View Single Post
Old 15th August 2007, 10:53 PM   #201 (permalink)
: : Scott : :
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dundee
Posts: 7,125
: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute: : Scott : : has a reputation beyond repute
Quote:
Originally Posted by LesMts View Post
...I'd say there is likely a sound neurological and physiological reason for the calming effect...

I would agree. I'd also conjecture that there likely sound neurological, physiological, sociological and perhaps psychological reasons for a sense of 'spirituality', or blind faith in something; something that helps people to put life into perspective and make it all seem a little less meaningless/dull.

I can't really justify this and I'm not particularly well read on philosophy/human psychology/sociology but it doesn't seem implausible that humans would have a trait such as this, to prevent or dampen tendencies toward nihlism and self destruction.

Again, obvious conjecture here, but if that were the case then would that go some way toward legitimising faith/spirituality, or even agnosticism for the feverent non-believers/militant atheists amongst you? If there were a "scientifically" verifyable physiological or sociological benefit to having some kind of faith, would you adopt one on this basis?


Edit: For what it's worth, I don't consider myself particularly spiritual or whatever. What I find more interesting than flaming people who are is thinking about why people are? Why so many people are? Why has a sense of spirituality been one of the only threads common to our kind throughout history, other than a requirement for water, air, hydrocarbons and salt.

Last edited by : : Scott : : : 15th August 2007 at 11:00 PM.
: : Scott : : is offline   Reply With Quote