredunenfant4633 I don't agree with your conclusion. I am not atheist -- nor do I follow a traditional, dogmatic religion. I believe in a "God" of sorts, and I also agree 100% with the statement that atrocities have been committed in the name of a supposed "God" and that it is a terrible thing. Agreeing with that doesn't make someone an atheist.
Or sticking to Mormon history there is the "Mountain Meadows Massacre"
I would like to dispute the statement that it’s indisputable that he’s atheist because he mentions war- he also alludes to a lot of belief in Mormonism himself, even to mentioning what it feels like to be “elevated” by the Holy Spirit.
This is why I'm a Buddhist. It encourages you to study yourself and the concepts of belief itself--not to believe in old fairy tales.
I don't know, you can take this research two different ways depending on your biases. It is clear that religion has been built into the brain and that by practicing religion one can feel more joy and warmth that can express itself through love and charity. You can take this as evidence of evolution, or God creating mankind and placing in us a craving to worship Him.
I actually became happier after dropping religion.
Matt Wolf same
Why this is crazy
Yup - much happier
That's because there's nothing good in dead religion. It only binds you under a set of rules you're trying to keep to justify yourself.
Drop religion. Seek the Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to see how the brains react to cognitive dissonance of religious beliefs.
There's a thought experiment of children being tasked with something that requires honesty, e.g. throwing darts instead of just walking up to the target and sticking one in the bull's eye. The experimenters try convincing the kids that there's a magic invisible being who can always watch them so they had better not cheat, knowing that that claim is spam, yet they're probably theists...
RADIATION the new spiritual tech machine. God is so great adding more radiations to the subject of love.
I want to see their brains when they hear the debunking of their beliefs.
those brain images would be harsh. meaning sad.
Tim H that’s so interesting! Do you know of any videos are articles? I can totally see how this would be true
I want to see that, too. It probably looks rattled and splotchy, like someone recovering at a methadone clinic. COMPARE THEM!
Ahh humans... always OVERCORRECTING.
There Are More Proofs Of Religions Then Debunking.
wow... the same parts of my brain light up when I think about ice cream...
Praise icecream
😂
Or pasta.... May he touch you with his noodly appendage
Great presentation on a very interesting exciting and intriguing subject! I hope for even more follow up studies!
I am curious if they were to compare other experiences, such as a concert of beautiful music, what the result would be?
Would seeing people doing secular 'good deeds' such as UNICEF incite a similar response?
I believe that people 'doing good' for the sake of doing good is more meaningful than people 'doing good' because it will earn them a 'ticket to Heaven'.
One has an ulterior motive, and the other is entirely altruistic.
Just my opinion.
@Sandra Noneofyourbusiness I would think the results would be the same.
I have the same question! I think there are many spiritual activities people practice that don't easily map to any established religion.
Well said. Not enough studies like the one you described.
@@scottsessions2363 what is your opinion of establishing religion.
this is my brain on mindful meditation!!!
Yup.
I am a sceptic on that subject.Reality is important so i question everything that is not backed by evidence.
@@alegnalowe3679 meditation IS backed up by evidence
Meditation, religious/spiritual moments, and psychedelics, from a psychological standpoint, have many similarities in how they manifest in the brain. The biggest differentiating factor between them is the context in which they are participated in.
@@MOUNTAINOUSjr OOOH That said a full bag diden't it.
Stunning. Bravo.
So after prayer the participants became more generous to the figures of other faiths - except for Billy Graham.
I noticed that too, lol! Poor Billy.
no he hates to admit man made the MRI
this guy really needs to start doing research beyond the Utah state line.
That's what came to my mind, I think they should take volunteers from as denominations as they can to see the eefect of each religion on the brain, barely the major religions, maybe the supposed true religion's people will give results different from the wrong ones.
He's researching at Harvard now, so you got your wish
He’s teaching at Harvard now.
What makes you think I have not done the research?
Good luck
Prayer is a form of meditation for me. I think each to their own.
