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Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth
This book has two sections to it... a general overview of neurophysiology and a review of experiments looking at brain scans of people having religious experiences. I found the first part... the overview ... to be below average. There are many far better, far more interesting books that cover the topic, and I found that I started to skim. During these parts, the authors came across as being a bit egoistic.In the second section, the book explores research the authors have conducted, and focuses on studies of monks, nuns, pentecostals and others in the midst of religious experiences, in which the authors inject a tracer and study their brains. This part is much more interesting. There is less philosophical fluff, and more exploration of research in interesting areas.Although I'm glad I read the book, it is hard to give a good rating because of the difference between the two sections. For a general review of brain functioning, seek other books.But the studies of brain scans of meditating nuns and Buddhists and people speaking tongues and so forth was quite interesting, along with conjectures as to how the brain functioning is giving a strong sense of reality to the religious experience. That part was quite interesting.
Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth
God is everywhere, or there is no god. The atheist holds beliefs just as passionately as a religious fundamentalist, but how does each individual decide what truth is? The English word "belief" comes from a German word meaning "to hold dear" or "to love." Our beliefs guide every area of our lives; what we eat, who we vote for, whom we trust and how we worship or don't. Combining science, psychology and religion Why We Believe What We Believe examines how our brains convert our perceptions of the world into moral, religious, and political beliefs that determine the kinds of lives we live and fill us with a sense of meaning and purpose.These beliefs can be either constructive or destructive, but once they are in place it is difficult to challenge them. If you would like to examine your own belief system with the goal of living a happier, healthier, less biased life this book will give you a lot to think about. Authors Newberg and Waldman consider the Liar's Paradox, whether animals have beliefs, why superstitions are perceived as true, why political parties often seem to despise each other, why there is so much religious strife in the world, how placebos work, how simple it is to implant false memories and how easily many people can be led to commit acts they consider immoral. Newburg, a medical doctor compares the brain scans of Buddhists meditating, nuns praying, Pentecostal Christians speaking in tongues and even an atheist contemplating an image of God.The book is divided into three sections. "How the Brain Makes Our Reality" opens with a story that shows the power of belief. A man whose cancer goes into remission when he is given what he believes is a miracle cure later dies. His cancer returned shortly after he learned that a Food and Drug Administration report concluded that the medicine he received was ineffective. The book's second section, "Childhood Development and Morality", covers childhood beliefs and the gap between moral beliefs and actions in adults. The last section, "Spiritual Beliefs and the Brain", contains brain scan analyses and concludes with a chapter on how to become a "better believer"; providing a list of 27 biases to examine in your own life and (keep your mind open now) eight steps the CIA uses to teach its intelligence gathering analysts to be more clear thinking, wise and effective.Author Andrew Newberg, MD is a founder of a neurotheology, new interdisciplinary field of study. He is an Associate Professor in the department of Radiology and Psychology and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Mark Robert Waldman is an Associate Fellow at the Center for Spirituality and the Mind also at the University of Pennsylvania.
Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth
This is an important book and will make you think and challenge old beliefs if open. This should be required reading.
Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth
So that we can approach the effects of beliefs - particularly religious or spiritual ones - on people, it is necessary to acknowledge what science and technology can do and what it can't. Our technology can only measure and record empirical data as we observe from the outside as objectively as possible. Beliefs come from the mind whereas scientifically we are observing the brain, so science doesn't 'prove' or 'disprove' anything in this regard as it is personal and ultimately subjective - not external or material.This book was very insightful. There is, however, a bias towards thinking that we can be 'hardwired' to certain beliefs and this is a nature vs nurture argument. As we have free will, we do not have to be victims of circumstance although we can be predisposed towards, say, mental and physical illness or be encouraged towards either in our environment. If we use such bias, in the extreme it can be used to support negative eugenics.
Seismic Design of Buildings and Bridges for Civil and Structural Engineers
Mr. Williams presentation is clear and easy to follow. The text is well thought out and organized into separate chapters covering major design topics. He has taken the time to ferret out all the pertinent footnotes and includes them in the appropriate sections. His summaries and tables are worth the price of admission alone. If you are taking the SE Exam .... Get this book.
Seismic Design of Buildings and Bridges for Civil and Structural Engineers
ANALISIS Y DISEÑO SISMICO DE ESTRIBOS DE PUENTES SOBRE PILOTES SOBRE ROCAS Y/O SUELOS BLANDOS, METODOS DE CALCULO ACEPTADO POR LA NORMA ASSHTO 1996-REVISION 1998. INTERACCICIÓN DEL RELLENO TRAS DEL ESTRIBO CON RESPECTO AL EFECTO SISMICO;EJEMPLOS DE CALCULO Y DISEÑOS PASO A PASO, TABLAS DE PARAMETROS DE RESISTENCIA, ANGULOS DE FRICCIÓN INTERNA.