Are Our Brains Hard-wired for God?
NPR intelligently asks if human brains are naturally hard-wired for God? A number of reputable scientists believe it is. The science of all of this brain and spirituality talk raises a provoking question: “Is God a delusion created by brain chemistry, or is brain chemistry a necessary conduit for people to reach God?” NPR’s incredible interactive presentation – titled “Is This Your Brain On God” – is as good a place as any to start thinking about this subject.
Is This Your Brain On God? More than half of adult Americans report they have had a spiritual experience that changed their lives. Now, scientists from universities like Harvard, Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins are using new technologies to analyze the brains of people who claim they have touched the spiritual – from Christians who speak in tongues to Buddhist monks to people who claim to have had near-death experiences. Hear what they have discovered in this controversial field, as the science of spirituality continues to evolve.
The human brain is a very mysterious thing and the discovery of “hard-wiring” for mystical or spiritual experiences really should not be that great of a surprise. Where else would these things occur and how else would process the knowledge or awareness of these occurrences? The big question, again, really has to do with whether or not God is a delusion created by brain chemistry, or is brain chemistry a necessary conduit for people to reach God? This question, of course, is asked in context of the NPR story, and assumes the presuppositions stated. Remember, we all have our cache of presuppositions; some are just a lot better and more sensible than others.
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This is an interesting question – I had a philosophy course where we talked about this, specifically in connection to Descartes’ “problem of the mind and body” and Gilbert Ryle’s response in “The Ghost in the Machine”.
I won’t pretend to be a biologist, but it seems to make sense that our brain would be wired this way – your analysis makes perfect sense. Either we made up God because our brains evolved that way, or else our brains are that way because God wanted us to be able to conceive of Him, etc. Nicely put, Shawn.
The only real concern here is that many seem to expect science to be able to answer every question of human existence, while in fact it is only a useful tool in a toolbox that also contains other methods. So long as we and others remember that, this is a great study.
I share your concern, Dave. Science has its limits, for sure. I always temper scientific knowledge with divinity. For example, we know how it rains, but still have no idea why it rains. Does that make sense? We may be able to point to a part of the brain and say, “That’s where love comes from,” so to speak, but we still can’t answer the question of why we love. Furthermore, when I feel love, the last thing on my mind is the chemical processes that are involved! A guy like Richard Dawkins, who is a great biologist, obviously, tends to reduce the totality of the human experience to chemical processes. I think that would be a rather drab existence.
I agree with you. Science has its limits.
That said, I do think it can also reveal flashes of divinity that are simply awe inspiring and non-existent in expressions of faith that fear or avoid science completely because of fear.
I love the whole “Ghost in the Machine” concept. I have an oil painting I did a few years back that is called “The Ghost in the Machine.” My wife thinks it (my paining) is frightening and forced me to put it in the attic. I suppose it is! :)
I agree with you sincerely – the Divine as revealed by the natural is a beautiful thing. One should not reject science, as you said, but should use it for what it is useful for – dealing with the observable, natural world around us.
Preach it, brother!