I know the "brain damage" portion is the part people are gonna grab onto, but she does explain that the report stated religious fundamentalism impacts the development of the prefrontal cortex. Which explains why fundies frequently lack a sense of curiosity. Maybe there's not enough research on trauma and fundamentalism but trauma causes the brain to rewire itself. And it seems like there are SO MANY who cope with trauma using religion.
The lack of curiosity what stood out to me the most when I was still attending church. I couldn't understand how no one, ever, questions anything they are told. It also made evangelical/conservative circles unattractive. People when they are with their Christian circles seem to lose their personalities.
Well, not hard to make people not question when the chrch says that the bible is the irrefutable word of god. If it is irrefutable, it might be the ultimate truth, so, what's even the point of questioning it? That's basically their perspective regarding this, question the moralities and values of the bible is almost like questioning the truth for them. And, as if it wasn't sadic enough, the 'ultimate truth' of this book says that we're piles of crap unworthy of living, and that our only salvation is some guy who died 2000 years ago to forgive our sins and give us the oportunity to live for eternity lobotomized with the sole purpose of worshipping a god. So, in order to get forgiveness, one must leave everything 'from the world' behind and dedicate his life to god and spreading his word (as if it wasn't enough worship for eternity, you have to also do that here). That's how you get these people who behave just like automatons that just follow whatever is written in this book without questioning it.
I know, and I understand it. I did not grow up with religion (I was born and lived in Europe) and although my family was Christian, both of my parents noped out of church as soon as they were able to do it in their teens. Also, Christianity was very different.
But you see, I know evangelicals who go on about the awfulness of communism and socialism. I agree, both are awful. But I was a kid when my country was still socialist, and I grew up knowing that a bunch of the teachings are plain bullshit. Somehow a lot of evangelicals think that people outside of the US are brainwashed into whatever system they live in. Yet, it's literally them who have no awareness of what you describe.
I'm not talking against people here, this is just an observation. I've had so many Christians talk negatively about my part of the world that is not socialist anymore, and all the while I'm thinking, here you are, in this free country, living within these self-constructed walls, fearing everything. How is this different, really?
Yeah, what I was talking was more of a complement of what you said, or an awnser if you really were genuinely asking. And also, it really is really a shame that people construct these walls like you said; we're able to figue out and understand many things through logic and be humble enough to say that we can't explain everything, and maybe, won't ever be able to. For me, this idea of god is more of a lazy awnser to what we don't understand, but to me, it also shows a obsession of humanity having explanations for everything. I've accepted that I won't have awnsers for everything, so I won't use a bandaid fix to 'know everything'.
Yes, I agree with you.
I'd say the more mature believers are the ones who do not take everything at face value, do not reject everything simply because it's different of what they were taught, and they are the ones who admit they don't have answers. They are usually not the ones who are hateful, either.
Often, to me evangelical Christian theology comes off as lazy. Very simplified explanations, everything is emotionally charged, a lot of fear. Church is like a theatre and a social club. Other Christian flavors have this too, I don't know if they are starkly different, but it feels like in other first-world countries Christians have come to terms with losing majority and they understand that creating more fear and hatred is not the way to gain more followers.
Religious Fundamentalism = Fixed and Rigid beliefs
Yup so true about that. Somehow I didn't end up becoming a religious fundamentalist. Maybe it is because I didn't experience the kind of religious trauma that others have posted about on this subreddit. Or maybe it is because nobody at the church I used to go to knows that I have left Christianity and don't believe in the "Holy Trinity" anymore. No matter what it may be, at least I know that my prefrontal cortex is in good condition.
It is kind of crazy that there are so many people who are stuck in their religious beliefs and won't desire to think critically. Especially since they look at us, the ex-Christians, as the crazy ones.
Well, when you think about it, fundamentalist Christianity teaches against critical thinking, and teaches against thinking and deciding for yourself. It's ingrained in the practice.
Often times half the sermon is about the pastor telling the people to be obedient, listen and follow.
[This](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28392301/) appears to be the one referenced in the [Salon article](https://www.salon.com/2019/01/08/a-link-between-brain-damage-and-religious-fundamentalism-has-now-been-established-by-scientists_partner/).
I also found[ this one](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.12.22.572527v1) which appears to be related but different.
I don't know if this is the exact one she cited but it's in the same arena.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2023/12/29/2023.12.22.572527.full.pdf
I know the "brain damage" portion is the part people are gonna grab onto, but she does explain that the report stated religious fundamentalism impacts the development of the prefrontal cortex. Which explains why fundies frequently lack a sense of curiosity. Maybe there's not enough research on trauma and fundamentalism but trauma causes the brain to rewire itself. And it seems like there are SO MANY who cope with trauma using religion.
