Comments on: The cognitive neuroscience of religion vs. religion in cognitive neuroscience http://www.smallgraymatters.com/2006/07/16/the-cognitive-neuroscience-of-religion-vs-religion-in-cognitive-neuroscience/ of brains and their minds Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:22:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Timothy O'Brien http://www.smallgraymatters.com/2006/07/16/the-cognitive-neuroscience-of-religion-vs-religion-in-cognitive-neuroscience/#comment-5650 Timothy O'Brien Sun, 16 Sep 2007 10:17:36 +0000 http://www.smallgraymatters.com/2006/07/16/the-cognitive-neuroscience-of-religion-vs-religion-in-cognitive-neuroscience/#comment-5650 I get the sense that there is interesting research about brain states in conflict going on at DARPA. Misconceptions of religion seem to be at the heart of conflict these days. I'm interested in the coincidence of research that investigates religious sense in a peaceful mode, in a conflict mode, and in the general context of distinguishing global perception from specific attention. But what is the eventual application? Is there a goal besides development of weapons and/or medication? If the study is simply an appreciation of the brain's abstract beauty, it strikes me as somewhat narcissistic. Could such study be used to develop interactive strategies that peacefully calm an individual who is about to become psychotically violent while in a religious fervor? That could be really useful. I get the sense that there is interesting research about brain states in conflict going on at DARPA. Misconceptions of religion seem to be at the heart of conflict these days. I’m interested in the coincidence of research that investigates religious sense in a peaceful mode, in a conflict mode, and in the general context of distinguishing global perception from specific attention. But what is the eventual application? Is there a goal besides development of weapons and/or medication? If the study is simply an appreciation of the brain’s abstract beauty, it strikes me as somewhat narcissistic. Could such study be used to develop interactive strategies that peacefully calm an individual who is about to become psychotically violent while in a religious fervor? That could be really useful.

]]> By: Chris http://www.smallgraymatters.com/2006/07/16/the-cognitive-neuroscience-of-religion-vs-religion-in-cognitive-neuroscience/#comment-65 Chris Tue, 18 Jul 2006 19:56:35 +0000 http://www.smallgraymatters.com/2006/07/16/the-cognitive-neuroscience-of-religion-vs-religion-in-cognitive-neuroscience/#comment-65 McNamara has an edited book coming out in October on the subject, so I suppose he has a strong motivation to make it sound like this is a hot new area of research. It is a hot new area of research in cog psy and cog anthro, emphasis on new. McNamara has an edited book coming out in October on the subject, so I suppose he has a strong motivation to make it sound like this is a hot new area of research.

It is a hot new area of research in cog psy and cog anthro, emphasis on new.

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