Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 22:03 | Report Abuse

A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia has shown that religious fundamentalism is, in part, the result of a functional impairment in a brain region known as the prefrontal cortex. The findings suggest that damage to particular areas of the prefrontal cortex indirectly promotes religious fundamentalism by diminishing cognitive flexibility and openness—a psychology term that describes a personality trait which involves dimensions like curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness.

BE CAREFUL OF......WHAT DO WE DO TO OUR KIDS' BRAIN DEVELOPMENT....individually......or collectively as a society



https://www.salon.com/2019/01/08/a-link-between-brain-damage-and-religious-fundamentalism-has-now-been-established-by-scientists_partner/

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 22:08 | Report Abuse

In contrary, empirical beliefs are based on how the world appears to be and are updated as new evidence accumulates or when new theories with better predictive power emerge.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 22:11 | Report Abuse

Unlike in the past......for 21st century....

‘cognitive flexibility’ has become more and more important.

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.

Prefrontal cortex.......

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 22:20 | Report Abuse

Religious fundamentalism refers to an ideology that emphasizes traditional religious texts and rituals and discourages progressive thinking about religion and social issues. Fundamentalist groups generally oppose anything that questions or challenges their beliefs or way of life. For this reason, they are often aggressive towards anyone who does not share their specific set of supernatural beliefs, and towards science, as these things are seen as existential threats to their entire worldview.

Damage to the vmPFC and dlPFC was associated with religious fundamentalism. Further tests revealed that this increase in religious fundamentalism was caused by a reduction in cognitive flexibility and openness resulting from the prefrontal cortex impairment

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 22:21 | Report Abuse

These findings are important because they suggest that impaired functioning in the prefrontal cortex—whether from brain trauma, a psychological disorder, a drug addiction, or simply a particular genetic profile—can make an individual susceptible to religious fundamentalism. And perhaps in other cases, extreme religious indoctrination harms the development or proper functioning of the prefrontal regions in a way that hinders cognitive flexibility and openness.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 22:22 | Report Abuse

This knowledge could allow us to someday inoculate against rigid or radical belief systems through various kinds of mental and cognitive exercises in all kiddy learning academy

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 22:33 | Report Abuse

.......worldwide

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-05-31 22:43 | Report Abuse

very important very relevant but will take another 100 years become it has wide acceptance in America and Malaysia.

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-05-31 22:45 | Report Abuse

ex communist countries and Scandinavian countries are in the best position to be scientific countries.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 22:53 | Report Abuse

Nobel Prizes have been awarded to over 900 individuals,[1] of whom at least 20% were Jews, although the Jewish population comprises less than 0.2% of the world's population.

Although Muslims constitute more than 23 percent of the world’s population, as of 2015, only 12 Nobel laureates have been Muslims, whereas 193 (22 percent) of the total 855 laureates have been Jewish, although Jews comprise less than 0.2 percent of the world’s population.



https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article95792072.html



CANNOT WAIT TOO LONG..........'NATURAL' SELECTION HAS BEEN WORKING.... selecting those with impaired or restricted cognitive flexibility.....and underdeveloped prefronta cortex


......poor community in poor countries......gotta get worse

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 23:00 | Report Abuse

Posted by qqq3 > May 31, 2019 10:45 PM | Report Abuse

ex communist countries and Scandinavian countries are in the best position to be scientific countries


==========÷÷÷÷

Any country can......as long as the ppl can read.......and understand recent findings in the field of neurotheology.....insist on getting the right education minister for their country...

......one who is free from cognitive inflexibility

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 23:01 | Report Abuse

.......the choice is with the ppl.......I mean.....in democratic countries

ppl got their voice

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-05-31 23:02 | Report Abuse

altruism = compassion.

In the book The selfish genes, Richard Dawkins suggest altrusim resulting from selfish genes has evolutionary advantages and is therefore natural.

Confucians call it...People are born good

Buddhist call it ....the self nature.


But Christians turn it around and says people are born with evil sins.

In Taoism , it is stated, the more laws and religious, the more hypocrites arise.

