The title given to the journal article, “Neural correlates of a mystical experience in Carmelite nuns” (Beauregard, M. and Paquette, V., 2006) is a perfectly sound one. This is because the study looks only at correlations (not causations) between the neurological activity of Carmelite nuns and their mystical experiences. It is an accurate title. The way that the findings are explained in this article also seems to be justified, as the explanation sticks to the facts of the findings. There is a small amount of speculation in the discussion section, though.
For example, the involvement of the right SPL led to the speculation that this involvement led to the feeling of being enveloped by something more than one’s self in a mystical experience. This is what is expected in a discussion section though, and this was justified by explaining that this specific part of the brain deals with spatial perception of self.
The news report, “Nuns prove God is not figment of the mind”, however, bastardises this study. I’m sure that this is what happens on a regular basis in media explanations of scientific articles, but this is the first time that I’ve looked into it, so I’m finding it a little bit ridiculous. The headline actually contradicts the content of the report (“This latest research discredits such theories”). Also, in one paragraph, the article manages to make a statement and contradict it. It states that Beauregard “said” that the “God module” is a mirage, then goes on to quote Beauregard to the contrary (“…neither does it confirm or disconfirm the existence of God”). This is not to mention the headline claiming that something had been scientifically proven, which is impossible, let alone that nuns carried out the research. There is much more wrong with the news report, but I feel like my gentle heart is being perverted by evil hatred whenever I look at it for too long.
The journal article, though, brings forward some interesting ways of thinking. I’ve never come across an article on the neurological explanations for religious experience, and it makes some things a little bit clearer. All of it good, all of the newspaper article bad.
sonnymoss 