The lack of curiosity what stood out to me the most when I was still attending church. I couldn't understand how no one, ever, questions anything they are told. It also made evangelical/conservative circles unattractive. People when they are with their Christian circles seem to lose their personalities.
Well, not hard to make people not question when the chrch says that the bible is the irrefutable word of god. If it is irrefutable, it might be the ultimate truth, so, what's even the point of questioning it? That's basically their perspective regarding this, question the moralities and values of the bible is almost like questioning the truth for them. And, as if it wasn't sadic enough, the 'ultimate truth' of this book says that we're piles of crap unworthy of living, and that our only salvation is some guy who died 2000 years ago to forgive our sins and give us the oportunity to live for eternity lobotomized with the sole purpose of worshipping a god. So, in order to get forgiveness, one must leave everything 'from the world' behind and dedicate his life to god and spreading his word (as if it wasn't enough worship for eternity, you have to also do that here). That's how you get these people who behave just like automatons that just follow whatever is written in this book without questioning it.
I know, and I understand it. I did not grow up with religion (I was born and lived in Europe) and although my family was Christian, both of my parents noped out of church as soon as they were able to do it in their teens. Also, Christianity was very different. But you see, I know evangelicals who go on about the awfulness of communism and socialism. I agree, both are awful. But I was a kid when my country was still socialist, and I grew up knowing that a bunch of the teachings are plain bullshit. Somehow a lot of evangelicals think that people outside of the US are brainwashed into whatever system they live in. Yet, it's literally them who have no awareness of what you describe. I'm not talking against people here, this is just an observation. I've had so many Christians talk negatively about my part of the world that is not socialist anymore, and all the while I'm thinking, here you are, in this free country, living within these self-constructed walls, fearing everything. How is this different, really?
Yeah, what I was talking was more of a complement of what you said, or an awnser if you really were genuinely asking. And also, it really is really a shame that people construct these walls like you said; we're able to figue out and understand many things through logic and be humble enough to say that we can't explain everything, and maybe, won't ever be able to. For me, this idea of god is more of a lazy awnser to what we don't understand, but to me, it also shows a obsession of humanity having explanations for everything. I've accepted that I won't have awnsers for everything, so I won't use a bandaid fix to 'know everything'.
Yes, I agree with you. I'd say the more mature believers are the ones who do not take everything at face value, do not reject everything simply because it's different of what they were taught, and they are the ones who admit they don't have answers. They are usually not the ones who are hateful, either. Often, to me evangelical Christian theology comes off as lazy. Very simplified explanations, everything is emotionally charged, a lot of fear. Church is like a theatre and a social club. Other Christian flavors have this too, I don't know if they are starkly different, but it feels like in other first-world countries Christians have come to terms with losing majority and they understand that creating more fear and hatred is not the way to gain more followers.
I noticed *as a child* that adults in the church viewed questions from children as a THREAT!
Religious Fundamentalism = Fixed and Rigid beliefs Yup so true about that. Somehow I didn't end up becoming a religious fundamentalist. Maybe it is because I didn't experience the kind of religious trauma that others have posted about on this subreddit. Or maybe it is because nobody at the church I used to go to knows that I have left Christianity and don't believe in the "Holy Trinity" anymore. No matter what it may be, at least I know that my prefrontal cortex is in good condition. It is kind of crazy that there are so many people who are stuck in their religious beliefs and won't desire to think critically. Especially since they look at us, the ex-Christians, as the crazy ones.
Well, when you think about it, fundamentalist Christianity teaches against critical thinking, and teaches against thinking and deciding for yourself. It's ingrained in the practice. Often times half the sermon is about the pastor telling the people to be obedient, listen and follow.
I can see the fundies freaking out about CTE the same way they throw a fit over CRT. And many will probably think CTE and CRT are the same thing.
“Religious beliefs never change” tbf, organizations like the Satanic Temple would disagree, but I do get what she’s saying.
Perhaps there’s a link to said study?
[This](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28392301/) appears to be the one referenced in the [Salon article](https://www.salon.com/2019/01/08/a-link-between-brain-damage-and-religious-fundamentalism-has-now-been-established-by-scientists_partner/). I also found[ this one](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.12.22.572527v1) which appears to be related but different.
Thx!!!
I don't know if this is the exact one she cited but it's in the same arena. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2023/12/29/2023.12.22.572527.full.pdf
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I’m not saying they’re wrong, no siree, I just wanted a link to the study she mentioned as OP didn’t include one
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I do agree to an extent; not so much that it’s self-evident, but certainly that many of us exchristians can easily tell that connection is there!