For science and religion to join forces, religion is going to have to drop some of it's fundamental dearly held beliefs and I can't see them giving them up, because the ones they have to discard are the ones that will cause their religion to collapse like a deck of cards.
That's what someone who doesn't understand what science is would say.
I'm curious what are those beliefs...? Would science have to give up any?
Nope. Science is based on observable evidence. Religion is based on fear of punishment, and the hope for life after death. Then, religions push that further, by creating a horrible fear of death due to them being imperfect, committing some 'sin', so they have to beg the religious leaders for forgiveness. All adds up to keeping the flock under control. The problem is, without this fear of punishment, a huge percentage of people would probably act terribly to each other. The only thing that stops them, is a fear of punishment, good old eternal damnation in he!!.
SHEEKY FAH I've actually read more scientific facts that PROVE God exists, than scientific facts that he doesn't. But anyways, God bless and I hope you have an awesome day ❤️💜💚
+Lize Futcher Really? One of the things that made me question religions, is that there were no facts to support any of them. What facts are you referring to? I didn't know there were any, just stories that people had written.
I believe in God
As a theist. This adds an interesting perspective to a religious understanding, IMO. The mind/brain is an interesting subject. Especially its evolutionary development. Personally, I think it’s adds to the need for religion.
The last few lines are really something. From having me in splits to getting me thinking deeply about how profound this message is!
I don't agree that religion or spirituality is innate.
It is taught.
Empathy is innate.
Religion or spirituality isn't innate? Really?
*"Religion is such a deep part of many people's lives, and I think it's going to remain a deep part of people's lives. In fact I tell my good friend and colleague Richard Dawkins "just get over it" because I'm convinced that it's not going to go away, it is an essential part of being human." --Lawrence Krauss*
@@firecloud77 So you're in a scientific forum and you decide it is best to discount an idea based on one anecdotal piece of evidence? On top of that, the one person you use as evidence is a serial killer. A literal psychopath. An outlier in almost any dataset about the behaviour of human beings. Now I don't agree or disagree with cro4591 but your comment shouldn't sway anyone in either direction, not even you.
@@MadJDMTurboBoost
What on earth are you talking about.
@@firecloud77 I thought I was pretty clear, but I'm happy to explain myself further if you just tell me which point was not very clear.
@@MadJDMTurboBoost
Go ahead and explain yourself. I'd like to see you explain how Lawrence Krauss is a "psychopath."
I'll grab a bowl of popcorn.
How much simpler and safer the world would be without religion.
our brain is stimulated by many things. feelings don't indicate something is real. facts do. but feelings are still part of our design clearly. what for? when we "fall in love" we can step back and investigate that chemical rush and assess whether that person is truly a good match, to look at their character, habits, consistency, etc. Because we are innately looking for love these feelings can be easily triggered the less boundaries we have. The same goes for religion. We are innately looking to connect with the source of ourselves and discover the deeper purpose of our existence, so of course if we have no boundaries and become infatuated with the first explanation we will believe that those feelings are proof of reality, no matter if it's true or not.
But sometimes after time and investigation, the feelings of infatuation grow into understanding and the choice of commitment can be made. The same is with religion. Feelings are merely a trigger to investigate. Feelings are proof that we are looking what something deeper but we can't just trust them right away. We can be safe to enjoy them after we've done our homework. And ultimately, there is always risk involved with love and with faith. But if either turn out to be the real things, there is a great reward.
All I can say is that we have to deal with life whatever the whatever. So what can make us deal with life better is better!
Gerald Padaoan Okay, if I was raised believing flying unicorns are real & believing in flying unicorns reduces my fears and gives me purpose in life, does it mean that flying unicorns are real?
This needs more views.
Praise God and His beautiful Son Jesus Christ. Its all a spiritual journey. Believe in Christ. Allow the Holy Spirit to enter and your on the road to sanctification. .
