This is Your Brain on God | Michael Ferguson | TEDxSaltLakeCity

Can science give us insights into age-old questions about religion? In this talk, Dr. Michael Ferguson describes the study he and his team conducted on believing Mormons when they reported to "feel the Spirit," a central event in Mormon worship. What they found might surprise both believers and skeptics.

Michael Ferguson is inspired by questions about human brains and the gods they adore. His research program examines the intersections of culture and brain through the lenses of cutting-edge fMRI methods and cognitive neuroscience. Most recently, he is conducting interdisciplinary work with philosophy of mind to analytically describe intelligence. As a graduate student at the University of Utah’s department of bioengineering, he, his committee chair, and co-investigators designed and executed a first-of- its-kind fMRI study, looking at the brain activity of returned missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while the research participants were involved in acts of religious worship and devotion. Michael and his husband were the first same-sex couple legally married in the state of Utah, and they retain a major portion of their heart and love in Salt Lake City. They currently live in upstate New York, the spiritual cradle of their native faith.

[mattwolf]

I actually became happier after dropping religion.

[quantumrobin]

Religion is a placebo that triggers deep emotional response.

[wowwow]

This talk is so unbiased that I can't even tell if he is religious or not.

[mjhzen]

How much simpler and safer the world would be without religion.

[californiacavemandastardly]

I want to see their brains when they hear the debunking of their beliefs.

[flipflopski]

wow... the same parts of my brain light up when I think about ice cream...

[AdamWestish]

This is why I'm a Buddhist. It encourages you to study yourself and the concepts of belief itself--not to believe in old fairy tales.

[JanetteBuhler]

Great presentation on a very interesting exciting and intriguing subject! I hope for even more follow up studies!

[etcomehome]

I want to see how the brains react to cognitive dissonance of religious beliefs.

[PirateOfTheNorth]

Prayer is a form of meditation for me. I think each to their own.

[pleinaire]

this is my brain on mindful meditation!!!

[quarteracreadventures]

I am curious if they were to compare other experiences, such as a concert of beautiful music, what the result would be?
Would seeing people doing secular 'good deeds' such as UNICEF incite a similar response?
I believe that people 'doing good' for the sake of doing good is more meaningful than people 'doing good' because it will earn them a 'ticket to Heaven'.
One has an ulterior motive, and the other is entirely altruistic.
Just my opinion.

[crazyprayingmantis]

For science and religion to join forces, religion is going to have to drop some of it's fundamental dearly held beliefs and I can't see them giving them up, because the ones they have to discard are the ones that will cause their religion to collapse like a deck of cards.

[mooker]

this guy really needs to start doing research beyond the Utah state line.

[saswatidash]

The last few lines are really something. From having me in splits to getting me thinking deeply about how profound this message is!

[smujismuj]

I don't agree that religion or spirituality is innate.
It is taught.
Empathy is innate.

[SofiAmaStay]

I've been reading the comments for a while and I love seeing what all the people that "don't believe in God" have to say, and then what the ones that do believe reply. Cuz it's just proof of what God does in people's hearts.

[kurtjensen]

As a theist. This adds an interesting perspective to a religious understanding, IMO. The mind/brain is an interesting subject. Especially its evolutionary development. Personally, I think it’s adds to the need for religion.

[gageiiiiitttt]

So after prayer the participants became more generous to the figures of other faiths - except for Billy Graham.

[followerOFTRUTHS]

All I can say is that we have to deal with life whatever the whatever. So what can make us deal with life better is better!