Sam Harris

Did anybody catch Dr. Daniel Amen’s brain fitness lecture on public television?

He seems an intelligent, likable guy, with a solid grounding in his field.  He is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, and got his medical degree at Oral Roberts University.  During his lecture, he mentions church-going a couple of times in the beginning as a brain-healthy activity, I think in regards to the two activities of socializing and gratitude being good for brain function.  At the end, he tells the audience “may god bless you.”  The religious aspect of his life was otherwise not mentioned (unless I missed something when I showered during one of the fundraising segments when he was talking with the host), and most of his lecture focused on purely scientific discourse in the service of a healthy brain.  He helped pioneer research in SPECT imaging (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography).

Amen’s proscription for and descriptions of a healthy brain makes sense, and I’m considering some of his dietary and exercise advice, including consuming heart/brain-healthy fish oil, almonds, avocado, broccoli, and blueberries.

I wonder how someone who espouses “lifelong learning” as one activity for a healthier brain – someone who hopefully understands the evolution of the brain – remains religious.

I’m curious to know if any of the more medically astute members of the forum are familiar with Amen’s methods and can vouch for him. 

Thanks.
Aaron

Aaron - 06 March 2008 05:19 PM

I wonder how someone who espouses “lifelong learning” as one activity for a healthier brain – someone who hopefully understands the evolution of the brain – remains religious.

Aaron:

Genuine religious faith just simply has nothing to do with intelligence, education, training, etc.  It is a personal experience. On another level, I suppose it is something like or analogous to sexual orientation. You understand what it’s like to be homosexual while I don’t. It has nothing to do with intelligence.

Aaron - 06 March 2008 05:19 PM

I wonder how someone who espouses “lifelong learning” as one activity for a healthier brain – someone who hopefully understands the evolution of the brain – remains religious.

It is called ‘compartmentalizing’ Aaron.
It is the same ability that allowed Nazi thugs to hurl other people’s children in the gas chamber and then go home and pick up their own kid and play with it.

Bruce Burleson - 06 March 2008 09:57 PM

Aaron - 06 March 2008 05:19 PM

I wonder how someone who espouses “lifelong learning” as one activity for a healthier brain – someone who hopefully understands the evolution of the brain – remains religious.

Aaron:

Genuine religious faith just simply has nothing to do with intelligence,

Agreed.

education, training,

Disagreed.

It is a personal experience.

Or it really should be, anyway.

On another level, I suppose it is something like or analogous to sexual orientation. You understand what it’s like to be homosexual while I don’t.

Sexual orientation - gay, straight, or in-between - is not a learned or conditioned behavior. Religion is. That’s why experiments to change sexual orientation fail miserably, and why it’s so easy to convert from one religion to another, or (hopefully) away from religion altogether.

It has nothing to do with intelligence.

Again, agreed.
I’m sorry if I sound like a jerk, but you walked right into that. Twice.

Sander - 07 March 2008 01:17 AM

Aaron - 06 March 2008 05:19 PM

I wonder how someone who espouses “lifelong learning” as one activity for a healthier brain – someone who hopefully understands the evolution of the brain – remains religious.

It is called ‘compartmentalizing’ Aaron.
It is the same ability that allowed Nazi thugs to hurl other people’s children in the gas chamber and then go home and pick up their own kid and play with it.

That was my thought, too. That’s what I’ve been saying to Veronica over in the other thread across the street.

So, I suppose he still has some good advice regarding health, and I should not discount the non-religious compartment.

Thanks.

Gotta love a Christian counselor named Amen…

Aaron - 07 March 2008 02:58 AM

That was my thought, too. That’s what I’ve been saying to Veronica over in the other thread across the street.

Good luck with that.

So, I suppose he still has some good advice regarding health, and I should not discount the non-religious compartment.

Yeah, I’d say so.
Like Sam (peace be upon his Ben Stiller-like head) said: you can be educated enough to build a nuke and still believe you will get jiggy with the 72 spice-girls in heaven.

Or, if you are looking for someone to build you a fine Volkswagen just don’t ask them about their views on Jews or homosexuals.

I am in a bad mood today, but I trust you understand what I am trying to say.

Cheers mate.

Sander - 07 March 2008 03:17 AM

Aaron - 07 March 2008 02:58 AM

That was my thought, too. That’s what I’ve been saying to Veronica over in the other thread across the street.

Good luck with that.

So, I suppose he still has some good advice regarding health, and I should not discount the non-religious compartment.

Yeah, I’d say so.
Like Sam (peace be upon his Ben Stiller-like head) said: you can be educated enough to build a nuke and still believe you will get jiggy with the 72 spice-girls in heaven.

Or, if you are looking for someone to build you a fine Volkswagen just don’t ask them about their views on Jews or homosexuals.

I am in a bad mood today, but I trust you understand what I am trying to say.

Cheers mate.

I do understand. Thanks!