Comments on: Bill O’Reilly: unlikely neurotheology advocate http://www.numenware.com/article/479 Religion. Brain. Dogen. Language. Japan. Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:36:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Stuart Dryer http://www.numenware.com/article/479#comment-314 Stuart Dryer Thu, 22 Dec 2005 17:02:04 +0000 http://www.numenware.com/article/479#comment-314 Actually, the Dialog Between Science and Society track was used as a way to justify the Dalai Llama’s talk after he was invited. I still think this is a slippery slope (for this particular forum, the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting). Again I ask, who next at this meeting, the Pope? Jerry Falwell? The Reverend Moon? Or maybe we should invite the (former) Dover Pennsylvania school board. I am obviously not opposed to these kinds of conversatins in general, but this was not the time or place for it. As for meditation affecting the brain, I am quite sure it does. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that if I spent hours a day for a decade or two contemplating, say, Bill O’Reilly and a falafel, I am quite certain that people might be able to identify changes in brain function as a result, at least compared to people who led more normal lives. It is fairly fundamental to our understanding of neuronal plasticity that something would change. Finally, I was prepared, I think, for O’Reilly. I was not prepared for the surreal experience of trying to argue with someone who is only a disembodied voice emerging through a little plug in my ear while looking into a camera with someone giving me hand signals everytime my eyes wanted to move. Best wishes, and Happy Holidays. Actually, the Dialog Between Science and Society track was used as a way to justify the Dalai Llama’s talk after he was invited. I still think this is a slippery slope (for this particular forum, the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting). Again I ask, who next at this meeting, the Pope? Jerry Falwell? The Reverend Moon? Or maybe we should invite the (former) Dover Pennsylvania school board. I am obviously not opposed to these kinds of conversatins in general, but this was not the time or place for it.

As for meditation affecting the brain, I am quite sure it does. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that if I spent hours a day for a decade or two contemplating, say, Bill O’Reilly and a falafel, I am quite certain that people might be able to identify changes in brain function as a result, at least compared to people who led more normal lives. It is fairly fundamental to our understanding of neuronal plasticity that something would change.

Finally, I was prepared, I think, for O’Reilly. I was not prepared for the surreal experience of trying to argue with someone who is only a disembodied voice emerging through a little plug in my ear while looking into a camera with someone giving me hand signals everytime my eyes wanted to move.

Best wishes, and Happy Holidays.

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