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The Renewed Mind is a Transformed Mind— a Whole Mind!
By Dahni
© 2022, all rights reserved
Recently a man I call a friend, posted the following on his Facebook Page:
“From a neurological perspective, we learned in neuro class (most difficult class I ever took) about what they call the Gate Theory of pain. Simply, the prefrontal cortex is involved in sending messages/input to the spinal cord to inhibit pain. Fascinating to think that religion could be pursued by people for this very reason. I am just postulating this and want to look into it further, so if any of you know something/have references, I would love to read it.”
He gave the link to an article as:
msn.com/en-us/news/technology/scientists-establish-link-between-religious-fundamentalism-and-brain-damage/ar-AA101SgO?cvid=f73130ff7a15469c9f38ffff91287f5d
or url shortner: https://bit.ly/3zGEbOb
I read the entire article. However, there was no mention of the ‘Gate Theory’ to inhibit pain or association with the article.
What Is Gate Control Theory?
Gate control theory suggests that the spinal cord contains a neurological ‘gate’ that either blocks pain signals or allows them to continue on to the brain. This theory is often used to explain both phantom and chronic pain issues.
Unlike an actual gate, which opens and closes to allow all things to pass through, the gate in the spinal cord differentiates between fiber types when carrying pain signals. Specifically, pain signals traveling via small nerve fibers are allowed to pass while signals sent by large nerve fibers are blocked. And some pains signals may be blocked by will power, meditation and even religion. An athlete or a soldier or someone under duress could possibly block some of these pain signals or they may just will to ignore them?
But the following quote from the article, establishes the purpose of their research:
“Scientists establish link between religious fundamentalism and brain damage.”
“Since religious beliefs play a massive role in driving and influencing human behavior throughout the world, it is important to understand the phenomenon of religious fundamentalism from a psychological and neurological perspective.”
Reading into this article, Christianity is mentioned as another religion or among “fundamental religion[s].”
“119 vets with brain trauma to 30 healthy vets with no damage, and a survey that assessed religious fundamentalism was administered. While the majority of participants were Christians of some kind, 32.5% did not specify a particular religion.”
“Based on previous research, the experimenters predicted that the prefrontal cortex would play a role in religious fundamentalism, since this region is known to be associated with something called ‘cognitive flexibility’. This term refers to the brain’s ability to easily switch from thinking about one concept to another, and to think about multiple things simultaneously. Cognitive flexibility allows organisms to update beliefs in light of new evidence, and this trait likely emerged because of the obvious survival advantage such a skill provides. It is a crucial mental characteristic for adapting to new environments because it allows individuals to make more accurate predictions about the world under new and changing conditions.”
“According to Dr. Grafman and his team, since religious fundamentalism involves a strict adherence to a rigid set of beliefs, cognitive flexibility and open-mindedness present a challenge for fundamentalists. As such, they predicted that participants with lesions to either the vmPFC or the dlPFC would score low on measures of cognitive flexibility and trait openness and high on measures of religious fundamentalism.”
“The results showed that, as expected, damage to the vmPFC (ventromedial prefrontal cortex), and dlPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), was associated with religious fundamentalism.”
“On the other hand, religious beliefs are not usually updated in response to new evidence or scientific explanations, and are therefore strongly associated with conservatism. They are fixed and rigid, which helps promote predictability and coherence to the rules of society among individuals within the group.”
“By investigating the cognitive and neural underpinnings of religious fundamentalism, we can better understand how the phenomenon is represented in the connectivity of the brain, which could allow us to someday inoculate against rigid or radical belief systems through various kinds of mental and cognitive exercises.”
Excerpts and/or edited from:
Scientists Establish Link Between Religious Fundamentalism and Brain Damage
I had interesting observations from my friend’s FB page and this article he had linked. On his Facebook page there appears to be a cropped and poor quality picture of an older Pat Robinson, televangelist and former presidential candidate. This image is not found in the article itself, but seems to have been used to suggest he has brain damage? The word “conservatism” seems to have been associated with religious fundamentalism and brain damage. The word “inoculate” was used and this is a poor choice, considering its usual definition would indicate the introduction of some substance into the mind, even though its future hope is to change, “through various kinds of mental and cognitive exercises.”
The bias of the article seems to be pretty clear and transparent, which is religious fundamentalism, which ‘they’ would include Christianity to be damaging to the prefrontal cortex and preventing the brain from adapting, changing; from open-mindedness. And imagination and creativity too, I suppose? This may shock you, but Christianity is not a religion. It is the exact opposite of religion!
The Greek word for religion is thréskeia, (religion).
The Greek word for godliness is eusebeia, (godliness).
The word eusebeia as it is used in the Greek New Testament carries the meaning of “godliness” and is distinct from thrēskeia, (religion).
But what does the Bible say?