Wonderful talk! Keep up the great research
Let's add a touch of skepticism to your religious exuberance in the form of an experimental control for your research. The mentalist Darren Brown has been able to induce religious experiences in people using well understood psychological manipulative techniques. Why not do an FMRI on some of these staged religious experiences and compare that with your sincere experiences. I hypothesize the results would be remarkably similar.
jedi..........very very likely: no difference whatsoever...maybe use the same subjects before and after Mr. Brown induces them?
If the results would be _remarkably similar,_ then doesn't that mean that the experiment tested for what it was testing for the way it was set up?
dude, pretty sure that's not the point of the entire talk. He isn't trying to prove God, he's talking about the effect of religiosity on neurology - in a really scientific and unbiased way. It was an interesting explanation as to why people partake in religious and spiritual practices, no need to make it an athiest-fest.
Who's to say those experiences are not, nevertheless, religious? I don't think either you or Brown are really thinking very deeply.
darren uses hypnosis to make people raise their hand. does not equate to religious experience.
Wow!
Honestly focusing on the fact that neurochemical processes are involved in the experience is really a moot point that I won't be surprised others use as some kind of "smoking gun". Humans are a species that evolves over time. I'd like to see if they could be replicated outside of a "spiritual" context, because in other cases, simply listening to certain sounds (that have no inherent religious connotations) have been able to induce them in people.
WONDERFUL! How very interesting this is! But my Brain on Mormonism totally Shuts Down! My Brain on "Jesus Loves me". Totally Does it! The soft warm Glow!
Tim H
I was a Mormon and all I received was control and condemnation. I am happy it works for you!
On god!!!🎉
Makes me happy to know that religion even affects our brain in a good holy way, this is Inspite of rejuvenating the soul ❤😊. Although the soul doesn't get analysed through an fMRI yet, however, we do know it does exist through previous scientific research; also it logically does since religion exists through science itself although truly speaking science (+ intoxicants and technology, elusive philosophical arguments) are being used to mask religion simultaneously by denyiers due to their passion for hate towards wrong-doings done by name of religion and not the true soul existence of religion itself (this act of denyal has benefits but not the best right approach)
The soul is proven to exist. Please.
The "twist" is fascinating!
So, the brain lights up when imagining things. What an exciting time!
I long for an evolution beyond Mythology.
the evolution we are facing is to _understand_ our mythology; not forget it.
As a science minded atheist and skeptic, I see the aim here of this scientist is to better define religious behavior, not to eradicate it from society. The location here is interesting. Salt Lake City , Utah. Headquarters of the mormons, the church of latter day saints.
you can't debunk the existence of God
@@equalizerperiloustimes4840 in fact, there is a scripture from the Book of Mormon that says, "Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." In summary, everything in the universe points toward the existence of a God.
@@logangreer001 If you are being genuinely serious, then how can you conclude that there is a God because a book said so? God has never written anything, only man has.
@@logangreer001 One cannot determine that these phenomena are solely the work of a deity, as there are scientific explanations for the phenomena. Also, regarding the existence of God, the burden of proof is on you to prove conclusively that there is a God. The burden of proof is not on me to disprove the existence of God.
Also, long time no see.
Excellent presentation! I like the concept that more religious devotion makes us more likely to respect the insights of those who are not part of our "in group". Also that as we work together in partnerships between different religions, and between religion and academics/science, we'll together cultivate a variety of religious approaches that make us all more apt to see and become the divine that we claim to espouse.
Frank Staheli Quite unfortunate it is that studies referring to real life outcomes show that religion makes people more prejudiced and lets tend them more towards the agreement of violence or application of it. It becomes worse with the them becomming more convinced that their religion is the true one. What this guy apparently did not get is that religion is a virus, some are imune, some get sick and some die through it. The only worthwile thing is spirituality which is just a blown up term for saying sombody is at pease with himself to a certain degree.
I like the concept of santa clause
Bla Bla Nah, the "religion is a virus" thing was Dawkins combining his "meme" idea with his atheism by comparing religion to a "mimetic" computer virus. However, not only are 'memes' a failed concept in science, but there is now overwhelming evidence that religious people are physically & mentally healthier, happier and cope better in adverse circumstances than non-religious people. Some virus!
