Alternet A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia has shown that religious fundamentalism is, in part, the result of a functional impairment in a brain region known as the prefrontal cortex. 

The findings suggest that damage to particular areas of the prefrontal cortex indirectly promotes religious fundamentalism by diminishing cognitive flexibility and openness—a psychology term that describes a personality trait which involves dimensions like curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness.

Religious beliefs can be thought of as socially transmitted mental representations that consist of supernatural events and entities assumed to be real. Religious beliefs differ from empirical beliefs, which are based on how the world appears to be and are updated as new evidence accumulates or when new theories with better predictive power emerge. On the other hand, religious beliefs are not usually updated in response to new evidence or scientific explanations, and are therefore strongly associated with conservatism. They are fixed and rigid, which helps promote predictability and coherence to the rules of society among individuals within the group.

Religious fundamentalism refers to an ideology that emphasizes traditional religious texts and rituals and discourages progressive thinking about religion and social issues. 

Continue reading @ Alternet.

Scientists Establish Link Between Religious Fundamentalism And Brain Damage

Alternet A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia has shown that religious fundamentalism is, in part, the result of a functional impairment in a brain region known as the prefrontal cortex. 

The findings suggest that damage to particular areas of the prefrontal cortex indirectly promotes religious fundamentalism by diminishing cognitive flexibility and openness—a psychology term that describes a personality trait which involves dimensions like curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness.

Religious beliefs can be thought of as socially transmitted mental representations that consist of supernatural events and entities assumed to be real. Religious beliefs differ from empirical beliefs, which are based on how the world appears to be and are updated as new evidence accumulates or when new theories with better predictive power emerge. On the other hand, religious beliefs are not usually updated in response to new evidence or scientific explanations, and are therefore strongly associated with conservatism. They are fixed and rigid, which helps promote predictability and coherence to the rules of society among individuals within the group.

Religious fundamentalism refers to an ideology that emphasizes traditional religious texts and rituals and discourages progressive thinking about religion and social issues. 

Continue reading @ Alternet.

9 comments:

  1. I wonder if the brain circuitry of anti-vaxxers and other conspiracy theorists are wired in a similar way.

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    1. The headline to the article is attention grabbing and misleading Barry. It doesn't delve into what might be affect as opposed to what might be cause. It merely speculates on correlation.
      The closing paragraphs are the most accurate.
      "The authors emphasize that cognitive flexibility and openness aren’t the only things that make brains vulnerable to religious fundamentalism. In fact, their analyses showed that these factors only accounted for a fifth of the variation in fundamentalism scores. Uncovering those additional causes, which could be anything from genetic predispositions to social influences, is a future research project ..."

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  2. Replies
    1. I know your comment is tongue in cheek Steve but Ian in his comments is not aggressive, a characteristic which the author claims of fundamentalist groups.

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    2. Ian's the best of people.

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    3. Yeah I know, I was just taking the piss.

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    4. we knew you were taking the piss and there was absolutely no malice in it. You could say it a hundred times and not be sent to Bates & Wilkes. I laughed when you said it but knew Ian would have laughed as well. He believes what he believes but doesn't get too precious about himself. It was just an opening for us to share our thoughts about him. He is as welcome here and as valued as the next person.

      There is a strong strain within Baptism that values secularism because it is viewed as a shield that has protected Baptists from persecution from other religions.

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  3. Och I know he's grand, with a tenuous grasp of reality though.

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    1. I have said that to him many times. The evidence is so overwhelming but he chooses to ignore it in favour of the myths.

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