There's a video of Derren Brown instantly "converting" a group of atheists. He admits that it was all mental illusions. How do you think this works?
What are people mistaking for God?
A link that might work:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2685103739068700146&q=derren+brown&total=1606&start=30&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1
2007-09-25 08:18:37 · 10 answers · asked by Eleventy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
conversions...my bad...
2007-09-25 08:24:05 · update #1
That was a good watch. I didn't see so much a change in belief as emotional disposition. The girl didn't go from atheism to Christianity, but guarded to unguarded or cautious to accepting. No cognitive content was exchanged. The man had a very similar experience, not a change of belief but one of disposition.
These mental changes can be traced in neurological activity, where some parts of the brain are more active than others. Such studies have been performed on meditating Buddhists and praying nuns. The neurological shift brings about a disposition of wholeness, calm, and acceptance, away from analytical, skeptical inquiry, which is driven by another section of the brain.
The methods Brown used are commonly used by "fringe" Pentecostals, faith healers, and of course magicians and entertainers. One book written by a Christian on "false" revivals that use such tactics is called Counterfeit Revival. We are basically dealing with some standard hypnotism.
Incidentally, the methods of some early American Christians were criticized as being tactical, analogues to what we see here but less extreme. They are called Methodists.
_________
Edit: the section of the brain I was speaking of is the "orientation association area" at the posterior section of the parietal lobe. There is also the "attention association area" and "verbal conception area."
When I teach drawing, I am trying to get the students away from using the verbal conception area to the orientation association area, actually. I want them to feel wholly connected to and identify with what they are seeing and drawing instead of labeling and naming the pictorial space into categories and concepts that puts analytical distance between the viewer and what is viewed. Drawing should be a fresh response.
2007-09-25 08:40:30 · answer #1 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Many religions use various forms of hypnosis... for example, fasting lowers blood sugar and makes one more vulnerable to natural trance states, when suggestions have more power on the mind.
If the people are highly suggestible, they can easily be convinced they experienced a spiritual experience.
2007-09-25 08:23:46 · answer #2 · answered by Ũniνέгsäl Рдnтsthέisт™ 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
It works the same way religion works. Thats his point. It is all brainwashing. He does the same to mind reading and clairvoyance.
2007-09-25 08:23:20 · answer #3 · answered by Freethinking Liberal 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
magicians commonly use audience plants. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case here.
2007-09-25 08:55:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's called the power of belief.
2007-09-25 08:25:55 · answer #5 · answered by toolshuggah 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, I'm thinking the whole thing was staged.
He touched her, and then she starts to believe? More like, he paid her, and she starts to say her lines...
2007-09-25 08:26:18 · answer #6 · answered by Eldritch 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
They are called "actors"
I seen steven chow fly through the air and destroy the best kung fu master ever, the beast.....
2007-09-25 08:30:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
the people just realized they were wrong and accepted God. thats it...theres nothing "mental" crap about it
2007-09-25 08:37:42 · answer #8 · answered by Emily 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Wouldn't work on me.
2007-09-25 08:21:49 · answer #9 · answered by Citizen Justin 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"Convertions?"
Please, what are these people mistaking for English?
2007-09-25 08:22:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