Analytical Thinking erodes Faith

[Woody]

Analytical Thinking erodes Faith according to a scientific study:

http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/26/2166157/analytical-thinking-can-undermine.html

What do you think?

[Bravus]

Interesting but somewhat shaky experiments, IMO.

but that could be just my analytical mind talking.

[Bravus]

Will have a dig for the original paper: that article only reports the differences of the means, and without standard deviations doesn't tell us much at all.

[Bravus]

Here's a link to the actual paper in Science: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/336/6080/493.abstract

While I still have questions, the fact that it passed peer review at Science suggests there are no simple and obvious flaws...

[Woody]

Quote:

but that could be just my analytical mind talking.

Are you telling us that you are an analytical thinker Bravus? SURPRISE SURPRISE.

{Said in a Gomer Pyle voice}

[Bravus]

Oops, sorry, it's behind a pay wall. Will have to read it at work.

Anyway, interesting paper, Woody, thanks for pointing it out.

[Woody]

Thanks Bravus. From this poorly analytical brain - it does make sense to me.

I am sure that some will be willing to pay to see it. But for me - I'm happy with the synopsis.

[olger]

"When professedly scientific men treat upon these subjects from a merely human point of view, they will assuredly come to wrong conclusions. It may be innocent to speculate beyond what God's word has revealed, if our theories do not contradict facts found in the Scriptures; but those who leave the word of God, and seek to account for his created works upon scientific principles, are drifting, without chart or compass, upon an unknown ocean" (Christian Education).

I believe this statement is accurate, and true.

[CoAspen]

Some interesting thoughts, but......

Quote:

But when called upon, analytic thinking can override intuition.

Studies suggest that religious beliefs are rooted in this intuitive processing,......

Notice the word 'can', not a forgone conclusion such as the word 'will'.

Quote:

So does this mean that religious faith can be undermined with just a little extra mental effort? Not really, said Nicholas Epley, a social psychologist at the University of Chicago who was not involved in the study. But it does show that belief isn't set in stone, but can respond to a person's context.

Thankfully our beliefs are not set in stone, otherwise our learning process would end and this whole process of life is useless.

Again, freedom of choice, seems like the real winner and since God built that into us, lets continue with our analysis of what is truth!!!!

The title of this thread is a bit misleading.....we are all in control of what we choose to believe. I would not encourage anyone to dumb down their analytical side, but simply to be honest with their beliefs and not try to prove what they can't prove. Faith is only eroded if it is based on 'proof' statements.

faith

noun

1 complete trust or confidence in someone or something

2 strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

It seems Paul understood this well, "things hoped for, but not seen"

[Gerr]

Nah, probably more like the product of the current skeptical, evolution brainwashed society we live in. Were Pascal & Newton less analytical?