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Droz
Love of Life



Registered: 10/15/00
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Loc: Floorida
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Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests?
#18945075 - 10/07/13 02:19 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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My niece asked me the other day, "Where do animals come from?" I told her that I cannot answer that for her and that she should look to science for the answers. My sister isn't religious either, so it's not like she is going to be raised in any religion. My niece is still young and the fact that she isn't raised religious.. will she turn to religion if she feels she believes in it, or will she take the openness that we give her as an opportunity to not follow the path of say Christians.
Being raised Christian though, some people drop away from it when they start to think that it isn't real. While others follow it to their deaths. Is there something different in the brain of a believer/non believer? Or is it conditioning? I gave my niece the opportunity to be curious and search for her own answers. I think it's the best that I told her to "think for yourself," and even the, "look into science for your answers."
I feel i'm a good Uncle and I hope she makes the choice of believing or not believing on her own without following others.
She will come up with her own answers!
-Droz
-------------------- Evolution of Time.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests? [Re: Droz] 1
#18945107 - 10/07/13 02:28 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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As to your thread title I think it would be highly unlikely.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Spacerific
- - - >


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Re: Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests? [Re: Icelander]
#18945481 - 10/07/13 03:53 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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We all have different propensities for liking this or that kind of activity. Some prefer staying indoors reading a book, whereas others much prefer large public gatherings like say, church or sporting events. So in that minor sense, yes religious people might be more inclined towards group activities.
The good part of religion is that it satisfies this need for public gatherings, celebrations, community, group integration.
The somewhat dubious part is when people try to take it too seriously, believing it to be factually true, reading it like a book about real things.

If we could agree that no, Jesus/Allah/Zeus/Shiva/Luke Skywalker won't come next Tuesday to end the world as we know it, but still it's fun to be out here celebrating their festival with some nice music, I think we could all get along much better. Science would be served better too, because we wouldn't search for accurate answers on biology in books of fiction.
It's worth noting that some religions may come with a lot less sex (at least before marriage) thus making life a lot less fun. Others come with far more sex than one intended, especially if one is a young good looking boy
-------------------- Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. - Matthew 13:16
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clam_dude
stranger in astrange land

Registered: 09/10/03
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Re: Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests? [Re: Droz] 1
#18945574 - 10/07/13 04:18 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Droz said: My niece asked me the other day, "Where do animals come from?" I told her that I cannot answer that for her and that she should look to science for the answers. My sister isn't religious either, so it's not like she is going to be raised in any religion. My niece is still young and the fact that she isn't raised religious.. will she turn to religion if she feels she believes in it, or will she take the openness that we give her as an opportunity to not follow the path of say Christians.
Being raised Christian though, some people drop away from it when they start to think that it isn't real. While others follow it to their deaths. Is there something different in the brain of a believer/non believer? Or is it conditioning? I gave my niece the opportunity to be curious and search for her own answers. I think it's the best that I told her to "think for yourself," and even the, "look into science for your answers."
I feel i'm a good Uncle and I hope she makes the choice of believing or not believing on her own without following others.
She will come up with her own answers!
-Droz
Interesting question...I think it's a bit of both. Some people stay with religion because their friends/family are religious. And I'm sure some stay religious because they're naturally gullible. But that gullibility (of maybe "lack of critical thinking" is a better description) isn't exclusive to religion. For example, someone could be anti-religious simply because they're raised by people critical of religion, which in and of itself isn't a good reason to dislike religion.
-------------------- "I would like to thank god for making me an atheist" - Ricky Gervais
Edited by clam_dude (10/07/13 04:19 PM)
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lolwut
bad motherfucker


