(no subject)

[tree_and_leaf]

This is rather interesting: the New Scientist reports that Christianity (or maybe religion in general) can change the way you see the world. I mean literally, as in 'causing minor alterations to visual perception'; oddly enough, it seems to make you better at noticing embedded patterns. They suggest it may have something to do with the particpants' faith encouraging inwardness.

The really mind-boggling thing about this, though, is that the Dutch team were using neo-calvinists (Calvinists? Visual imagery? Shurely shome mishtake?) It is, of course, a very small scale survey, but I'd be fascinated to see the Catholic follow-up that's planned...

Comments

[lizw.livejournal.com]

But how do they know which way round the causality goes?

[tree_and_leaf]

You're right, that's a problem; I'm not sure how you get round it. Intuitively, the way the scientists interpret their data seems right, but that sort of common-sense approach won't do for science.

[straussmonster.livejournal.com]

Well, there has to be some explanation for all those visions of the Virgin Mary on pieces of toast...

[tree_and_leaf]

... though I somehow doubt that Dutch Calvinists are having them ;)

[azdak.livejournal.com]

there has to be some explanation for all those visions of the Virgin Mary on pieces of toast...

Though even non-believers can spot a humourously-shaped vegetable when they see one...

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

OMG, that's fascinating. Thank you for linking!

[em-h.livejournal.com]

Obviously they'd need to do far more testing to have even a preliminary sense, but my own intuitive feeling would be that the causality would go the other way; that people with a neurological tendency towards pattern-seeking would be drawn to organized religious observance. That'd make more sense of the irony of visual pattern-seeking being more marked in members of a faith that is (as you noted) not exactly strongly oriented towards visual symbols ...

[lizw.livejournal.com]

Yes, that would be my take on it as well.

[wuglet.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering about the cause-effect order as well... Definitely interesting though.

And!
I've found this "religious" card game (http://www.myconfinedspace.com/2008/11/27/religion-cards/) in the post by a friend just above this entry!
Talk about patterns! xD

[tree_and_leaf]

It wouldn't entirely surprise me if there wasn't some sort of feedback effect, though.

[tree_and_leaf]

As others have noted, the conclusions are not without it's problems, but it's interesting nonetheless

[tree_and_leaf]

Alas, it won't open for me :(