I refuse to believe Heaven has a 'favored nation' system, though, if there is one, the Bible says it's Israel.
At any rate, if there is a God and we are His 'children' as we were instructed to believe, I have to believe a God would be a better parent than weak Humans who play favorites.
Seems to me, a God would bless all gentle souls on Earth, not just the most arrogant ones.
I'm an active Mormon and totally agree!
just to let you know God does not favor the “physical nation of israel” He gave the nation the name Israel because the spiritual nation in Heaven is Israel. the physical nation on earth was always to identify how God would bless his believers and followers.
Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Mat 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
I wonder if the same study would yield same results on words like LOVE or in groups whom each share same tastes like chocolate. The stronger the desire the stronger the results would be the same , i think. I would say there is good and bad desires.
I believe there is right and wrong.
It all depends on ones perspective and level of understanding life and reality.
Unfortunately we all suffer that darn confirmation bias phenomenon , this keeps us in the dark.
Generally speaking, I say let be what is and choose rather to respect each person as part of the whole, despite our differences.
Who is perfect and all knowing?
Understanding yields greater reward in life than ignorance and its big brother arrogance.
That much I know to be true, without a doubt.
That was really good
What he advocates has existed now for some time and is the focus of millions of people. It is non denominational, universalistic, gnostic (direct experience) New Age spirituality in its best forms. Inclusion, generosity, tolerant, non judgment, deeply embracing and loving. As above, so below.
@@yuma9663 Thanks
I think there was a mix up somewhere along the line. Some dyslexic person passed the word along about a wonderful being thatl loves us unconditionally, always wants to protect us from harm, and is always there to make us feel better. So, I believe in Dog (the dyslexic guy just got the spelling backwards) . I can prove it. My dog loves me, and is always happy to see me. When my dog dies, I go to the pound, and my dog has been reincarnated as another dog that loves me just as much, he even runs to me because he recognizes me from his past life. And when that dog dies, his spirit goes to become another dog, and I am drawn to that dog wherever he is, and the cycle repeats itself.
Believe in Dog. It will make you happy for life.
That's pretty much the point of this talk, is it not? God, Dog, Brownies...whatever stimulates that area of the brain makes us happy and makes us believe in that thing as some "higher power." I believe in Coffee and Chocolate - my interpretation of them and how they make me feel is my "god." (But i also really love my dog, for the record). ;)
So what you are saying is that spiritual experiences take place in the brain rather than the spirit, got it.
It is all along sorry to burst your bubble yet it happens to all religions....
@@emilyvillamil "burst my bubble"? I've known for a long time that spiritual experiences are not the result of spiritual activity. This doesn't disappoint me at all.
My experiences and miracles definitely don’t agree with this. Please seek God with an open and humble heart, and He will reveal Himself to you beyond what your brain might make you “think” you’re experiencing. My relationship with God is very real. God bless. ❤️
This needs a comparative study with those whose emotional reward is not dependent on religious upbringing. It is a study designed to reinforce a hypothesis not to test it.
OMG Duc Phuc , i like your cover version. Love it !
His ending thoughts are carefully considered.
For me, the word god once had due to my upbringing a very important place in my life. No, it seems so long ago it's as meaningless as any of the kids stories they told me are
I have an aversion to the word god
It triggers anger.
Feeling the spirit can be really powerful as when people fall over and hit the floor without even knowing it. I've seen that. They say they feel drunk. It's more like marujuana only very refreshing not heavy body buzz.
Dust Buster is referring to some sects of Christondom where they actually do experience some kind of spiritual effect. They would claim it to be the Spirit of God but it goes under many names like "kundalini", which the Bible explains as demonic. Being stoned from marijuana is different.
And to claim the non-existence of God is foolishness, because you know God exists. He commands all people to repent, to turn to Him, and you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because God has given His Son to us, that we might have life through faith in Him. He has given proof of this by raising Him from the dead.
