Oh dear, back to your inability to understand science. The release of anandamide produces the effects ascribed to the presence of god in a manner that does not require god to exist. It provide a god-free explanation.
But science always gives god free explanations doesn't it? God isn't in at the start.
And in the absence of any evidence that god does exist data that satisfactorily explain phenomena ascribed to god (but without god) are preferred from a scientific perspective.
Yes so it factors out God but puts the release of anandamide down to er, the release of Anandamine. So it isn't evidence that god does not exist but it undermines claims of blissful religious experience as evidence that god does exist.[/quote]I don't think so since we have to account for the reason this is occuring in religious contexts
Actually yes, and there are lots of articles that do exactly the same. But don't forget that runners, singers, meditators etc etc are also tarred with the same 'natural high' brush. And don't forget that many religions have used imbibing mind-altering drugs within their religious practices, presumable also to induce similar states.
I'm not sure I would use the term transcendent as that often has religious overtones
and that will never do
and is often used to imply stepping outside of the physical limits. So I don't think music does that - what it does do for me is take me to a different physical state, but not necessarily one that cannot be produced by other means.
But I think you are just analysing an experience in physicalist terms after the event.
I think we all assume that if we all ran, meditated or sang we'd get a fix of anandamine, however doing religious things does not so guarantee a release.
So are you saying that anandenine creates the illusion of God or what? Since an encounter with God need not elicit any anandenine. Eg. Goddodging or anger at the mention of God.
I am interested in whether you think anandanine might be released in the presence of an eminent atheist, I have heard of an actress who nearly fainted when meeting Dawkins when he appeared in the Doctor who studio or perhaps having Dr Krauss performing the laying of hands on one?
