[Catalist] All In The Mind

[Michael McGarry]

Greetings CATALIST subscribers,

Copied and pasted below is an email from Brian Morris [Director of Plain Reason] to Malcolm Lynne [Presenter ABC RN: The Believing Brain - All in the Mind: 22042018].

I respectfully suggest that CATALIST subscribers may, if they so wish, download and read the e-book "Sacred to Secular” authored by Brian Morris from this URL: https://www.plainreason.org <https://www.plainreason.org/> ?

"Why Do We Believe in Gods?" We may wish to read the Answer at this Plain Reason URL: https://www.plainreason.org/articles/why-do-we-believe-in-gods/ <https://www.plainreason.org/articles/why-do-we-believe-in-gods/> ?

> I would hate to restart any further discussion on religious belief and it's non-place in ‘science’ [Comment from Yarra]. In accordance with Yarra’s comment, I will not post further comment to CATALIST.  

Thanks and Best Wishes,

Michael John McGarry

> Dear [Malcolm] Lynne,
> 
> I’ve just listened to your podcast, The Believing Brain, on 22nd April.
> 
> Why did you select 3 guests who all believe that religion is innate to the human condition?  Where was the broader neuroscientific view that the brain is not hardwired for religion?  The ABC already runs 8 programs that pay homage to religion -- and do I detect your own “confirmation bias” toward the spiritual, by giving “All in the Mind” a prejudicial slant to the supernatural? 
> 
> The far wider view is that religion is a “bi-product” of the full sweep of survival and social skills humans have acquired during our evolution from earlier hominids.  There are literally scores of books by internationally recognised scientists and psychiatrists who attest to this.   Try these 3 as a start to broaden your perspective.
> 
> J Anderson Thomson “Why we believe in gods”
> Michael Sherman “The Believing Brain” 
> Sean Carroll “The Big Picture”
> 
> Religion persists because parents indoctrinate their children --  Brian Greene gave you a clear example where his Jewish family gave him nightmares as a kid with that trick of opening the door "to the spirit of Elijah."  Religion by fear and domination.
> 
> Teaching religion in schools reinforces the “need” for religion and the media (including the ABC) continues to perpetuate the myth of a “soul”, the reality of heaven and existence of supernatural god/s.  The spin off from all that is religious division and conflict which has plagued humanity for millennia -- and it creates today's rejection of science.
> 
> Self-reliance, critical thinking and philosophical ethics is what’s required if Australia is to progress as a well educated and innovative nation.  Fostering religion through programs like your own simply close people’s minds to reality of the natural world and our need to work cooperatively for a better future.  Religion is the basis for divisive tribalism -- “my god is superior to your god”.  You’re really not helping! 
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Brian Morris
> Director, Plain Reason
> www.plainreason.org <http://www.plainreason.org/> 
> 
> On 4 May 2018, at 12:01 AM, Yarra Korczynskyj <yarra.k at iinet.net.au> wrote:
> 
> I would hate to restart any further discussion on religious belief and it's non-place in 'science', (indeed I very much concur with Brendan O'Brien's comments) however RN's 'All in the Mind' program, 'A Believing Brain' has some thoughtful commentary on belief which would obviously be of interest to several on this list, and which includes contributions from Brian Greene (at the start and then again in the last few minutes):
> http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/the-believing-brain/9667324 <http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/the-believing-brain/9667324>
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