@@risingdawn5788 Not everyone believes in God and their are so many religions no one can be certain.
Not to mention their is about one other explanation to the universe other than God.
For the first time in history on record, on record.
I read a book by 2 neuroscientists in my quest to find out why people believe crazy things and be happy about it called religion.
I didn't write down the name of the book- and damn forgot it. They found the answer- here it is - in the wild Chimpanzees reach a level of stress and even in horrific battles at some magical point they will sit and start grooming each other, even their enemies. Scientists put brain helmet on some of them while grooming to see what parts lit up. Had humans come to the lab put the helmet on and talk about stuff. When they talked about religion wouldn't ya know- same parts lit up- remember Chimps are our closest genetic animal relatives- they called it ----- BRAIN SOOTHING
The second part of the book is how the best brain soothing comes when the brain has closed loops- a community believing the same thing reading the same thing not questioning anything because the strongest brain soothing for humans comes when they are in a group believing the same thing - there it is. Obvious how religion started ancient man had to explain death and weather- I wanted to know how/why it has continued so long. You can't measure it or see it - there are no changes to it but the blood and flesh of a human, a God are in this lil wafer-Even when I was a kid going to Catholic school I knew it was a con job - so how can people believe something someone is there when it cant be seen measured photographed felt - but it's there . How can millions of people believe this- BRAIN SOOTHING and the brain liking CLOSED LOOPS - Im the opposite I get Brain Soothing from questioning everything then when I find THE answer I get maximum and my closed loop is finding answers-To find the answer to why people believe stuff no one can prove or see or touch or hear took a year of reading book after book but I found a scientific answer that made sense then I have to tell everyone- :-)
I'll admit, that was cringe
Good thing we ain’t monkeys
Thank you for this comment.
Please mention the name of the book. I want to read it asap🙂
The judgemental comments betray a fear of engulfment against the beauty of intersection of finite and infinite this talk seeks to describe.
I do not want to hear your subjective philosophy and history of physical sciences. Philosophy of medicine is worthier of attention as done by Avicenna
@@Neorient .. Yet I'm not arguing from the point of subjective belief. That which I stated is scientifically sound as it has been revealed via the history of anthropology. You, on the other hand, are arguing from the subjective end of the truth scale, where objectivity is obviously on the other end. You seem to favor the idea of God, which you deemed as the infinite, but God is a hypothesis and not a fact. Every hypothesis is subject to scrutiny and criticism as it alone holds the burden to prove itself by objective reasoning. For example, just because someone believes in a deity named Insector that is the God of insects it doesn't make the belief any more real than the tooth fairy. It's a subjective view that must be proved in order to be considered logically valid.
Anthropologically I am an Indo Scythian with zero interest in buying grecocentric fetish based worldviews.
My mother is a veiled entomologist who does not need you to conduct entomological experiments
@@Neorient .. Okay, so you basically shut the conversation down by making your ethnicity paramount. This is the equivalent of a keeping your head in the ground so you don't have to learn. This is how they do it in North Korea too, they shut the people in so they must obey.
I've been reading the comments for a while and I love seeing what all the people that "don't believe in God" have to say, and then what the ones that do believe reply. Cuz it's just proof of what God does in people's hearts.
Was this sarcasm?
My horse brings meaning and pleasure into my life but I'd hardly call it a religious experience. Riding into the wilderness to sit in awe of my surroundings while allowing my horse loose to play and graze just might be a religious experience.
idk if its a religious experience but sure you both do look happy
Perhaps what you're feeling is contentment and at peace with yourself
Your experience could be said to be spiritual, but certainly not supernatural. The awe and wonder of our universe has nothing to do with the two thousand religions that mankind has created from it's imagination.
The brain doesn't generate ideas. Matter is symbols of meanings. The brain is an idea. Look into the Semantic Interpretation of quantum theory to understand.
Best sermon I've seen in a while
How are you going to get the true believers to accept the best practices you hope to find?
We have, inside the bones of our head, an electrical piece of meat that’s generating abstract ideas about divine nature.