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Matthew 15:9 King James Version (KJV)
The key to this verse is the word “worship.” It would appeal to many as the desire to worship God, but to do so, the how of doing it was by the “doctrines” (right believing – a verb that denotes action and not just accepting it blindly), and “commandments” of people not God. But that is not correct. It says this is “vain”— wasted effort or not profitable. If something is not profitable, then it is unprofitable or profit-less. With great detail, the next verse explains what is not profitable and what is profitable.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
II Timothy 3:16 KJV
All scripture (singular for the plural scriptures), from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 according to its own testimony here is “given by inspiration of God.” Those five words is one word in the Greek theopneustos and literally is translated as God breathed.” And All scripture (singular for the plural scriptures), from Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 is profitable. And it is profitable in three ways: doctrine (for right believing = right thinking = right actions = right results, for reproof when not adhering to the doctrine, and for correction when not adhering to the doctrine and turning aside to get back to it. You show a child the right thing to do and if they turn aside you tell them not to do that. But correction not only tells them not to do something, it turns them around and points them towards the right thing. Doctrine, reproof, and correction and the word “for” are the words “which is,” instruction in righteousness or right living, a life that is profitable. By the sheerest of logic, what is not “God Breathed” is of little to no profit.
Now let us take a look at a very important difference between religion (the doctrines of men [people]), and what God finds acceptable.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1 KJV
The word “reasonable” is the Greek word lateria for “reasonable service.” Its meaning is, “service to God.” And satirically or as a figure of speech, it could be translated as “religious service.” Since one cannot sacrifice themselves or anything and lay it before God, how can this be done? It firsts helps to understand the contrasts between a living sacrifice and one that is, not living, at least after it is sacrificed. 😂
Still to this day, there are men and women that travel by long distances, (often by foot). They would journey to some holy shrine or temple. Often this so-called holy place was on top of a mountain or the highest place. This is where the gods were/are supposed to reside. And these worshipers, upon arriving, would remove their outer clothing and lay down and then roll their bodies up to the top of the holy place. I can’t imagine what their backs and likely ripped clothing would look like when they get there, if they get there! And this they do because, they were taught to do this. They felt or feel compelled to do this, as if this were somehow appealing to God. These were and are, the “commandments of men [people].” And it’s “vain,” not profitable. Clearly anyone can see that to the sacrifice there is no visible profit to them because, they are dead.
Religious cultures such as the Mayans believed in and practiced human sacrifice to appease their god or gods. A human sacrifice (a dead sacrifice), is also “vain” and not profitable. But this verse clearly says God does not want human sacrifices or dead sacrifices. He wants “living sacrifice[s]!” What is this and how is it to be done so that it is acceptable to God as if it was, our religious service?
Note: Here is a little study you can do on your own. If so it will likely shock you about the things the God of the Bible did not and does not desire. God never wanted all the laws that are found in it, kings (rule by royalty), judges, prophets, other things and no human sacrifice!
What is this religious service or how is this service to be rendered to God? The next verse in Romans 12:2 explains it extraordinarily.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2 KJV
We just read another verse of contrasts. We are not to be “conformed” (to the doctrines and commandments of men [people] = religion). But in contrast, we are to be “transformed”. The word “transformed” is the Greek word metamorphous the from which is transliterated over to the word metamorphosis as a caterpillar is “transformed” into a butterfly. And this transformation comes by our “renewing” our minds, according to the doctrine, reproof, and correction (what does the Word say). And in so doing, we will prove what is that “good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. How will we be able to prove it? By the results or like fruit from our trees (in and of our lives)! Please note, this is by free choice. There is no compulsion. We do what the Word says and we will get the results. If we do not, we get consequences. It’s just this simple.
As the brain is the physical organ of conception and perception along with the other faculties of the brain, the mind is the mental organ of conception, and perception along with the other faculties of the mind. Here are a few more Greek words:
phronema – thoughts
nous– mind
sóphroneó – translated in his or her right mind and sound mind, sober-minded, able to
exercise self-control, having whole thoughts and whole thinking
exestē – out of your mind in the vernacular or insane
I am using the King James Version of the Bible to quote and reference scriptures here. It is pretty easy to understand and is very accurate, but there is another reason I am sharing it here. The real king, King James was he who authorized this version of the Bible, in 1611. What contemporary of his was alive at the time? If you think this was William Shakespeare, then you are smart! William Shakespeare (baptized April 26, 1564 – April 23 1616), was an English playwright, poet and actor. At least two of his tragedies (Hamlet and Macbeth), use words that were also familiar and used in the King James Version of the Bible. The words were, He or She was/is “beside themselves [himself or herself].”
Now I will not spend a great deal of time on this, but in contrast to sóphroneó (having a sound mind), the Greek word used below is exestē and means, “out of your mind, insane and etc.” It comes from ek “out” or “out from the center” and histemi “to put out of wits, to become insane.”
This word (exestē), is used several times in the Bible, sometimes of those possessed with some devil spirit that causes them to be insane. It was also used of Jesus Christ by his own mother and his half-brothers and half-sisters. For context, read the entire chapter of Mark chapter 3.
