Skip to comments.
Study Finds Link Between Brain Damage and Religious Fundamentalism
The Big Think ^
| 05/09/2017
| Paul Ratner
Posted on 05/09/2017 7:01:54 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Eyerusalem Solomon of Tacoma Park, Maryland, prays for Pope John Paul II in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception March 31, 2005 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Scientists found that damage in a certain part of the brain is linked to an increase in religious fundamentalism. In particular, lesions in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reduced cognitive flexibility - the ability to challenge our beliefs based on new evidence.
The researchers, led by Jordan Grafman of Northwestern University, utilized data gathered from Vietnam War veterans as part of the Vietnam Head Injury Study. They compared levels of religious fundamentalism between 119 vets who had lesions and 30 veterans who didn’t.
The study further confirms that the prefrontal cortex is associated with religious beliefs and is the latest in a number of recent studies that look to find the neurological basis for religion.
“The variation in the nature of religious beliefs are governed by specific brain areas in the anterior parts of the human brain and those brain areas are among the most recently evolved areas of the human brain,” said Grafman.
How free these areas are from disease, in particular the part known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, may determine a person’s mental openness - necessary to appreciate the “diversity of religious thought.” The prefrontal cortex was previously linked to having a cognitive function in spiritual experiences.
CREDIT: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
(Excerpt) Read more at bigthink.com ...
TOPICS: Science; Society
KEYWORDS: braindamage; fundamentalism; religion
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-74 next last
To: SeekAndFind
The researchers define fundamentalism as a cognitive approach that embodies adherence to a set of firm religious beliefs advocating unassailable truths about human existence.
To: SeekAndFind
oh please. How about a correlation between race and crime? Let’s publish that story
To: SeekAndFind
4
posted on
05/09/2017 7:04:01 AM PDT
by
HiTech RedNeck
(Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
To: SeekAndFind
Having met a few, it wouldnt surprise me...
5
posted on
05/09/2017 7:04:05 AM PDT
by
wyowolf
(Be ware when the preachers take over the Republican party...)
To: SeekAndFind
Ah well, if we are brain damaged we are disabled this a victim class, so, perhaps we can get special rights now. Maybe we won’t have to Bake the Cake.
6
posted on
05/09/2017 7:04:24 AM PDT
by
Persevero
(Love you guys)
To: SeekAndFind
7
posted on
05/09/2017 7:04:40 AM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
To: SeekAndFind
" . . . may determine a persons mental openness - necessary to appreciate the diversity of religious thought.
Does this mean that militant atheists and secularists are also brain damaged?
To: SeekAndFind
9
posted on
05/09/2017 7:06:11 AM PDT
by
silverleaf
(We voted for change, not leftover change)
To: Persevero
"Ah well, if we are brain damaged we are disabled this a victim class, so, perhaps we can get special rights now. Maybe we wont have to Bake the Cake."
Good point.
To: SeekAndFind; lightman
.....mental openness - necessary to appreciate the diversity of religious thought.....
Diversity of religious thought has been traditionally defined by the Holy Fathers as heresy!!!!
PHOOEY!!!!
11
posted on
05/09/2017 7:06:18 AM PDT
by
Honorary Serb
(Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
To: SeekAndFind
Can we guess who funded this pile of crap?
12
posted on
05/09/2017 7:06:46 AM PDT
by
dowcaet
To: Steve_Seattle
One can understand a lot of viewpoints and still choose one over the others.
13
posted on
05/09/2017 7:07:02 AM PDT
by
HiTech RedNeck
(Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
To: SeekAndFind
Have they found any link between liberalism and stupidity?
14
posted on
05/09/2017 7:08:22 AM PDT
by
Mr. K
(***THERE IS NO CONSEQUENCE OF REPEALING OBAMACARE THAT IS WORSE THAN OBAMACARE ITSELF***)
To: SeekAndFind
15
posted on
05/09/2017 7:08:48 AM PDT
by
caver
(Trump: Home of the Winner)
To: SeekAndFind
Very interesting. Say, Jordan, you find adherence to any one particular set of religious beliefs is more prevalent than others?
16
posted on
05/09/2017 7:08:53 AM PDT
by
Texas Eagle
(If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
To: SeekAndFind
Junk science.
And, they want ultimately to claim they can scan for thought crimes.
17
posted on
05/09/2017 7:08:54 AM PDT
by
ifinnegan
(Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
To: SeekAndFind
"They compared levels of religious fundamentalism between 119 vets who had lesions and 30 veterans who didnt."
Wow, that's a HUGE sample. Did they study anyone other than Vietnam vets to see how many "fundamentalists" in the general public have brain damage?
To: Honorary Serb
One could understand what it would be like to be, say, Buddhist while still having excellent reason to believe something else. These folks need to be careful where they are going.
19
posted on
05/09/2017 7:10:08 AM PDT
by
HiTech RedNeck
(Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
To: HiTech RedNeck
"One can understand a lot of viewpoints and still choose one over the others."
And many people who would be called "fundamentalists" have studied other religions and viewpoints.
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-74 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson