Transcript Document
Problem statement • How are God and the brain connected? • Can epiphanies and spirituality be explained with scientific methods? Can Muhammad's epiphany? • What is serotonin and how does it affect the brain? How does serotonin interact with Spirituality? • What is shamanism and how does the shaman culture exist in our society? Presentation Text material English texts: Needed to be relevant for both Religion and Chemistry. - “Subject Connecting texts”. - Debate texts/humanistic texts. A big knowledge span. Two texts from Religion: Some texts needed too be more single subject specific. -More single subject texts. -Used in our analyses. Non-fiction Literature: -Chemistry facts. Issues Mystic visions Brain circuits at work - Spiritual feelings leave neural footprints. - People inherit a gene to be more or less religious/spiritual. - It is called the VMAT2-gene (vesicular monoamine transporter nr. 2). - Meditation change flow of monoamines. - Inheritance + environment = Religious/spiritual level. Issues Religious view The angel Gabriel. Transitions ritual and rebirth as a prophet. Muhammed's epiphany Scientific view Physical exertion: - Pain, hunger, darkness, cold, loneliness Epilepsy Hallucinations Near death experience Probably had the VMAT2-gene. Or he is a simple liar Issues Serotonin How the serotonin works -Neurotransmitter -Great importance for the mood -Ecstasy and LSD releases serotonin in the brain. -The most complicated neurotransmitter and have influence for a lot thing. For example depressions, sexuality, intelligence. Serotonin chemical structure Issues Natural and artificial amounts of serotonin LSD chemical structure -Depression -Euphoria -Intoxicated Ecstasy (MDMA) Chemical structure Issues Shamanism Rational scientific views -Neoshamanism -Soul journeys -Self transcendense -Death and rebirth experience (transitions ritual) Issues Religious view Connections with the spiritual world after physical rituals. -The spirits of nature -Symbolic Death -Rebirth How to become Scientific view a shaman? Physical ritual. Ex “The angákoq example” drum sounds. Physical exertion: -Pain, hunger, darkness, cold, loneliness Hallucinations Near death experience VMAT2-gene The Essential conclusions • The mind is still mysterious and not yet fully understood. no absolute answers • We create our own believe from environment, but… • Our genes, and the activity and stimulation of the brain is also needed to be brought into consideration. • Partly Divine, partly chemical? Questions for further work • Is there specific groups in the society, who has larger basis for self-transcendence? Increased by aged, education and hypnotisability. • How does self-transcendence states affect the brain waves? Is it similar to the “dreaming waves”? Information retrieval list Books og articles: - Rusmidlernes biologi – Henrik Rindum (s.23-24, 106-111) Shamanism in the original Neurotheology – Michael Winkelmann Religion on the brain – Sharon Begley The brain chemistry of the Buddha – Laura Sheahen Muhammeds kaldelse – Uddrag fra Gads religionshistoriske tekster. 1984. Eskimoerne – Lasse Brandstrup og Hanne Josephsen. 1975. side 102, 106111. Homepages: - http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Serotonin-skeletal.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MDMA.png http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin http://www.illvid.dk/polopoly.jsp?d=144&a=2880 Putting into perspective • With AT 3: Mythos and logos: The scientific aspects against the spiritual aspects. • Chemical consciousness expansion: • - meaning • - creation • Logos Scientific Unbalance that are caused by influence in the nerve. • Mytos Spiritual the divine healing and foresight. Putting into perspective • With AT 4: Medieval : • Ignore bodies signals. • Spiritual experiences are important. • Development in society values: Lines to the medieval • Present man: control over his own life. Lowered focus on medicinal treatment Mental treatment and placebo effect. Putting into perspective • With AT5: The pictures of the World: The scientific picture of the world The scientific method The church's picture of the world The church’s way of explaining things Putting into perspective The evolution: • VMAT2 Spirituality Religion Stabil and structured society = survival of the fittest (Darwin). • Inherited Abraham. • Scientist see this gene as a good thing. Putting into perspective • “The Beatles perspective”. • Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (LSD), though John Lennon denies it. • The Beatles song can be interpreted as their singing about a trip. • There are having their “revelation”. • The Beatles has written other songs about LSD. “Day Tripper” and “Got to get you into my life”.