THE RELIGIOUS BRAIN
Did you know that according to some scientist your brain determines your theological beliefs? You’re probably thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding!” Well, actually I’m not. Here is the story:
This week I was talking to a friend of mine who happens to be a well-known and respected neurologist. While talking together about the subject of religion, he asked me if I had heard of the study of Neurotheology. “Not really,” I responded. Then he went on to explain it to me in layman’s terms.
Neurotheology is the study between the activity of the neurons of the Temporal lobe section of the brain and their responses to theological thinking. These neurons are supposed to influence what religion we would choose.
Finding that this theory is being accepted by some of today’s scientific minds, it set me to thinking about what we could see if we could peer inside the brain, and view how these neurons would appear according to their religious preferences. Here is what I would expect to see:
Ten Religious Preferences and Their Neuron Activity
Baptist – Neurons pushing against each other
Independent Baptist – Totally separated from the other neurons
Hard Shell Baptist – Neurons Petrified
Calvinist – Frozen in place
United Methodist – Active only on left side of brain
Seeker Sensitive – Hard to determine any pattern at all
Charismatic – Do you remember the game Pong?
Mormon – Each neuron was missing for a two year period
Catholic – Small neurons encircling one large neuron in the middle
Atheist – That part of the brain is missing
Now I don’t image this to be verifiable science, but it’s just as acceptable a theory as any other in Neurotheology.
AN AMERICAN STORY
This is an excerpt from our IN GOD WE Still TRUST perpetual inspiration calendar. Copies are available at our bookstore. click here.
There is no doubt that the risen Christ is indeed worthy to be praised and worshiped throughout eternity. It is interesting that in our nation’s Capital, the first and last rays of sunlight fall every day upon its tallest building – the 555-foot Washington Monument. And there on its top, inscribed on the four-sided aluminum capstone are the Latin words Laus Deo, which means “Praise be to God.” This simple expression of praise reflects America’s abiding belief that God has blessed our country with liberty and divine favor.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
The Beginning and the End,
The First and the Last.
REVELATION 22:13