Striking the right balance in childhood education is not easy.....but among all the strategies, a happy childhood is probably the best preparation.

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-05-31 23:03 | Report Abuse

very important very relevant but will take another 100 years before it has wide acceptance in America and Malaysia.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 23:05 | Report Abuse

Agree.......a happy childhood

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 23:11 | Report Abuse

......but also must help them to develop their brains properly....

Lots of parents have high hope on their children......willing to sacrifice and pray for them......

.......unfortunately......overlooked the risk of counterproductive schooling activities that have detrimental effect on the development and optimal functioning of their prefrontal cortex

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 23:13 | Report Abuse

....end up......the children 'wasted'their childhood play time

(bad trade off)

family and country coffer may dry up for no good reason

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-05-31 23:15 | Report Abuse

I am not a Jew and cannot comment on the Jews. They have strong survival instincts due to past struggles and adaptations.....but as a race, as a culture, I think they are unhappy and the Jews are going extinct...Their life is too tough and too many enemies.

And the way the Jews treat the Palestinians are inhuman.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 23:18 | Report Abuse

Any responsible gomen should ensure thatno school-going children are cheated of beneficial education......

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-05-31 23:21 | Report Abuse

by EngineeringProfit > May 31, 2019 11:16 PM | Report Abuse

Any resonsible gomen should ensure thatno school-going children are cheated of beneficial education......
=======

among the 200 countries in the world, Malaysia is ok one......Just 50 years ago, Malays are still fishermen and farmers and no culture of living in modernity and towns. Also neglected by parents and British government for 200 years . Malays have make good progress already even if more need to be done.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-05-31 23:23 | Report Abuse

qqq3 I am not a Jew and cannot comment on the Jews. They have strong survival instincts due to past struggles and adaptations.....but as a race, as a culture, I think they are unhappy and the Jews are going extinct...Their life is too tough and too many enemies.

And the way the Jews treat the Palestinians are inhuman


==============================
My point....actually....is this:

certain indoctrination.........impede development of cognitive flexibility..........become poor scientists

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-05-31 23:44 | Report Abuse

If you take the typical Malay, every thing is stacked against him...........his religion is backwards and feudal, his parents don't care, his language is bad for maths, self esteem is low, ambition is low ...Mahathir's Malay Dilemma is fundamentally correct.

His plus points is........they have strong communal living , compassionate towards each other, not as cruel as Arabs.

Its a difficult nut to crack....Under PH, they should be able to further improve themselves.

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-06-01 00:01 | Report Abuse

Malays and Arabs share the same backwards feudal religion. Luckily there is a fundamental difference. Arab culture is know as desert culture- cruel, tricky . Malay culture is known as tropical culture, easy going , friendly, life is easy in the tropics after all.

Posted by freddiehero > 2019-06-01 07:10 | Report Abuse

must learn from american

Posted by freddiehero > 2019-06-01 07:10 | Report Abuse

house cheap

Posted by freddiehero > 2019-06-01 07:10 | Report Abuse

food cheap

Posted by freddiehero > 2019-06-01 07:11 | Report Abuse

car cheap

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-01 07:17 | Report Abuse

Posted by qqq3 > May 31, 2019 11:44 PM | Report Abuse

If you take the typical Malay, every thing is stacked against him...........his religion is backwards and feudal, his parents don't care, his language is bad for maths, self esteem is low, ambition is low ...Mahathir's Malay Dilemma is fundamentally correct.

His plus points is........they have strong communal living , compassionate towards each other, not as cruel as Arabs.

Its a difficult nut to crack....Under PH, they should be able to further improve themselves.

=================
What if submission to shrewd and arabisation gradually successfully replaces their 'Nalayness' over time......

......from hardworking, sincerity and honesty ....... to liars, etc

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-01 07:56 | Report Abuse

qqq3 Malays and Arabs share the same backwards feudal religion. Luckily there is a fundamental difference. Arab culture is know as desert culture- cruel, tricky . Malay culture is known as tropical culture, easy going , friendly, life is easy in the tropics after all.

