Religious experience activates same brain circuits as 'sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll'

[pstokely]

explains why many addicts turn into fundie freaks, they just trade one addiction for another

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314433.php

For many of us, religion brings comfort and is a crucial part of our mental and emotional well-being.

In fact, a recent survey reports that 63 percent of Americans believe in God with absolute certainty.

Neuroscientists have been studying the effect religion has on our brains using neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

A new study - published in the journal Social Neuroscience - investigates how brain networks are activated when a group of believers has deeply spiritual experiences

[d_r]

1. so, if you think about it,

it seems prayer might help an addict get through withdrawal

[The River]

2. Regardless of What You Call It

non-ordinary "peak experiences" can happen to anyone at any time for any reason.
The trick is that each individual translates the experience according to their preexisting
cultural and/or religious biases.