Searching for God in the Brain...

This is from the magazine Scientific American. An interesting take on religious fervor. I find it interesting that textbooks on mental illness as far back as 1892 saw a link between "religious emotionalism" and epilepsy. The human brain is a mysterious thing. We still have a lot to learn about how it functions.

We do know that neurons firing can cause people to hear voices or see things that are not there. If I say I saw an alien or had an alien talk to me most people would assume either I was making it up or I had a neurological problem (the polite way to say I was crazy). But why is it when someone claims to have felt god's presence or voice we do not react the same way? Unless they go off and really do something stupid and/or dangerous we think there is nothing wrong with that. Should there be? If they are not a danger to themselves or others than let people believe they talk to elves for all I care. I just think we need to be honest that just because your brain is wired one way does not mean mine is too. So certain people in power need to realize there is a large percentage of the population that does not share your religious fervor and prefers you keep your thoughts and legislation to yourself...