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Re: Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests? [Re: Droz]
#18947269 - 10/07/13 10:29 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Droz said: My niece asked me the other day, "Where do animals come from?" I told her that I cannot answer that for her and that she should look to science for the answers. My sister isn't religious either, so it's not like she is going to be raised in any religion. My niece is still young and the fact that she isn't raised religious.. will she turn to religion if she feels she believes in it, or will she take the openness that we give her as an opportunity to not follow the path of say Christians.
Being raised Christian though, some people drop away from it when they start to think that it isn't real. While others follow it to their deaths. Is there something different in the brain of a believer/non believer? Or is it conditioning? I gave my niece the opportunity to be curious and search for her own answers. I think it's the best that I told her to "think for yourself," and even the, "look into science for your answers."
I feel i'm a good Uncle and I hope she makes the choice of believing or not believing on her own without following others.
She will come up with her own answers!
-Droz
Brain structure is different in everyone
-------------------- Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth, and taste...
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circastes
Big Questions Small Head



Registered: 01/14/10
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Re: Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests? [Re: lolwut]
#18947918 - 10/08/13 01:54 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Brain structure, function, chemistry can completely change a person but I don't think it's able to be extended to belief in God.
Belief in God is only attainable by experiencing oneself as God, there is no other God and there is no other way to be a true believer. If you have not experienced your true nature of course you have no RIGHT to believe, let alone be expected to.
God alone is, you worship Thyself by being Who you really are, and when you are doing that you know it, there is no doubt.
-------------------- My solitude... My shield... My armour... TESTED WITH FULL FORCE
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests? [Re: circastes]
#18948238 - 10/08/13 05:33 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Brain structure, function, chemistry can completely change a person but I don't think it's able to be extended to belief in God.
Quoted for humor value.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Cyclohexylamine
Turn on, Tune in, Drop out



Registered: 09/08/10
Posts: 14,327
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Re: Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests? [Re: Droz]
#18948598 - 10/08/13 08:51 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Droz said: My niece asked me the other day, "Where do animals come from?" I told her that I cannot answer that for her and that she should look to science for the answers. My sister isn't religious either, so it's not like she is going to be raised in any religion. My niece is still young and the fact that she isn't raised religious.. will she turn to religion if she feels she believes in it, or will she take the openness that we give her as an opportunity to not follow the path of say Christians.
Being raised Christian though, some people drop away from it when they start to think that it isn't real. While others follow it to their deaths. Is there something different in the brain of a believer/non believer? Or is it conditioning? I gave my niece the opportunity to be curious and search for her own answers. I think it's the best that I told her to "think for yourself," and even the, "look into science for your answers."
I feel i'm a good Uncle and I hope she makes the choice of believing or not believing on her own without following others.
She will come up with her own answers!
-Droz
I don't think it is either - it all goes back to existential anxiety and how the particular person decides to cope with it imo.
--------------------
You are not special
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MuffinShroomMan
Stranger


Registered: 09/30/13
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Re: Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests? [Re: Cyclohexylamine]
#18952397 - 10/08/13 11:33 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Tell me whether I'm bi-polar or not... and I'll answer your question right now.
Agnostics vs "religious" people anyways
-------------------- "Mein Fuhrer!!!! I can WALK!!!!"
For every trolls head you sever... 10 more will spawn in its place. For every 10 trolls you give advice to... 1 will listen. Special thanks to shroompuncher for making the cool pic <3
Edited by MuffinShroomMan (10/08/13 11:37 PM)
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MuffinShroomMan
Stranger


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Re: Is the brain structure different in religous people compared to athiests? [Re: MuffinShroomMan]
#18952420 - 10/08/13 11:40 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Because when I prove I'm not bipolar to a doctor... they call me a lesser type of bipolar.
And when I show no signs and not doing drugs... they call me depressed.
But I was happy before drugs. Now I'm neutral. And if the world doesn't like neutral. Then I guess I need more drugs.
-------------------- "Mein Fuhrer!!!! I can WALK!!!!"
For every trolls head you sever... 10 more will spawn in its place. For every 10 trolls you give advice to... 1 will listen. Special thanks to shroompuncher for making the cool pic <3
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