Doubters Be(a)ware
"Neural Markers of Religious Conviction" published in the March edition of Psychological Science brings a new revelation to the fore in religious studies. Oh, not that kind of religious studies, rather a psycho-social interpretation of how relevant the authors of the paper claim religion to be in anchoring people in certainty and confidence.
The claim is that those people with firm religious convictions appear to be capable of swifter decision making, and suffer fewer doubts and aftermath consequences if their decisions turn out to be incorrect, than non-believers. "We suggest that religious conviction buffers against anxiety by providing meaning", say the authors. Do they really insist on the word 'meaning', confusing it with the word 'comfort'?
Using simple colour-code tests the authors ascertained by neural responses that those steeped in religious belief remained calmer than those without and were more accurate in their decision-making. They drew the conclusion that religiosity conclusively assists people, preparing them for certainty in choices, and relaxing their anxiety reflexes.
An interesting, truly fascinating finding. One can only wonder whether the interpretation of the question-and-answer results and the brain scans leading the researchers to their conclusion might be otherwise interpreted? Which is to say how about the possibility that those with faith have abandoned in some part the issue of personal independence and responsibility.
Unfortunate choices and actions made by those faithful to their religion have the comfort of knowing that their Maker is forgiving, and clerics are willing to forgive them their sins of omission and commission on His behalf. Their sense of personal obligation and responsibility may therefore be muted in the knowledge that they will not be damned.
Whereas non-believers, with an equal propensity to the very human knowledge of differentiating between right and wrong, and making choices in the broader sense, understand that they and they alone are responsible for their free-will choices. They must forgive themselves their trespasses or errors, for no one else will.
Perhaps it is as simple a matter as the rigidity of faith promising salvation as opposed to the responsibility inherent in intellectual rigour.
The claim is that those people with firm religious convictions appear to be capable of swifter decision making, and suffer fewer doubts and aftermath consequences if their decisions turn out to be incorrect, than non-believers. "We suggest that religious conviction buffers against anxiety by providing meaning", say the authors. Do they really insist on the word 'meaning', confusing it with the word 'comfort'?
Using simple colour-code tests the authors ascertained by neural responses that those steeped in religious belief remained calmer than those without and were more accurate in their decision-making. They drew the conclusion that religiosity conclusively assists people, preparing them for certainty in choices, and relaxing their anxiety reflexes.
An interesting, truly fascinating finding. One can only wonder whether the interpretation of the question-and-answer results and the brain scans leading the researchers to their conclusion might be otherwise interpreted? Which is to say how about the possibility that those with faith have abandoned in some part the issue of personal independence and responsibility.
Unfortunate choices and actions made by those faithful to their religion have the comfort of knowing that their Maker is forgiving, and clerics are willing to forgive them their sins of omission and commission on His behalf. Their sense of personal obligation and responsibility may therefore be muted in the knowledge that they will not be damned.
Whereas non-believers, with an equal propensity to the very human knowledge of differentiating between right and wrong, and making choices in the broader sense, understand that they and they alone are responsible for their free-will choices. They must forgive themselves their trespasses or errors, for no one else will.
Perhaps it is as simple a matter as the rigidity of faith promising salvation as opposed to the responsibility inherent in intellectual rigour.
Labels: Bioscience, Human Relations, Whoops
posted by Pieface @ 5:41 PM
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