--- On Mon, 2/2/09, Fr. Ivo C da Souza <icso...@...> wrote: > >Dr.Santosh can learn from me not only about Christianity but also >about the correct interpretation of neuroscientific experiments. >
This is obviously a fantasy. Fr. Ivo is not capable of interpreting neuroscientific experiments correctly because he has not even an elementary education and training in neuroscience, let alone how to conduct neuroscientific research. What is also clear is that he simply does not grasp the main point that I have been repeatedly making. My main point is that the interpretations of neuroscientific experiments do not involve claiming any role for supernatural entities such as god and soul, or any kind of supernatural plane of existence. The services of a Christian theologian are not required to interpret of any of our experiments. This is true even for experiments related to religious experiences. For example, Mario Beauregard, the scientist that Fr. Ivo keeps quoting has published two short papers on mystical experiences in Carmelite nuns. The abstract of one of these short papers is given below: QUOTE Neural correlates of a mystical experience in Carmelite nuns. Beauregard M, Paquette V. Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Que., Canada. mario.beaureg...@... The main goal of this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was to identify the neural correlates of a mystical experience. The brain activity of Carmelite nuns was measured while they were subjectively in a state of union with God. This state was associated with significant loci of activation in the right medial orbitofrontal cortex, right middle temporal cortex, right inferior and superior parietal lobules, right caudate, left medial prefrontal cortex, left anterior cingulate cortex, left inferior parietal lobule, left insula, left caudate, and left brainstem. Other loci of activation were seen in the extra-striate visual cortex. These results suggest that mystical experiences are mediated by several brain regions and systems. UNQUOTE There is nothing intelligent or insightful that Fr. Ivo can say to the authors or to myself on the interpretation that "These results suggest that mystical experiences are mediated by several brain regions and systems". Consistent with what I had told you earlier, the authors of the above paper have concluded nothing about god, soul, Christianity, Buddhism, spiritualism or religion. So Fr. Ivo's religious beliefs and any comments he makes on these extraneous issues are of no value to the above neuroscientific interpretation. Moreover, all of Fr. Ivo's comments, as those of the Jesuit priests and the physiology professor he has quoted, are clearly of a very general and platitudinous nature. From my experience I can say that no neuroscientist is naive enough to believe that they give us any specific insight into anything related to the brain. Cheers, Santosh