Comments on: Cognitive science gaining ground in U.S. academic religion studies

By: Marshall Wren

Marshall Wren — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:34:33 +0000

Compared to the stereotype person of faith, I guess I am a strange bird, and some might challenge whether I should in fact call myself a person of faith. First, I do not believe in miracles or a spiritual world in the traditional sense. I believe God has a perfected and immortal body of flesh and bone. I believe that God resides and presides in a parallel universe. I believe that miracles, and matters of the spirit, are of a physical nature, and subject to universal laws of physics, which we do not yet comprehend and/or are not yet capable of identifying by current scientific knowledge.However, over our 6000 years of recorded history, I would propose that the keystone of man’s advancement of knowledge is to make inspirational leaps from the known to the yet unknown, but imaginary, or visionary, concept. The architectural designs of Leonardo da Vinci are a primary example of my meaning.With this being said, I declare that I believe God hears our prayers, knows our thoughts, and recognizes our needs. Therefore, I have voluntarily made myself a student of cognitive neuroscience, not to prove or disprove the relevance of religion versus science, but to learn the working of the organ of our body which contains the communication link with the parallel universe of God, as well as with those elements in our world typically dumped into the category of parapsychology. Moreover, recognizing the two primary components on either side of the equation, I am seeking to envision the physical formula that allows x+y=z. We have our drafting tools, and if we agree on what the concept of a helicopter is, can we then draft the theoretical mechanisms that illustrate the process of its operation? Would anyone like to join me in the effort?

By: Robert Landbeck

Robert Landbeck — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:10:12 +0000

What must be considered the profound experiment in ‘religious’ cognition is taking place not in association with any religious tradition or academic institution but as an open experiment from a number of sites on the web. And the answers provided here may come to resolve the most divisive questions of faith and the human condition that the moden world continues to stuggle to understand.”For those individuals who can imagine outside the historical cultural box, who are willing to learn something new and stand against the stream of fashionable thought and spin, an intellectual and moral revolution is already in progress, where the ‘impossible’ becomes inevitable, with the most potent Non Violent Direct Action any human being can take to advance peace, justice, change and progress. “To take part go to http://www.energon.org.uk

By: D J Wray

D J Wray — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:45:04 +0000

Have they used the same brain scanners on atheists? Perhaps they would find that there was something missing.D J Wrayhttp://www.atotalawareness.com

By: Leo White

Leo White — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:51:06 +0000

I am sure that somewhere on this planet of ours, cognitive scientists are exploring what goes on in the brain when we think of mathematical truths. These truths are objective in the strongest sense of the word (2+3 is equal to 5 whether you are Mother Theresa or Osama Bin Laden). They are based at least in part on our personal experiences. Yet there is something intangible about them (What color is 5? Where is the perfect right triangle? etc.) Relating them to neurological activity in no way detracts from their objectivity. It doesn’t reduce the object of knowledge to events in the brain (when I think 2 + 3 = 5 I am not thinking about something going on in my head–if I did, the object of mathematical thought would be a private and subjective rather than a public and objective). Something similar may be the case for other disciplines, such as science and religion. We must grant that they all involve neural activity, but that doesn’t take away from any objectivity that they may have.

By: Nathan Schneider

Nathan Schneider — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:34:55 +0000

Great to see a post on this topic. The movement has been building for several years, and is likely to expand dramatically in the years to come. Ann Taves, who in recent years has developed deep interests in the cognitive science of religion (CSR), is now President-Elect of the American Academy of Religion—where she has also led the charge in starting a cognitive science discussion group at the annual meeting. (She was also my graduate advisor.)I’ve written previously about theological interpretations of CSR here:http://www.searchmagazine.org/Archi ves/Back%20Issues/2008%20May-June/full-b ioreligion.htmlAnd I helped curate a discussion on it here:http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/category/ a-cognitive-revolution/Feel free to contact me if you’d like to discuss further.

By: Q.S.

Q.S. — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:39:21 +0000

I saw the blog post title referring to ‘religion studies’.I did not need to read any [url=http://javelineer.com/2009/06/18/ha rdcore-history-interviews-victor-davis-h anson/]further[/url].

By: John Shuey

John Shuey — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:04:18 +0000

The cognitive sciences will eventually drive the final nail into the coffin of irrational belief by showing conclusively that man created god(s) and not the other way around.Previous discoveries in History, Biology, Astronomy, and even serious Biblical Studies have painted the very concept of god(s) into an ever-shrinking corner. The stage is now set for the final blow.