Jesus had 12 disciples. Fine, he needed help. But when he ordained them as apostles and sent them forth to also preach and perform miracles like he did, that’s when his “friends” (“those belonging to him”), said he was out of his mind and went to seize him.
“And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.”
Mark 3:21 KJV
“Being beside” oneself can be understood by the two hemispheres of the human brain, with each side specific in how information is processed. The left side of the brain tends to analytical and verbal skill whereas the right side of the brain lends itself more towards the so-called creative arts (expressive arts), imagination and etc. As in dreams, your brain cannot always determine what is real and what is not. Thus being beside yourself (insane), is the inability to control one’s thoughts and actions or distinguish between what is real and what is not. People with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are thought to be ‘stuck’ inside their right minds. And this is what being besides oneself is, being “stuck” and unable to return to the real world.
It can get worse. Others believed Jesus Christ was possessed of Beelzebub. In other words he himself used a devil spirit to cast out other spirits. It’s like an army with a general telling all the rest to say, jump.
“And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.”
Mark 3:22 KJV
In Mark 3:31, his “friends” (“those belonging to him”), are identified as his “mother” and “brethren,” (half-brothers and half-sisters). They were all outside of a meeting where Jesus was teaching and they desired to speak with him. Note his own family were not hearing the Word of God he was teaching and that we knew from verse 21, they already believed he was insane, and were seeking an occasion to seize him.
“There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.”
Mark 3:31 KJV
Because of their relationship with Jesus, the multitudes “they” interrupted Jesus’ teaching.
“And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.”
Mark 3:32 KJV
Here is how Jesus answered—
“And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. “
Mark 3: 33-35 KJV
So, essentially the multitude, Mary the Mother of Jesus, his stepfamily, and the scribes were not thinking clearly or they thought he was insane. This is what religion and the “doctrines and commandments of men” [people] do. It is just the opposite of Christianity or godliness, which is having a vital spiritual relationship with God.
Remember transformation (the change— the metamorphosis), comes by our renewing our minds freely, by thinking, acting and then proving to ourselves, what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:1 KJV
There is a more modern term made up by the combination of two Greek words, nous (“mind”), and “Theos” (“God”). Combined, the word is nouthetic and is used with Nouthetic Counseling. But Nouthetic Counseling is not new. While the name is new, the sort of counseling done by nouthetic counselors is not.
From Bible times onward, God’s people have counseled nouthetically. The word itself is Biblical. It comes from the Greek noun nouthesia (verb: noutheteo). The word, used in the New Testament primarily by the apostle Paul, is translated “admonish, correct or instruct.” This term, which probably best describes Biblical counseling, occurs in such passages as Romans 15:14—
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”
Romans 15:14 KJV
The words “to admonish” is the Greek word nouthetein.
Nouthetic Counseling embraces three ideas: Doctrine, Reproof and Correction which is, instruction in righteousness (right thinking = right actions = right living).
Because the New Testament term is larger than the English word “counsel,” and because it doesn’t carry any of the baggage that is attached to the latter term, we have simply imported the Biblical term into English. In that way, the full force of the Biblical concept of counseling may be set forth while avoiding the many contradictory connotations surrounding the English one. The three ideas found in the word nouthesia are doctrine, reproof and correction— to confront, concern and change (transform). To put it simply, nouthetic counseling is to produce sound thinking and sound living people, in order to make those changes God requires and expects each person to prove to themselves, what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
What are the effects, affects or results of this renewed mind, this transformed whole thinking and whole acting mind?
“That the man [all inclusive noun] of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
II Timothy 3:17
From one verse of scripture (II Timothy 3:16), we find what the whole Bible is profitable for— doctrine, reproof and correction, which is how to believe, think and live righteously (rightly, correctly). Now in one verse of scripture we see its purpose.
The man or woman or child, when speaking and believing God’s Word is, God’s “man” (woman or child). And believe it or not, it’s purpose is that this person might be perfect. This perfection (the Greek word “artios” in Greek literature is used as outfitting a ship with everything needed to make a journey and to reach its destination. It was also used for joints. The present medical studies have transliterated over from artios to anthrology, which is the study of joints. A specific joint as, ‘a ball and socket joint’ if not “perfect” and if the smallest matter were to come between its normal function, the pain would be excruciating! Now that is perfection!
So putting this all together and from an expanded view of this verse—
“That the man [all inclusive noun— man, woman or child] of God may be perfect, through and throughly perfected, unto all good works.”
II Timothy 3:17 expanded literal translation
“Good Works” is equal to good “fruit” as in Galatians—
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22, 23 KJV
There are many factors that can indeed cause brain damage as drugs, perhaps genetics, some accident, devil spirit possession and yes, the “doctrines and commandments of men”—women and children A.K.A. religion. And as if from medical science, research and empirical evidence, and philosophy, psychiatry and psychology, if they do not understand that Christianity and godliness is not a religion, then they are wrong, confused and proposing inordinate thinking, which will indeed damage the brain.
Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but
I did not write the the Bible, I am just…
…a witness!
Dahni
Pentecost 