The English news paper “The Telegraph” published an interesting article on the controversial science of neurotheology and the results of research to find out the question: why do we believe? It uses magnetic electrical fields, applied directly to the brain evoking religious experiences. Have a look at
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10914137/What-God-does-to-your-brain.html
I don’t intend to discuss that research here, although I hope you will have a look at it, but an interesting observation was made by a poster on the forum that followed the article. When comparing a computer with a brain he noted that a computer was programmed by human beings and then asked me the question “who programmed you?” He wanted me to admit that it was God. Here is my answer:
Thank you, thank you for asking a great question! " Who programmed me? Well when my brain was formed it was a blank slate, which slowly was programmed by the environment and the people who brought me up, naturally their beliefs and biases were passed on too me. Growing up, observing the environment and the situation I found myself in, I also noticed that there were conflicting opinions about religion and I had to make a judgment of the different positions or experiences.
This natural process explains precisely why there are so many religions since tribes were mainly isolated in the past and so many different theories about the nature of the universe evolved. The more we understand nature, the more we can judge the value of the different philosophies. That's why there is no ”one correct" religion because we were "programmed" by the environment we grew up in and the daily experience of living. If you were born in another part of the world you would be a Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist etc. If there was ONE TRUE GOD who programmed the human brain (that's what you imply with the question) then there would be no different gods or religions.
Another poster, answering to the same person, wrote the following:
It appears logical to believe in all the over 400,000 named gods, goddesses, god-men and other supernatural entities that appear to exist only within human imagination and human authored books of fiction.., or to believe in none of those many, many imaginary gods.
To believe in one god without evidence, while dismissing the myriad others that similarly lack evidence - appears to be irrational and illogical.
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you may come to understand why I dismiss yours."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10914137/What-God-does-to-your-brain.html
I don’t intend to discuss that research here, although I hope you will have a look at it, but an interesting observation was made by a poster on the forum that followed the article. When comparing a computer with a brain he noted that a computer was programmed by human beings and then asked me the question “who programmed you?” He wanted me to admit that it was God. Here is my answer:
Thank you, thank you for asking a great question! " Who programmed me? Well when my brain was formed it was a blank slate, which slowly was programmed by the environment and the people who brought me up, naturally their beliefs and biases were passed on too me. Growing up, observing the environment and the situation I found myself in, I also noticed that there were conflicting opinions about religion and I had to make a judgment of the different positions or experiences.
This natural process explains precisely why there are so many religions since tribes were mainly isolated in the past and so many different theories about the nature of the universe evolved. The more we understand nature, the more we can judge the value of the different philosophies. That's why there is no ”one correct" religion because we were "programmed" by the environment we grew up in and the daily experience of living. If you were born in another part of the world you would be a Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist etc. If there was ONE TRUE GOD who programmed the human brain (that's what you imply with the question) then there would be no different gods or religions.
Another poster, answering to the same person, wrote the following:
It appears logical to believe in all the over 400,000 named gods, goddesses, god-men and other supernatural entities that appear to exist only within human imagination and human authored books of fiction.., or to believe in none of those many, many imaginary gods.
To believe in one god without evidence, while dismissing the myriad others that similarly lack evidence - appears to be irrational and illogical.
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you may come to understand why I dismiss yours."
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