=============
What if IT tech revolutionizes everything.......blurs the line faster than anyone can expect....

..........like the 11th century case study.......downfall, dooming or U-turn of a once scientific giant civilization.......

......signs towards dooming then were mushrooming of government-backed fundamental nizamiyah schools.......and plaquing of all government ministries, organizations and institutions (sounds familiar........tahfizzz......yapeimmm, etc)

key lesson to learn for mankind (start with school children.....no?)

......

https://en.qantara.de/content/the-decline-of-islamic-scientific-thought-dont-blame-it-on-al-ghazali

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-01 08:10 | Report Abuse

Posted by freddiehero > Jun 1, 2019 7:10 AM | Report Abuse

must learn from american

================

Would their RETURN ( re-learn and re-adopt ) their original Mlay'ness culture....

'Kata itu kota'......man of their words

'Berani buat....berani tanggunh'......dare to admit wrong doing

Berbudi bahasa......sooan santun.........manners and courtesy


and lots more


EVEN JUST THE ABOVE TGREE VALUES.......WOULD SUFFICE......NO NEED DECADE LONG FUTILE/time wasting ........

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-06-01 11:04 | Report Abuse

freddiehero > Jun 1, 2019 7:10 AM | Report Abuse

must learn from american
===========

at the moment America is the most shitty country in the world..a nut case for President, completely unpredictable, went roque already and completely uncontrollable.

a society that is too polarised unlike China which is a very united and hence strong country..

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-06-01 11:08 | Report Abuse

by EngineeringProfit > Jun 1, 2019 7:56 AM | Report Abuse

......signs towards dooming then were mushrooming of government-backed fundamental nizamiyah schools....
==========

Our PM and Education Minister know what is going on and already doing what they can to remedy. ...but for political reason cannot be rushed.

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-06-01 11:10 | Report Abuse

Bottom line, Malaysia is a very lucky country...No need to worry.

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-06-01 11:20 | Report Abuse

I am more worried for Anwar time but that is for the future.

Look at head gears of Anwar wife and daughter and u know what I mean.

Mahathir is fundamentally a secular man, albeit also a necessary politician.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-01 11:45 | Report Abuse

Not about rushing....

...more importanty is making the right move.....every time

But does not seem to be the case ....to date

Ppl can continue to get deluded about real changes for betterment....

......but

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-06-01 11:53 | Report Abuse

EngineeringProfit > Jun 1, 2019 11:45 AM | Report Abuse

Not about rushing....
=========

but you only have your selfish desires to take care of. The PM have bigger worries and a country to take care of.

Posted by nothingness > 2019-06-03 07:29 | Report Abuse

The Empty Boat by Chuang Tzu

He who rules men lives in confusion;
He who is ruled by men lives in sorrow.
Tao therefore desired
Neither to influence others
Nor to be influenced by them.
The way to get clear of confusion
And free of sorrow
Is to live with Tao
In the land of the great Void.

If a man is crossing a river
And an empty boat collides with his own skiff,
Even though he be a bad-tempered man
He will not become very angry.
But if he sees a man in the boat,
He will shout at him to steer clear.
If the shout is not heard, he will shout again,
And yet again, and begin cursing.
And all because there is somebody in the boat.
Yet if the boat were empty.
He would not be shouting, and not angry.

If you can empty your own boat
Crossing the river of the world,
No one will oppose you,
No one will seek to harm you.

The straight tree is the first to be cut down,
The spring of clear water is the first to be drained dry.
If you wish to improve your wisdom
And shame the ignorant,
To cultivate your character
And outshine others;
A light will shine around you
As if you had swallowed the sun and the moon:
You will not avoid calamity.

A wise man has said:
“He who is content with himself
Has done a worthless work.
Achievement is the beginning of failure.
Fame is beginning of disgrace.”

Who can free himself from achievement
And from fame, descend and be lost
Amid the masses of men?
He will flow like Tao, unseen,
He will go about like Life itself
With no name and no home.
Simple is he, without distinction.
To all appearances he is a fool.
His steps leave no trace. He has no power.
He achieves nothing, has no reputation.
Since he judges no one
No one judges him.
Such is the perfect man:
His boat is empty.

