BEACON TRANSCRIPT – Perhaps one of the oldest dilemmas out there is whether the world is governed by the laws of physics or if religion got it right in the first place. A team of neuroscientists analyzed both perspectives and concluded that religion and science are associated with different parts of the human brain.
Since the dawn of time, man has often wondered whether all that surrounds him was the work of a higher being. Greek mythology has created an intricate pantheon of gods and goddesses, each of them chipping in to shape the physical world.
As science won more ground in the face of religion, the scientist often wondered if one can honestly dismiss the immutable laws of nature such as light or magnetism to seek answers elsewhere. Maybe the thought of being alone in the Universe, of having to fade into nothingness, frightened the mind and baffled our senses.
Man perhaps wanted a sense of order and security. A higher figure, one that sees and knows everything, gave humankind comfort. But science often argued that the mere thought of an invisible puppeteer, moving things to and fro through the air seemed preposterous, at best.
And now, after centuries of debates, centered on the conflict between religion and science, a team of researchers has come with an answer to our most burning question. Shall we put our trust in science or shall blindly follow in the footsteps of God?
Science said that God, like all concepts, has its origin in the human brain. An experiment performed on 527 female, and male adults has revealed that the refusal to believe and to believe in God has unique brain triggers.
More specifically, the team has discovered that religious persons are more inclined to favor that part of the brain which is attributed to empathy while those who are agnostic or atheists prefer the analytical part of the brain.
The study, which was published in the Plos One journal, stated that women tend to be more religious than men, and that, regarding brain chemistry, religion may not, altogether exclude the possibility of reasoning.
Moreover, the team of researchers has discovered that the more sensitive an individual is, the more he or she is inclined to be religious. Also, when a person believes in a higher power, his or hers brain usually suppresses the brain are attributed to analytical thinking.
On the other hand, those who are agnostic and atheists, usually have the same amount of empathy as psychopaths, meaning that they don’t usually care for other people.
However, the brain isn’t considered a masterwork for nothing. Although it appears to be a very distinct line between logical thinking and faith, some of the best scientists have often confessed that they believe in a higher being.
Professor Tony Jack, from the Case Western Reserve University and the lead author of the study declared that both concepts are a matter of brain wiring, and one may not exclude the other.