Scientists Deliver 'God' Via A Helmet

prostoalex writes "Scientific American is reporting on scientific work done to map the euphoric religious feelings within the brain. As a result, it's now quite possible to experience 'proximity to God' via a special helmet: 'In a series of studies conducted over the past several decades, Persinger and his team have trained their device on the temporal lobes of hundreds of people. In doing so, the researchers induced in most of them the experience of a sensed presence — a feeling that someone (or a spirit) is in the room when no one, in fact, is — or of a profound state of cosmic bliss that reveals a universal truth. During the three-minute bursts of stimulation, the affected subjects translated this perception of the divine into their own cultural and religious language — terming it God, Buddha, a benevolent presence or the wonder of the universe.""

Comments

This is the closest to God you can ever get

[Anonymous Coward]

First post.

Re:This is the closest to God you can ever get

[SnapShot]

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Don't mod the parent "off topic". It's possible that God is posting AC. Check the bottom of of the thread to see if the last post is AC as well.

Obligatory

[SnoopJeDi]

I, for one, welcome our new brain-controlling divine overlords.

Angry religious leaders @ 9.

Proof!

[Anonymous Coward]

This is proof that Science is a Tool of the Devil!

Oh, Jebus, curse these rotten, immoral Satanic Scientists to the ever-lasting hell they deserve!

Three words:

[Dachannien]

I grok helmet.

Magic helmet

[MillionthMonkey]

Bugs Bunny: [singing] Oh, mighty warrior of great fighting stock! Might I inquire to ask-Eh, [eats a carrot] what's up, Doc?
Elmer Fudd: [singing] I am going to kill the Wabbit!
Bugs Bunny: [singing] Oh, mighty hunter, twil be quite a task. How will you do it? Might I inquire to ask?
Elmer Fudd: [singing] I will do it with my spear and magic helmet!
Bugs Bunny: [singing] Your spear and magic helmet?
Elmer Fudd: [singing] Spear and magic helmet!
Bugs Bunny: [singing] Magic helmet?
Elmer Fudd: [singing] Magic helmet!
Bugs Bunny: Magic helmet.

I guess they came to the wrong conclusion...

[Keyper7]

...after seeing the volunteer scream "Oh, GOD! Oh, GOD!" while being stimulated.

I think they discovered a G-something, but not exactly God.

Re:Surely this includes the hallucinations

[Propaganda13]

Since Jesus apparently had other siblings, why do people still refer to his mother as virgin? Since Joe Jackson wore shoes, why do people still refer to him as Shoeless Joe Jackson? /sarcasm

I'd like to see this work from a distance

[Heir Of The Mess]

Imagine if you could get a machine that could give a whole room full of people the feeling of god at the press of a button. Has amazing potential for abuse. What if it fit in your pocket and worked within a proximity - then everyone around you would feel your presence! hmmm, I wonder if my wife would then show me respect? Probably not :-(

I wonder how it would apply to sales, getting a job, meeting the oppsite sex, a president negotiating with another one. Certainly would add value to face time.

Re:Surely this includes the hallucinations

[ozmanjusri]

I think I'd rather go for the acid.

Hey, Christianity is the belief that a cosmic Jewish zombie, who was his own father, can make you live forever if you eat his flesh.

What's not to like?

Newbligatory

[Twisted64]

I am somewhat concerned that they may be in charge of Gundam.
And if not, why not?