Why do humans worship supernatural agents? | Patrick McNamara

Summary

This script explores the enduring human fascination with supernatural agents, which have been part of our experience for at least 30,000 years. It delves into the psychological and neurological aspects, suggesting their role in healing and managing anxiety. The discussion also addresses the implications of a modern society moving away from traditional religious beliefs and the potential effects on individuals. The script highlights the distinct brain activity patterns associated with supernatural agents, particularly the activation of the default mode and salience networks, and the downregulation of executive functions. It raises intriguing questions about the ontological status of supernatural agents, especially in light of consistent brain patterns observed during religious, psychedelic, and REM sleep experiences.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Supernatural agents have been a part of human experience across all cultures and epochs for at least 30,000 years.
• 🤔 The existence of supernatural agents could be real or serve a vital function for human groups and individuals, such as healing and managing anxiety.
• 🔍 In modern societies, there's a widespread loss of traditional religious orientations, raising questions about the impact of losing belief in supernatural agents.
• 📚 'Supernatural agents' are typically defined as entities with superhuman powers, often disembodied, that can read human thoughts and desires.
• 🧠 Interaction with supernatural agents is associated with a decrease in the sense of self and an increase in a petitionary stance towards them.
• 🧪 Brain activity patterns differ significantly when engaging with supernatural agents compared to ordinary individuals, with the default mode network being more intensely activated.
• 🧬 The dorsolateral prefrontal and parietal executive function networks are downregulated during interactions with supernatural agents, facilitating a submissive stance.
• 🌌 Encounters with supernatural agents, whether in psychedelic experiences or religious contexts, show similar brain activity patterns.
• 🧐 The ontological status of supernatural agents remains an open question, with many experiencing them as real entities independent of personal beliefs.
• 🧠 Neuroscientific studies on supernatural agents do not yet suggest that they are mere hallucinations, indicating a complex relationship with human cognition.

Q & A

How long have supernatural agents been part of the human experience according to the script?

Supernatural agents have been part of the human experience for at least 30,000 years.

What are the two possibilities suggested regarding the existence of supernatural agents?

The two possibilities suggested are that supernatural agents are real, or they are not real but perform some vital function for human groups and individuals.

What is the significance of supernatural agents in religious consciousness?

Supernatural agents are significant in religious consciousness as they are typically seen as having special, superhuman powers and are often the focus of reverence, awe, and worship.

What happens to the 'agentic sense of self' when relating to supernatural agents?

The 'agentic sense of self', or the executive self, gets diminished when relating to supernatural agents.

What are the typical characteristics of supernatural agents?

Supernatural agents are typically disembodied, have knowledge of human thoughts and desires, possess powers to heal and curse, set standards for humans, and often put humans in a servile, petitionary stance.

How do people typically approach supernatural agents?

People typically approach supernatural agents with reverence, awe, fear, and through various ceremonial rituals, often promising sacrifices or worship in exchange for blessings and help.

What changes in brain activity patterns are observed when people interact with supernatural agents compared to ordinary agents?

When interacting with supernatural agents, there is more intense activation of the default mode network, including structures like the hippocampus and amygdala, while the dorsilateral prefrontal and parietal executive function networks are downregulated.

What is the 'petitionary stance' referred to in the script?

The 'petitionary stance' refers to the approach humans take when relating to supernatural agents, characterized by a submissive or pleading attitude, often seeking blessings or help.

How do encounters with supernatural agents during psychedelic experiences compare to those during religious or REM sleep experiences in terms of brain activity?

Initial indications suggest that the brain activity patterns during encounters with supernatural agents in psychedelic experiences are very similar to those during REM sleep or religious experiences, with significant activation of social brain areas and REM sleep areas.

What is the ontological status of supernatural agents according to the script?

The ontological status of supernatural agents is presented as an open question. While some people experience them as real entities with independent effects, the script does not definitively categorize them as mere hallucinations or as having an objective existence.

What is the 'default mode network' mentioned in the script, and what role does it play in the context of supernatural agents?

The 'default mode network' is a set of brain structures that are more intensely activated during rest and introspection. In the context of supernatural agents, its activation is associated with the experiential aspects of postulating a superhuman mind that can read our minds.