Design by default The idea that our morality, consciousness, and psyche are products of a physical brain is a new construct. Prior to this, people have long been compelled by the argument surrounding the evolution of complex organisms, and have been influenced by theologians and scientists, including Charles Darwin and William Paley. William Paley was… Continue reading Design and Darwinian Natural Selection
Tag: science
Science, transcendence, and belief: commonalities in our neurology and psychology
Transcendent experiences As I’ve written about previously, belief in ideas may be innate aspect of our psychology and neurology, and this may be an evolutionary byproduct. To understand belief, understanding transcendent experiences is important, and a search on the internet will provide thousands of alleged supernatural encounters with god, Jesus, Vishnu, angels, and other related… Continue reading Science, transcendence, and belief: commonalities in our neurology and psychology
Addictive disease: a focus on alcohol use disorders
Overview of alcohol abuse Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are patterns of drinking that cause distress and impairment that may or may not be alcohol dependence. (http://www.dsm5.org/documents/substance%20use%20disorder%20fact%20sheet.pdf) In the United States, 16.6 million adults were diagnosed with an AUD in 2013, including 10.8 million men and 5.8 million women. Of those, 1.3 million received treatment in… Continue reading Addictive disease: a focus on alcohol use disorders
Intelligence and religiosity: schools of thought
Defining Intelligence and religiosity In order to address this topic, first intelligence and religiosity must be defined. One definition of intelligence is “A very general mental capability that, among other things, involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience. It is not a narrow academic… Continue reading Intelligence and religiosity: schools of thought
Neurobiology of moral behavior: Part I
Overview The discussion on morality is often confused by religious doctrine and language in the debate arena; however, in communication between believers and non-believers this subject invariably will arise. There is no ultimate arbiter of morality, we define the terms, and Sam Harris defines morality as a measure of well being, which is a reasonable… Continue reading Neurobiology of moral behavior: Part I
Consciousness and free will from a neuroscience perspective
Overview There are five accepted domains that are thought to contribute to consciousness, including perceptual, motivational, emotional, cognitive which includes language, and motor. The more commonly held belief in research is that conscious awareness is a biological property consisting of sentience, awareness, thoughts, and feelings and that this phenomenon is based upon evolved neuroanatomical and… Continue reading Consciousness and free will from a neuroscience perspective
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Light therapy and proposed mechanisms of action
Overview This article is for educational purposes; this is not a substitute for medical evaluation, professional diagnosis, or treatment recommendations by a provider. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD or SADS) is a mood disorder with a seasonal pattern, most commonly occurring during the winter months. The disorder is prevalent worldwide, and SAD is distinct from the… Continue reading Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Light therapy and proposed mechanisms of action
A little bedtime reading part II: insomnia and mental illness, depression and PTSD
Overview “Each night, we lie down to sleep, only to be stolen from our beds and plunged into a realm where our personal histories and the laws of nature no longer apply. Generally, we do not retain enough of a purchase on reality to even notice that anything out of the ordinary has happened. The… Continue reading A little bedtime reading part II: insomnia and mental illness, depression and PTSD
Medical basis for visions and possessions
Originally posted on Hereticdoc:
Cultural acceptance of supernatural phenomenon For well over our 2,500 years of modern religions, certain types of phenomenon have been indoctrinated into our culture as supernatural, such as those who see visions, or are demonic possessed for example. “One of the earliest pieces of evidence for supernatural beliefs is the first…
Near Death Experiences (NDEs)
Overview The afterlife or soul ideology brings with it a multitude of problems when it comes to the actual understanding and science of the brain, physiology, and how this relates to death, as well as positive assertions when the evidence is unclear. Defining death means describing which discipline one is discussing on the subject. Death… Continue reading Near Death Experiences (NDEs)
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