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Conclusion of clinical psychology of religion
Conclusion of clinical psychology of religion
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Humans are spiritual beings even when wisdom and evidence points in another direction humans believe in a higher power. However, as researchers look for answers and they find new questions. Opening a Pandora's box spirituality and religiosity create questions that open up vast amounts of discussion on cognitive ability and spirituality. Finally, neurobiologists and neuropsychologist are researching and looking at spirituality and meditation to determine answers to questions about brain activities during spiritual processes. Through the use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI,s), these researchers are looking at the physiological effects upon the brain and body during processes of spirituality. Nevertheless , researchers are trying to understand the religious and spiritual phenomenon's and the actions that occur in the mind and the body during these spiritual processes.
In the beginning ancestral myths passed from generation to generation they recognized forces that controlled nature. Since the beginning of human existence man has sung and danced and passed down their beliefs to others of their group through oral tradition. As man progressed they wrote down there sacred text and attempted to answer life's ultimate questions. “Where are we? Why are we here?
What does it all mean? What if anything are we suppose to do?”(Smith, 1994).
However, science and technology came along and also attempted to ask the ultimate questions. ``Through systematic modalities they changed how the world was viewed. This systematic use of experiments and data collection, scientist looked for empirical answers in which to base their theories. However, most of the first methods of data collection were based on quantitat...
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...d spiritus meaning breath. The spiritual realm deals with the perceived
eternal realities regarding man's ultimate nature, in contrast to what is temporal
or worldly. Religions are organized belief systems promulgated and sustained by
human institutions, ethnic groups, tribe or culture and involves definite rules
of behavior, rituals and practices” (http://msmonograph.org/articles.asp?=0973-1229).
Attempting to find a focal point on spirituality science began attempting to try to explain religious and spiritual phenomena through neuroscience. Researchers using brain scans of various types are examining spiritual activities within the brain such as meditation and prayer. Using EEG, PET, MRI and other brain scans researchers have just scratched the surface of spirituality. All experiences both in our mind and in the concrete reality exists in our brain.
Researchers interested in the connection of the brain and religion have examined the experiences of people suffering from Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Apparently the increased electrical activity in the brain resulting from seizure activity (abnormal electrical activity within localized portions of the brain), makes sufferers more susceptible to having religious experiences including visions of supernatural beings and near death experiences (NDEs) (9). Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) sufferers also may become increasingly obsessed with religion, the study and practice of it (1). Why is it that this form of epilepsy results in religious experiences among the other supernatural experiences possible? Can people who have never studied or practiced religion be susceptible to these same religious experiences? Why do some interested researchers claim that such notable figures as Paul on the road to Damascus, Joan of Arc, Ellen White of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and other persons suffered from TLE because of their range of reported experiences with God, angels, and demons (1,3)? In my first paper, I highlighted the connection scientists have made between religious experience and the brain. In this paper, I intend to focus on Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, as one of those connections, specifically the symptom of hyperreligiousity.
"Where did man come from? Where did time begin? Who, or what, created all things?" These are questions that mankind has sought to answer from the beginning of existence as it is known today. Many stories and fables have been told and passed down from generation to generation, yet two have survived the test of time and criticism.
This course, Your Brain on God, has expanded my knowledge on the subjects of neurology and spirituality. The course assisted me to end the conflict that I had between religion and science. One idea that I learned in this course that will affect how I do ministry and live my life is the Neuroeconomics of trust. In the article “The Neuroeconomics of Trust” by Paul J. Zak, the importance of being able to trust other people is explored. Trust is fundamental to life. Trust has a major impact on a person’s well-being and their self-image. Humans are a highly social species. We are indoctrinated into societal norms that include compassion, respect, and trust. Yet there is an expectation that when we give, there will be action returned or reciprocated.
For years there has been discussion over the controversy of whether or not psychologists should be counted as shamans. Shamanism comprises a range of traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spiritual world (Marohn, 2014). Although psychologists uses their beliefs and their practices when analyzing the mental processes of a patient, they may not necessarily correlate their findings with ideas involving the spiritual world. Some psychologists may be counted as shamans based on their methods of treatment, but generally psychologists aren’t shamans.
Religion has 7 core attributes that allow someone to call it a religion, these include Narrative, Doctrine, Emotional, Material, Ethical, Ritual and Social. These seven attributes help individuals identify what can be classified as a “religion”, however spirituality has no “easy way” to identifying it. Spirituality can be found within the individual looking for their “meaning” but not physically expressed.
Meditation is logical in not only the minds of Buddhist practitioners, but also in those of scientific standpoints. Meditation, however, is not exclusive to Buddhism alone. These brain scan studies showed that Franciscan nuns that spend tim...
As psychological field of study advances with its technologies to investigate changes in the mind, using such technology to look at effects of mindfulness meditation would strengthen its argument and understanding of the mechanisms in the brain, to change meditators into the new awaken state. This essay will reveal the evidence of mindfulness meditation making an impact on the mind. First, this essay will present the studies which found physiological functional differences in the body for those who did mindfulness meditation. Second, this essay will present the studies which found functional differences in the brain for those who perform mindfulness meditation. Third, this essay will present the studies which found structural differences in the brain for those who performed mindfulness meditation.
Meditation is an age-old practice that has renewed itself in many different cultures and times. Despite its age, however, there remains a mystery and some ambiguity as to what it is, or even how one performs it. The practice and tradition of meditation dates back thousands of years having appeared in many eastern traditions. Meditation’s ancient roots cloud its origins from being attributed to a sole inventor or religion, though Bon, Hindu, Shinto, Dao, and later, Buddhism are responsible for its development. Its practice has permeated almost all major world religions, but under different names. It has become a practice without borders, influencing millions with its tranquil and healing effects.
In this paper two topic from the Psychology and Spirituality course will be discussed in regards to spirituality and their influence on my personal life. I will examine how I have grown and what I have learned from the week on Spring Lake ranch and how I wish to continue moving forward in my attempt to be spiritual and build a closer relationship to God.
84% of the people on earth claim to be religious.(2) One third of the world claims to be Christians, 1.6 billion people in the world claim to be Islamic, (3) and one out of five people in the world claim to be spiritual but not religious. (1) Spirituality and religion are often thought to be synonymous, but it’s important to understand the differences between the two. The two have been around for ages, but even though they contrast; they are not the same. One could be described as an outer look on acts and laws, the other more as an internal look of oneself.
Understanding the brain and the different signs will help acknowledge the issues within a person to help them cope with the issue. It is important for one to be aware of their selves and their reactions/behaviors. On the other hand, the studies address the different types of mediation and possible consequences. When introducing a specific technique, there are always pros and cons, and people that are for or against the matter. Meditation is known as healing of the body and/or mind and can be religious. Those different types were address and justified for the understanding of the use for the
Hamilton, L.W. (2012). The Brain and Our Emotional Future: Foundations of Emotions [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from Soul Beliefs: Causes and Consequences Online Course site: rutgersonline.net.
Walsh, K., King, M., Jones, L., Tookman, A., & Blizard, R., (2002). Spiritual beliefs may
Spirituality can be defined as ‘‘ways of relating to the sacred’’ (Shults and Sandage 2006, p. 161) that involve the experience of significance (Zinnbauer and Pargament 2005)”. (Jankowski and Vaughn, 2009, p.82).
Newberg, A., Alavi, A., Baime, M., Pourdehnad, M., Santanna, J., & D'Aquili, E. (2001). The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow during the complex cognitive task of meditation: A preliminary SPECT study. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 106(2), 113-122.