All in the Brain

Religion from the viewpoint of the neurosurgeon:

In working with the brain as an object, especially one dissected free of the body, I can't help but turn my thoughts to the philosophical once the anatomical and pathological requirements of the job are out of the way. Frank Lloyd Wright, when asked about his core religious beliefs, once answered something to the effect that he believed in "nature with a capital N." I like that answer. I know what he was getting at. I fundamentally believe in Nature too, with the human brain as a key part of it…

Most people believe in religious teachings simply because they were brought up with them from an early age, not because they critically examined the fundamentals and concluded that they made sense. Culture and tradition often trump good common sense. From the viewpoint of a Nature-based believer, then, traditional religion can lead to false hope or false comfort starting at an early age. Think of the ramifications. How many people sell themselves short on life because they expect great things after death? Life is not a dress rehearsal. You have to enjoy it, make the most of it, while your neurons are still buzzing with live connections. It's amazing how holding a brain can emphasize these points, at least for me.

Source: Firlik, Katrina. Another Day in the Frontal Lobe. Random House, 2006.