3 ms·

The God Helmet

10 points by harscoat 16y ago

devmonk 16y ago
More info about the open-source/open-hardware project: http://home.tu-clausthal.de/~vttsc/OpenrTMS/ http://home.tu-clausthal.de/~vttsc/OpenrTMS/ First off, I think that just stimulating this part of the brain doesn't invalidate the existence of a spiritual realm. In fact, to me it validates that these feelings are useful, otherwise why would our brains be capable of it? I imagine the sense of existence outside of ourselves is important both evolutionarily and spiritually. Unfortunately, I also imagine this new knowledge will be abused (i.e. may become this century's LSD).
- fossuser 16y ago
  While it may not completely invalidate, if accurate it's further evidence that a spiritual realm is not necessary to explain anything.
angkec 16y ago
so we don't need to get into the hassle of learning how to meditate again?
teilo 16y ago
I come from a religious background that can look at this helmet and basically say, "So what?". Simply put, in my tradition, the subjective experience of religion is pretty much irrelevant. A "spiritual" feeling, or the feeling that there is "something there" is nice, but irrelevant. Instead our entire faith is based upon external proclamation, and hearing what is proclaimed. In fact, we discount the whole concept that religion is an experience, because we understand emotions to be secondary to the objective truths being proclaimed in the message. If the secondary effects, the "religious" or "mystical" feeling is present, that's great. If it isn't, that's great too. It doesn't matter. Look at it this way: remember the last time you experienced wonder or awe at the reality of the universe, as revealed by the most current science. Now, imagine yourself working in that field, day-by-day, doing the grunt work that is most science. You are still doing science. Sometimes that wonder and awe returns. Most of the time it's just a memory. Same thing. The emotional experience is secondary to objective reality.

10 points by harscoat 16y ago

More info about the open-source/open-hardware project: http://home.tu-clausthal.de/~vttsc/OpenrTMS/ http://home.tu-clausthal.de/~vttsc/OpenrTMS/ First off, I think that just stimulating this part of the brain doesn't invalidate the existence of a spiritual realm. In fact, to me it validates that these feelings are useful, otherwise why would our brains be capable of it? I imagine the sense of existence outside of ourselves is important both evolutionarily and spiritually. Unfortunately, I also imagine this new knowledge will be abused (i.e. may become this century's LSD).

fossuser 16y ago
While it may not completely invalidate, if accurate it's further evidence that a spiritual realm is not necessary to explain anything.

angkec 16y ago

so we don't need to get into the hassle of learning how to meditate again?

teilo 16y ago

I come from a religious background that can look at this helmet and basically say, "So what?". Simply put, in my tradition, the subjective experience of religion is pretty much irrelevant. A "spiritual" feeling, or the feeling that there is "something there" is nice, but irrelevant. Instead our entire faith is based upon external proclamation, and hearing what is proclaimed. In fact, we discount the whole concept that religion is an experience, because we understand emotions to be secondary to the objective truths being proclaimed in the message. If the secondary effects, the "religious" or "mystical" feeling is present, that's great. If it isn't, that's great too. It doesn't matter. Look at it this way: remember the last time you experienced wonder or awe at the reality of the universe, as revealed by the most current science. Now, imagine yourself working in that field, day-by-day, doing the grunt work that is most science. You are still doing science. Sometimes that wonder and awe returns. Most of the time it's just a memory. Same thing. The emotional experience is secondary to objective reality.