Religion vs. Spirituality

by Oubliette 54 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  adamah

  Etude said- Since that encounter, I have seen several experiments conducted which demonstrate specific areas of the brain are stimulated when someone is in a state of meditation or deep prayer or in a state of profound contemplation.

  As opposed to what: 'frivilous' contemplation?

  Yes, there's a burgeoning field of 'neurotheology', looking at the roots of religious beliefs in the brain. The so-called "Koren (God) helmet" seems to indicate that a feeling of "spiritual" can be elicited in non-believing individuals by exposing their temporal lobe to a strong magnetic field:

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_helmet

  This writer of this article remains skeptical, pointing out the flaws in methodology used:

  http://www.skepdic.com/godhelmet.html

  Here's the typical YouTube over-produced video (featuring narration by Morgan Freeman, etc), likely designed to accompany some book being sold to laypersons on the topic:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y02UlkYjSi0

  Adam
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  Satanus

  Here is a better raga, indian classical http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKU4GJSCBEY

  S
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  doofdaddy

  Nice to see S(atanus) about again...

  For a few Rupees I got to hear a raga played by four gurus of their particular instrument (including a classical male dancer). Sitting in the evening heat of a Dharamsala summer, actually on a flat roof of someone's home, with a few mats, cushions and candles to set the scene, I (and about 6 others) was priviliged to see and hear some of the greatest musicians in India. They were all from Varanasi (Benares) which is the centre of classical music in India. No drugs required, I lost a few hours in a meditative state and yes I got a glimpse of the oneness of humans, in fact all material things. Spiritual? I don't know. Many scientists I imagine would feel the same awe and respect for the Universe.

  My current saying to all people's opinions and beliefs is...

  It's possible
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  Satanus

  Doof

  True. There are no words for it, really. Good for you, having been able to experience that.

  S
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  Etude

  Satanus:

  Whatever it is, it seems to serve a purpose, in at least the fact that the reduced stress and longevity observed in some individuals may be the result of prolonged and regular spiritual experiences. In one case, they tested a nun. She was close to 90 years old and had achieved a way, via a lot of rote and practice, to enter a contemplative state. Another case used a Buddhist monk. Buddhists are not necessarily religious and achieve a similar (often deep) state of contemplation via meditation techniques. The findings are significant enough that it’s taking some re-education to cause Drs to consider it in their diagnosis. Here’s an abstract of such findings.

  adamah:

  No. It is profound contemplation as opposed to mild or casual contemplation. You know, like your attention span, like when you temporarily space out.I posted about this topic 8 years ago and had a picture of that helmet. It’s really not that new. The link is broken now but it was the same crude helmet. The studies I mentioned had nothing to do with that helmet, so I take it the reference about the flaws in methodology involving the helmet are not an issue since the experiments I’ve seen were done in medical facilities by researchers either from academia or independently sponsored.