Results: What Religion Does to Your Brain
Published on 08/14/2018
The existence of a truly divine power might be a matter of opinion for some people, but the neurophysiological effects of religious belief are scientific facts that can be accurately measured. Research in the field of "neurotheology" - or the neuroscience of theological belief - has made some surprising discoveries that are bound to change how we think about spirituality. Here, we take a look at some of these effects, as shown by the latest research. Such findings have intriguing implications for how religion affects health & vice-versa. Whether you are a staunch atheist, a reserved agnostic or a devout believer, you are equally likely to find the effects of religion on human brains quite amazing.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
Which of these categories most closely describes your religious beliefs? Atheist (Disbelief in God)
10%
215 votes
Believer (Have Faith in God)
71%
1507 votes
Agnostic (Neither Faith nor Disbelief in God)
21%
448 votes
2.
2.
Religious belief can increase our lifespan & help us better cope with disease. Did you know this? Yes
56%
1178 votes
No
47%
992 votes
3.
3.
The findings of numerous studies found that engaging in spiritual practices raises levels of serotonin, which is the "happiness" neurotransmitter & endorphins. Have you ever experienced this yourself? Yes
48%
1009 votes
No
36%
767 votes
Not Applicable
19%
394 votes
4.
4.
Religion fulfills needs that our brains are designed to have and neurotheology is able to help with the development of therapeutic approaches to helping people with various disorders including neurological and psychiatric conditions. If your living with a chronic disorder or know others who are, does this news give you hope? Yes
48%
1012 votes
No
18%
392 votes
Not Applicable
36%
766 votes
5.
5.
Although different religions activate brain regions differently, they all produce increased activity in the frontal lobes of the brain. These areas are linked with increased focus and attention, planning skills, the ability to project into the future and the ability to construct complex arguments. Do you find this surprising? Yes
42%
886 votes
No
61%
1284 votes
6.
6.
Do you feel, based on scientific findings, that spiritual practices can have a practical application in health matters? Yes
71%
1495 votes
No
32%
675 votes
COMMENTS