Mystic Politics

Neuroscience: Consciousness, Death, and Meaning in the Universe

Neuroscientist Christof Koch discusses the search for meaning in the world of science, and the philosophical influence of working with Francis Crick.

Do you balance spirituality and science in your personal life and beliefs?

Human-Exceptionalism: Consciousness Is Everywhere http://mys.tc/2f5

Human-Exceptionalism: Consciousness Is Everywhere

Behavioral biologists have demonstrated that many other species have cognitive abilities that occur in humans and are associated with consciousness.

Where is the line between anthropomorphization and human exceptionalism?

The Origins of Racism: Where does racism come from?

Far from justifying racism or driving a new eugenics movement, the emerging understanding of race is likely to lead to a more equitable society.

How can we leverage new research on causality of racism toward racial progress in america?

Brain Damage linked to Spirituality and Religious Fundamentalism

Recent studies have shed light onto our religious drives, linking religious belief and spirituality with brain damage.

Do you think the link between brain damage and religiosity premises a conclusion that god is all in the mind?

Why Are Believers Willfully Ignorant About Atheists?

When believers talk about atheists, they often don’t bother to talk to any first. What are they afraid of?

Is it because atheists are usually more educated about the religions they are discussing that they don’t believe in them? :)

The Science of Conservative Morality & How the Right-Wing Brain Works

‘If you’re a liberal or a progressive these days, you could be forgiven for being baffled and frustrated by conservatives. Their views and actions seem completely alien to us—or worse. From cheering at executions, to wanting to “throw up” over church-state separation, to seeking to “drown” government “in the bathtub” (except when it is cracking down on porn, apparently) conservatives not only seem very different, but also very inconsistent.’

Where Do Sacred Values Live in the Brain? http://mys.tc/1qf neurology belief science religion faith

A Buddhist Ecology of Self: Self-esteem vs self-destructiveness

‘There are two distinct versions of the Mahaparinirvana sutra, a fundamental text whose subject is the final days and sayings of the Buddha’s life. The version in the early Buddhist Pali Canon, like other texts of that tradition, denies that there is any real self. The citation above is from the Mahayana Buddhist sutra (first two centuries CE) that offers a quite different view of human self. Are these two traditions of Buddhism actually disagreeing with each other? It depends on what we mean by “the self.” And that is not just a subject for introspection. It has significant implications for how we see and interact with our world.’

Low IQ & Conservative Beliefs Linked to Prejudice, Racism, & Bias

‘There’s no gentle way to put it: People who give in to racism and prejudice may simply be dumb, according to a new study that is bound to stir public controversy.

The research finds that children with low intelligence are more likely to hold prejudiced attitudes as adults. These findings point to a vicious cycle, according to lead researcher Gordon Hodson, a psychologist at Brock University in Ontario. Low-intelligence adults tend to gravitate toward socially conservative ideologies, the study found.’