😀 wow that’s pretty awesome
That piece of meat is generating many abstract ideas other than "about divine nature". It's called imagination.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man' wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. AKJV - 1Corinthians 2:13 - AKJV - 1Corinthians 2:14
Religion is an addictive practice.
One does not need theology to be spiritual. They are two different things.
You get better results with self pleasuring.
Wow. He was good. How impressive that he didnt use this resultat to belittle religion but rather intergrate it into dogma.
You can only deny what you can define.
Ridiculous drivel.
Affirmative
And you can only argue what you can prove.
For short...God resides not in heaven but in your head! No where to be found but in your head!
When I was a child I often wondered why our bodies were so complex with the many organs that we simply could not survive without. But now, thanks to evolutionary science and natural selection all of that is explained away...NOT. But everyone is religious, everyone believes in something, even eons of time and chance.
How does evolution not explain our complexity?
Imagine looking at the brain of a right standing righteous person 💡
As a Christian I found this pretty interesting overall - though the point he makes around 12:30 is baffling - "how we can 'do religion' safely and well... articulate 'safe theology'"... how does he imagine this looking in practice? Do we fabricate a new religion that fits within the bounds of 2020's morals and ethics? At that point you've already conceded that it's not an eternal truth, do you even call that a religion? I'm not ranting so much as expressing genuine confusion
As usual, atheists are keen to see the baby down the plug hole. The dumbest point about the video is that we 'find" God in the brain. Like where else would you experience anything 🤣?
Exactly. What on earth would you be worshipping? A code of conduct established by a board of directors? People who don't believe REALLY don't understand what religious beliefs mean. As viewed in this comment section it's like we are speaking a different language.
@@mariposa9506 the religious atheists are the ones that entertain most. No point explaining the idolatry of the smart phone for example.
@@godislove8740 idolatry. of the smart phone. like- you’re serious. i’ve heard things similar to that in chapel when we’ve had more extremist speakers but damn.
God is the highest gamma wave.
I love this comment section rn
What mommy like about the mormon religion is they talk a lot about grace the light actually being the living God..
I’d like to give him a h-five and an amen! He’s definitely on to something.
Comment section always gets me 😂😂😂😂
Please just enjoy and take in what you can and leave the negativities
This presentation and study reminds me of a research/study that concluded that sugar was good for your body. The study was finance by Coca Cola.
Do these same feelings happen when one believes in Hogwarts?
@hatter00 Never. I love Hogwarts.
Yes or listening to a good non religious song or hanging with good decent people from all walks of life. I have had same feelings from watching shows or movies that pull at ones emotional heart strings.
@hatter00 Fred Mcelroy was not insulting Hogwarts.
@hatter00 I am new out of the Mormon faith and so I did not read that you were being sarcastic there. Now that i know, it is all good.
No!
It Only Happens When You Believe In GOD!
So we have a part of the brain that is associated with deep feelings, and when these feelings are pleasureable to us we want to repeat them. Not much news there. The mind is capable of inducing all sorts of feelings if we choose to do so. We are all ‘conditioned’ to a certain extent by our upbringing, environment, current experiences, etc. There were some interesting experiments described here but not much else. The final plea to bring science and religion together, with religious people learning how to follow their god more carefully, was possibly driven by the speaker’s reward system in his brain - he felt good about seeking unity, peace, etc.and feeling that he was somehow enlightening us about how ‘religious’ people have done some bad things in the name of religion, etc, etc. I’m not sure if we attribute his words to his heart-felt views, or more as a result of the conditioning he has allowed to happen to himself.
People are missing the point entirelly, it's not about whether the facts described in the religion are true, it's about the experience of belief itself.
Then tell your leaders to stop proclaiming they know “The Truth.” I agree with you, spiritual experience is fundamentally valuable, but religions hijack this and claim truth.
That is, instead of refuting classic religion as a manifestation of primitive consciousness, we should understand the cognitive mechanisms that create religious behavior in the first place and rationalize it.
