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What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Believing in God

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Re: What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Believing in God

#41

Post by gremlinsinc »

ASalazarMX wrote: post #34
gremlinsinc wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree w/ the parts that we aren't belief-less heathens. I'm still inspired and awestruck as an exmormon/agnostic when I see a beautiful space image or sunset. Or just watching my kids experience new things for the first time. I find I'm more spiritual as an agnostic than I was before losing religion, spiritual to me is just feeling inspired or 'touched' by a movie or book or event in my life. It's about honoring th…

> I still believe an afterlife could exist, but it isn't controlled by a deity, it'd just be energy being re-used which happens all the time in nature. It certainly would be amazing, but I chose to take a more pragmatic approach. Since we can't disprove the afterlife, I live my life as if it's the only one. That doesn't mean living feverishly, just enjoying the moment more.

I take a ... can't know so don't worry --stoic'ish point of view. I don't worry or fret about it.. and I've replaced religion w/ some teachings from stoicism --mainly the parts about focusing on the fact that one day I'll cease breathing. Once you get over the fear of that fact -- there's peace in trying to "live for today because tomorrow you may die".

My biggest fears/regret about that realization really is knowing I'll miss out on so much life and experiences from my kids and someday grandkids, and I'm still holding out that immortality tech gets some momentum... lol

Don't think I want to live forever, but if I can see FTL and first contact -- I'll be happy.

I also try not to focus on what isn't important.. i.e. what I have control over. I don't have control over afterlife, death, and how/when it'll happen so doesn't matter if we worry.

Taking away the things that don't matter from our worries column frees up the stress centers in the brain. Now if only I could run a stress-free freelance dev business.

Re: What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Believing in God

#42

Post by apta »

ASalazarMX wrote: post #23

Didn't bother reading the article since most comments say it's worthless. I expected a talk about measured brain activity. I was raised a catholic, and the most prevalent feelings I got out of that was paranoia and fear. They teach you there's an omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful being judging your every thought 24/7, for all your life. He's personally interested in you, he says he loves you dearly, but for some…

> that opened my eyes out of religion

Out of Catholicism perhaps, unless people studied each and every religion out there, they can't make this claim.

Re: What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Believing in God

#43

Post by ykevinator »

ASalazarMX wrote: post #23

Didn't bother reading the article since most comments say it's worthless. I expected a talk about measured brain activity. I was raised a catholic, and the most prevalent feelings I got out of that was paranoia and fear. They teach you there's an omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful being judging your every thought 24/7, for all your life. He's personally interested in you, he says he loves you dearly, but for some…

Exact same, I was interest in the actual brain changes not the "you know like brain or whatever"

Re: What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Believing in God

#44

Post by ykevinator »

apta wrote: post #42
ASalazarMX wrote: post #23

Didn't bother reading the article since most comments say it's worthless. I expected a talk about measured brain activity. I was raised a catholic, and the most prevalent feelings I got out of that was paranoia and fear. They teach you there's an omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful being judging your every thought 24/7, for all your life. He's personally interested in you, he says he loves you dearly, but for some…

> that opened my eyes out of religion Out of Catholicism perhaps, unless people studied each and every religion out there, they can't make this claim.

They can make the claim because it's disbelief in the supernatural, not one flavor of supernatural.

Re: What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Believing in God

#45

Post by lcall »

lcall wrote: post #25

I have learned for myself, with long effort and evaluation of when I was right and when I was wrong, that God is real and does care, that He answers sincere prayers in His time, and our choices matter. I have written how I know, here, in detail (a simple site). It includes reason, and feelings that came as a result of actions I chose. http://lukecall.net/e-9223372036854587400.html But everyone will decide for themsel…

(If I could still edit this I would delete the joke.)

Re: What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Believing in God

#46

Post by ASalazarMX »

ykevinator wrote: post #44
apta wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> that opened my eyes out of religion Out of Catholicism perhaps, unless people studied each and every religion out there, they can't make this claim.

They can make the claim because it's disbelief in the supernatural, not one flavor of supernatural.

Late reply, but this is it. Once you analyze a religion and its patterns for indoctrination, you find the same patterns in others.

I was raised a Catholic, but lived in a city with persistent derivatives trying to convert you to, like Jehovah's Witnesses, Christians, Mormons...

Better yet, publicly declaring yourself as an atheist means "possible convert" for some evangelists, so I was also invited to join cults like Dianetics, Satanism and Wicca. Surprisingly, Satanism or Wicca felt like less-aggresive forms of make-believe, more fantasy than religion.

In my experience, every religion/cult that demands conversions follows this simple recipe:

1. You must unquestionably and absolutely commit to the god(s) described in this book(s).

2. This god will disproportionately reward you if you obey his orders.

3. This god will disproportionately punish you if you disobey his orders.

4. This god can only give you orders through a few middle-men.

5. The middle-men speak for god, thus are always right and should not be questioned.

6. Sometimes, god will need money or labor. Give it to the middle-men.

7. Collect your reward/punishment after death.

8. Suicide is cheating.

9. IMPORTANT: God will disproportionately punish people who don't even know about him, so it's your sacred duty to save them by converting them to this religion.

Re: What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Believing in God

#47

Post by lcall »

ASalazarMX wrote: post #33
lcall wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a religious person, I wouldn't personally teach the fear business that you describe. Choices matter, and I believe He has provided us consequences, as well as opportunity for complete forgiveness and tremendous opportunity for learning and growth, with family ties and other benefits that can go beyond the grave. Details at http://lukecall.net/e-9223372036854587400.html (a simple site). (Maybe I should have made my…

It's not that fear is purposefully taught. Your first indoctrinators are your parents, and they love you, they hardly would harm you. It's just that indoctrination starts even before your identity and common sense develop. You grow up thinking crime thought and the thought police are real, and that really messes with your sense of security. I suppose different kids internalize that in different ways. For me, it was c…

Regardless of what humans do, the question is: is God real? I have learned for myself, and now know. Anyone can if they choose to read the Book of Mormon and put it to the test: God makes a clear promise in it (in the last chapter). That gives me great help in life to deal with things and do better.

(Commandments are not intended as any excuse to quickly punish us, but are like guardrails on the highway, but He never forces our minds: we can choose, which allows us to learn and grow. I have seen that, across generations.)

(Edit: I am also sure I didn't make it up in my mind. Details at http://lukecall.net .)

Re: What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Believing in God

#48

Post by lcall »

ASalazarMX wrote: post #46
ykevinator wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can make the claim because it's disbelief in the supernatural, not one flavor of supernatural.

Late reply, but this is it. Once you analyze a religion and its patterns for indoctrination, you find the same patterns in others. I was raised a Catholic, but lived in a city with persistent derivatives trying to convert you to, like Jehovah's Witnesses, Christians, Mormons... Better yet, publicly declaring yourself as an atheist means "possible convert" for some evangelists, so I was also invited to join cults like…

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those do not represent my beliefs. Quickly I can identify at least #s 3, 4, 5, and especially the 1st 1/2 of #9, and other phrasing, which I do not believe. Maybe more. And #1 is an individual choice after we learn, and He is capable of being both just and merciful, since after all, we believe we are His children, not objects of spite. Everyone will have a chance eventually to choose, fairly, what level of blessings they want from Him, and whether to live accordingly. And yes, our choices do have consequences, but we will all have a fair chance to repent (change our ways).
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