atheism

Neural Buddhism

by Brian on 02-04-2009

in belief,science

Part of an ongoing series on belief. David Brooks generated a lot of discussion with his column in May on “The Neural Buddhists“: Scientists have more respect for elevated spiritual states. Andrew Newberg of the University of Pennsylvania has shown that transcendent experiences can actually be identified and measured in the brain (people experience a [...]

Identifying with Non-Belief

by Brian on 02-01-2009

in belief,civics,science

It has taken me a while to comment on the little hoohaw caused by Barack Obama’s inaugural acknowledgment of “non-believers.” That’s roughly the category I belong to so it was encouraging to hear… I was going to post a hasty retort to this from Chris Selley at National Post’s Full Comment: Though no doubt well intentioned, it’s a weirdly [...]