These are also the same parts most active in psychosis.
Yes they are! I posted a comment on Feb 1 2019 in these threads with an explanation and citations.
Not necessarily it causes cancer and we have way to much of it. any one who used it diden't get much out of it. MRI is not cut out the way its exaggerated to be.
What I found most intriguing was the fact that they actually found a brain, period.
We can only evolve as a species if we leave gods/religion behind.
Adriaan Keur how about the principles exposed eh?
How about it? The fact that the brain reacts isn't prove of god. For me it is prove that all religious experiences are created by us through our brains; not by something outside of us into our brains.
Is that what you mean?
Isn't it strange how an immaterial thing (i.e. an impending calculus exam) can cause a physical, bodily reaction? The exam is simply an idea generated outside ourselves yet has the power to raise our heart rate and make us sweat? Interesting, no?
ok, but that's just patently false. you can argue that we will evolve poorly If We Hold On To God, but evolution is just change.
Ok so to keep on evolving we would have to get rid of all gods then what? Become gods?
Who would be allowed to be gods? our leaders, everyone, a select group, no one?
How would we define what is a good path to follow to godhood?
Would only a certain race be allowed to be gods?
How would we prevent inter fighting, civil wars and global destruction during times of succession of the human gods?
The problem with that is that humans are inherently flawed by design. We can play god but we will never be ''good gods''.
There is an order of good in this universe, the order of God. We are so flawed we cant even unite and follow it so how do you expect us to replace God.
God has set an example to follow. In following it you will find the freedom to grow and evolve. Sin is the anchor that holds use back not God.
Struggled with the God question for sixty five years to check with it....
This is my problem with religion and religious people, that we have less concept of the spirituality thinking that God is divine creature created by man in our imagination and no the opposite. But even the other way, be part of the whole Universe creation is the only divine true I can find and related to the word God.
Religion may not need to be abandoned, but allowing faith-belief to suffice for truth or reality will always prevent "safe" religion. That practice must be abandoned for religion to become safe.
Mental gymnastics
Fort Knox theological cemetery
It would be interesting to see what happens to the brains of animals when they are somehow rewarded? May look the same.
As you comprehensively Should Know, all logical ideas, momentary subject to evolution, Means changes, so how you want us to credit the relativity of your theory?
Well done, my old friend 😊.
Leon Nicholas
I know there are differences between dysfunctional brains and normal ones; these are visible in both electroencephalograms a FMRI scans. My comment was a dismissal of religious interpretations of this speaker. I do not feel shot down. You missed my point and missed me.
Hate to say it but all the dysfunctional brains are religious
Take this whole survey, change all the religious elements to star wars vs star trek, or political opinions, it would literally be the exact same outcome. People are bias. You proved that. Good job.
Deepak Chopra needs to hire this guy to spruce up his "woo".
@@ems4884 did ur little lie book tell u to insult this guy no reason?
How in the 21 century some humans still believe in such fabled lunacies
Hi everyone! I would like to complain about an issue that bothers me now for a while. It has nothing to do with the video that you're watching, but still might be off your interest. I am a fan off you tube and watch quiet a lot of videos and the ones I don't watch straight away, I save in my "watch later" list. In this list used to be a button called " remove watched videos", which since a while has vanished! It used to be very useful and I strongly recommend to you tube to bring it back!! If you should feel the same as me, please copy and paste this in as many comments as possible and who knows, we might get what we want after all! Thanks for your time and participation!!😊
As to God vs. science: The debate is moot. It's been established that their are high spin mono-atomic elements with the body producing photons, room temperature super conductivity. These produce the well known effect of super-conductivity of resistanceless transmission of energy. This also works for conscious energy. Hence: psychic phenomenon and spirituality have a basis in physics/science. Hence: the dichotomy is resolved in that both are true. Some have more natural capability than others. Hence: all the excuse making for both sides is a moot point to the realities of actual physics. The universe is what it is whether we comprehend or not.jj
The fact that there is brain activity when you engage in religious activities does not serve as any kind of proof of the reality of the religious beliefs. There's brain activity pretty much all the time, except maybe when you're in deep meditation.
