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The conflict between science and religion may have its origins in the brain structure, according to a team of researchers from the “University Case Western Reserve “and” Babson College “in America.
the clashes between the use of faith against scientific evidence to explain the world around us goes back centuries and is perhaps most visible today in discussions between evolution and creationism.
by believing in a supernatural god or a universal spirit, people seem to suppress the brain network that is used for analytical thinking and engage empathic network, according to the authors. To think analytically about the physical world, people seem to do the opposite.
“When there is a question of faith, from the analytical point of view, it may seem absurd –explica research director, Tony Jack, a philosophy professor at Case Western and research director of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Values University -. But from what we understand about the brain, the leap of faith to believe in supernatural amounts leaves a side the critical path / analytical way of thinking to help us achieve greater social and emotional understanding. “
” a current research in cognitive psychology has shown and says that people who have faith (ie are religious or spiritual) are not as smart as others. in fact, they say that they are less intelligent, “says Richard Boyatzis, a university professor and professor of behavior at Case Western Reserve, plus team member Jack. “Our studies confirmed the statistical relationship, but also showed that people with faith are more prosocial and empathic” he says.
In a series of eight experiments, the researchers found that the more empathic is a person, the more likely it is religious. This finding offers a new explanation for the previous research showing that women tend to have more religious or spiritual worldviews than men, a difference that may be because women have a greater tendency towards empathic concern than men.
atheists, the researchers found, whose work is detailed in an article published in “PLoS One”, are more closely aligned with psychopaths not murderers, but the vast majority of psychopaths are classified as such because their lack of empathy for others.
the research is based on the assumption that the human brain has two opposing domains in constant tension. In previous research, the laboratory of consciousness, mind and brain of Jack used functional magnetic resonance imaging to show that the brain has a network of analytical neurons that allows us to think critically and a social network that enables us to empathize. When they presented with a problem of physical or ethical dilemma an active healthy brain the appropriate network, while suppressing the other.
“Because of the tension between the networks put aside a worldview naturalist gives an insight into the social / emotional aspect explains Jack. And that may be the key to why there belief in the supernatural throughout the history of cultures. a call was made to a material essentially no understanding the world and our place in it “
Another author, Jared Friedman, research assistant and recent graduate in Philosophy and Cognitive Science who will begin his doctorate at Case Western in autumn, says.” empathy does not mean necessarily unscientific beliefs have. instead, our results suggest that if done only emphasizes analytical reasoning and scientific beliefs, as suggested by the new movement Atheism, then we are compromising our ability to grow different types thinking, ie, a social / moral vision. “
” These findings are consistent with Friedman continues the philosophical point of view, expressed by (Immanuel) Kant, according to which there are two distinct types truth: empirical and moral “. The scientists examined the relationship between belief in God or a universal spirit measures analytical thinking and moral concern in eight different experiments, each with between 159 to 527 adults. Consistently through all of them, the more religious a person was, the more moral concern showed; but the cause and effect is not established.
In addition, they found that both spiritual belief as empathic concern were positively associated with the frequency of prayer, meditation and other spiritual or religious practices, but neither were predicted by various forms of social contact associated with religious affiliation.
humans, designed to use both brain networks
like other studies, these experiments they demonstrated that analytical thinking discourages the acceptance of spiritual or religious beliefs. However, statistical analysis of the pooled data from eight experiments suggests that empathy is more important for religious beliefs analytical thinking for skepticism.
“Because the networks suppress each other, -apunta can create two ends Boyatzis-. Recognizing that is how the brain works, maybe we can create more reason and balance in national conversations about science and religion. ” The researchers stress that humans are designed to engage and explore the use of both networks.
“Far from the eternal conflict with science, in appropriate circumstances, religious beliefs can positively promote scientific creativity and the understanding -considers Jack said. Many of the most famous scientists in history were spiritual or religious. These outstanding individuals were intellectually sophisticated enough to see that there is no need for religion and science conflict “.
the researchers referred to the book of Baruch Aba Shalev “100 years of Nobel prizes”, which found that, from 1901 to 2000, 654 Nobel laureates, or nearly 90 percent, belonged to one of 28 religions , compared with 10.5 percent remaining were atheists, agnostics or freethinkers. “You may be religious and be a very good scientist,” says Jack.
Researchers agree with New Atheism that the suspension of analytical thinking in the wrong time, can be dangerous and point to use . historic religious differences to pursue or fight wars
Jack understands that the conflict can be avoided by remembering simple rules: “religion can not tell us about the physical structure of the world, which is the business of science. science must inform our ethical reasoning, but can not determine what is ethical or tell us how we construct meaning and purpose in our lives. “
AGENCY ONE
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