-Chuang Tzu

Posted by nothingness > 2019-06-03 07:32 | Report Abuse

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side.

The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman.

Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his 
journey.

The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them.

Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?”

The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”

--

This simple Zen story has a beautiful message about living in the present moment. How often do we carry around past hurts, holding onto resentments when the only person we are really hurting is ourselves.

We all go through times in life when other people say things or behave in a way that is hurtful towards us. We can chose to ruminate over past actions or events, but it will ultimately weigh us down and sap our energy.

Instead we can choose to let go of what doesn’t serve us anymore and concentrate on the present moment. Until we can find a level of peace and happiness in the present circumstances of our lives, we will never be content, because ‘now’ is all we will ever have.

Gassho.

Posted by nothingness > 2019-06-03 07:33 | Report Abuse

The story above is not about letting go of the past, as no harm was done in these actions. It is about letting down your self-righteousness, your adherence to dogma over compassion and what needs doing. The older monk did what needed doing without hanging on to any attraction he may have felt. Or worry about dogma. The younger monk was affected because of his own attraction, perhaps, and his youthful adherence to "rules".It is about letting things flow, not resisting them, and doing right action. No resistance, as in meditation.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-03 07:51 | Report Abuse

One has cognitive flexibility ....

.....the other one has prefrontal cortex suppression owing to long period of exposure to fundamental religion indoctrination

In order to face challenges in 21st century.....without tongkat and backdoor....

..........all learning institutions must nurture cognitive flexibility........i.e. nurture development of neobrain

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-03 07:53 | Report Abuse

Cognitive flexibility 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

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-03 07:56 | Report Abuse

A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia has shown that religious fundamentalism is, in part, the result of a functional impairment in a brain region known as the prefrontal cortex. The findings suggest that damage to particular areas of the prefrontal cortex indirectly promotes religious fundamentalism by diminishing cognitive flexibility and openness—a psychology term that describes a personality trait which involves dimensions like curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness.

BE CAREFUL OF......WHAT DO WE DO TO OUR KIDS' BRAIN DEVELOPMENT....individually......or collectively as a society



https://www.salon.com/2019/01/08/a-link-between-brain-damage-and-relig...

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-03 08:14 | Report Abuse

Posted by qqq3 > May 31, 2019 9:54 AM | Report Abuse

warning


Children with a Religious Upbringing Show Less Altruism
A controversial study with a surprising finding


https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/children-with-a-religious-u...=1

==========================

As long as the senior monk can justify why sexism determines whether he would rescue the drowning victim or not...

....indirectly discrimination......born out o........

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-06-03 12:10 | Report Abuse

The older monk has true understanding
the younger monk is worse off than without.

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-03 12:28 | Report Abuse

In Buddhism......true understanding......is not true understanding

......vice versa

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-03 12:55 | Report Abuse

In local context....half baked preachers and lecturers are more detrimental......than contributing to...

.....individual...community... nation......in the long run

Posted by RainT > 2019-06-03 14:26 | Report Abuse

the monk story is very good story

many things in our live happen like that

Posted by EngineeringProfit > 2019-06-04 07:39 | Report Abuse

Means how?

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-06-04 19:55 | Report Abuse

EngineeringProfit One has cognitive flexibility ....
===========

aka judgements. To be in the present at all times, to see things as they truly are, to make proper and accurate judgement.....calmness, meditations, happiness...it helps.

at the beginning levels, people suffer from half pail water, like the young monk, for others, they suffer from running fire , or too obsessive.....

but if you are at the level of the old monk, you are enlightened, Buddha nature.


pre frontal cortex, modern science has confirmed that prefrontal cortex of regular meditators are more advanced than normal.

Posted by qqq3 > 2019-06-04 19:56 | Report Abuse

aka judgements. To be in the present at all times, to see things as they truly are, to make proper and accurate judgement.....calmness, meditations, happiness...



it helps....Zen trading...can meditations helps to make money? Give it a try.