Jeanmarie Todd I agree, it isn't evidence either way. However, it might help us determine "good" religious practices that eg. engender greater tolerance of others, and limit "bad" or destructive ones. This is the take home message he gives at the end.
I don't believe he implied that the brain activity was evidence for the supernatural. He was pointing out that engaging in certain thought or meditative processes cause these parts of the brain to activate and release dopamine. The feeling from the dopamine is misidentified as a spiritual experience.
Jeanmarie Todd Your faith in science is just another belief system. Example: the speed of light is not always constant. The results of scientific experiments are relative to the observer. So there are an unlimited number of outcomes. Not a definitive answer or truth. When you get an answer of infinity, that means you will never know the answer using science. Scientists are the masters of the obvious. They observe and report the material world. If it isn't observable or of the material world, scientists are useless. So science is extremely limited. The honest scientists acknowledge this. Hence the reason, all atheists are scientists but not all scientists are atheists.
To me it points to the opposite but whatever. If you're a believer - you can go along with the idea that God created the brain to react like that. But as a non believer - none of this seems surprising to me. I was never truly religious but I did believe in God/High power, and I remember the sort of positive highs you could get from prayer or belief. After becoming an Atheist, I didn't feel those specific kind of highs anymore because my mindset changed. To me it's simply extremely satisfying to feel some sense of control and destiny that prayer gives you. It's psychological/neurological, of course.
To me, it's a false, but understandable high.
Rosalina 90 I think that's very fair minded. The interpretation one makes depends on the assumptions one starts with. For a materialist atheist, the measured changes in the brain are the cause of 'spiritual' experiences. For a dualist/idealist theist, the brain is perceiving some transpersonal non-physical reality, so the changes seen in brain are an effect of that perception. It's a bit like the question whether the realm of mathematical principles is constructed or discovered. For me, questioning curiosity is the only appropriate attitude.
The mostly atheist TED crowd blowing gaskets because someone said something good about people of faith!
Yup...I always said I was mad when found out Santa was not real......More Atheist TEDs are on its way Halleluiah to that...
He’s talking about how to produce peak experiences in human beings...hey,we all love dopamine,right?
...they deserve ridicule.
@@HUNDREDACREWOOD. Of course they do. Give it to them, with brass balls on.
@@ems4884 Like trying to find God inelectronic equiptment😎😥DO LEAVE OFF.
God has already given us powers. We don't know how to use mind power. But another truth is that by law of attraction, visualization, or following any religion may be you recive prosperity and success in meterelestic world but you can't enter in Gods kingdom without Jesus. All world preacher talk about fear but Jesus talked about love and Relationship with God. We don't belive on God becoz we are busy in building prosporosus life. Jesus did not came for making us proporous.
So, this was an audience of atheists, in Salt Lake City, Utah of all places.
Intellectuals in SLC tend to feel anti-mormon... Not necessarily anti-religion
Based on what?
With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil - that takes religion.
- Steven Weinberg
BINGO lesktube
It is sad that you don't recognize that statement as the bigotry it is. Did Weinberg ever make any comments about Marxism? Or even Communism in general? He has a problem with me worshipping God but he doesn't seem to have a problem with political oppression, show trials, mass-murder, gulags or politically motivated famine. Hypocrisy, your name is Atheist.
I strongly disagree. If I didn't believe in God i would do literally do anything I could get away with without contemplating the consequences my action would have on other people. I don't because I believe in God. Not every human is good by nature. What religion does through its rules is to shackle the demons that some of us have in our heads. If you're a good human being by nature then that is excellent but without religion a lot of us would not have a reason to suppress our deepest darkest desires.
Anything with sugar would have the same effect.Imagine a huge dark chocolate cake with chocolate whipped cream on top. I can also think of someone i dearly love and it would be rhe same.
Remember, you're part of God's chosen people. ;)
Which of the two thousand Gods?