Tag Archives: psychology of Christianity

Can Bacteria Help Us Understand Religion? Part 1: The Brain-Changing Power of Religious Belief

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To progress toward a better future, humanity desperately needs a better understanding of religion. Maybe microbes can help. Religion is one of the most powerful forces in human society. Before the rise of America’s Christian Right and before Islamists turned … Continue reading

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If “Nothing Fails Like Prayer,” Why Do People Keep at It?

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“If prayer actually worked, everyone would be a millionaire, nobody would ever get sick and die, and both football teams would always win.” –Ethan Winer The phrase “nothing fails like prayer” was coined in 1976 by secular activist, Ann Nicol … Continue reading

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Can Religion be an Addiction?

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“I’ve never been happier since I quit my 30-year addiction to Jesus.” – Blogger and Christian Heretic Sandra Kee To a medical researcher, the word addiction has a specific biological meaning. But in common vernacular, it means approximately this: the … Continue reading

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Jesus loves Me. He Can’t have a wife!

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Was Jesus married? The question is ancient—perhaps as old as the question of his divinity. On September 18, at a conference in Rome, Harvard historian Karen L. King, unveiled an ancient scrap of papyrus  with Coptic script in which Jesus … Continue reading

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Is Prayer Selfish?

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Fall is prayer season. Some folks think of it as football season, and indeed, images of football players circled with heads bowed or pointing to the big guy in the sky are almost as familiar lately as birds flying south. … Continue reading

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