researchers are asking: are our brains hard-wired to believe in God?

M.A. Persinger (2009). Are our brains structured to avoid refutations of belief in God? An experimental study Religion, 39 (1), 34-42 DOI: 10.1016/j.religion.2008.05.005

I ran across an interesting article via ResearchBlogging.net this morning: a project (albeit, one needing some serious follow up & certainly open to alternate interpretations) indicating that the human brain is structured (inherently 'hard-wired') to believe in God. Basically, that statements refuting God's existence confound parts of our brain.

From 'http://ResearchBlogging.net':

"Michael Persinger is a behavioural scientist at Laurentian University in Canada who is most famous for studies where he uses transcranial magnetic stimulation to induces feelings of God in ordinary people (even, on one occasion, Richard Dawkins!).

Persinger thinks that we're hardwired to believe in God, and his latest research on this has just been published. His experiment was rooted in the theory that parts of your right-brain are involved in detecting potential upsets in a logical chain of thought, before passing this information over to decision-making parts of your left hemisphere."

From exploring Persinger's work, I'm left wondering: is it harder for some to experience a transcendent God than others? It certainly wouldn't be surprising--even within Christians we see a striking continuum of 'belief & experience of God' styles--from pentecostal to quite liturgical. In the end, I do believe it is possible to experience God without that 'fluffy feeling': is He not embedded within human love & compassion? Within our very struggle against selfishness & pride? Within higher degrees of consciousness? Surely Science cannot answer these questions, but I find the attempts intriguing.

If you watch the video, do be sure to make it to the end.

does it get any cuter?

see? they're secretly friends.

(tink will be sooo embarrassed to find I blogged her cuddling with mollie... she likes to play 'tough kitty'...)

American Airlines Miles?

Okay, I know--it's a desperate plea BUT... we each need 18,000 more miles to visit our friends in Tajikistan & be a part of a friend's wedding next summer (for the wedding we have to travel during peak season... we had saved up enough to travel in off-peak season but guess that won't work now!)... anyone have American Airlines miles sitting around they won't be using? Every little bit helps.

I know, desperate plea. Until then... we'll be putting everything on our American Airlines credit card. ;)

what could be more romantic?

You tell me. What could be more romantic for Valentine's Day than attending an opera in which a clown learns his girlfriend plans to run away with her lover & stabs her and her lover to death in front of a crowd expecting to see a circus show? Well, when you have 2nd row seats at the Lyric, I can tell you: not much.

That's right folks, we were once again privileged to put my advisor's fabulous Lyric Opera tickets to good use. It was a back-to-back performance of Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci and I have to say, I can't remember when I enjoyed an opera so much. The performances were exquisite & the orchestra just spot on. I could tell the conductor was 'feeling the magic', as we heard him gasping with satisfaction from the pit.

Our seats? Right down front, just right of center. Keep in mind that there are four balconies. It's a big place. And I've sat in that fourth balcony... which made me appreciate the seats even more!

Professor Strait & Other News

I've received a number of emails this week calling me "Dr. Strait" & I have to say, that sounds okay! As undergraduates prepare for Spring registration, my class, the Biology of Music, has been receiving some attention. I've spent this weekend finalizing the syllabus (including my late policy, grading scheme and the like)... and most of yesterday sifting through potential readings. Today I'm focusing on birdsong & ape drumming... oh joy.

It's difficult putting myself in the shoes of an undergrad once again... how much is too much reading? Which readings are most appropriate for this academic level? For the final paper, do I ask for 10 pages? 15? 20?? And putting together the lectures... here again my attention to detail returns to bite me in the hinny. Most of yesterday I spent searching the internet for cute images but today find myself wishing I had a few of those hours back to spend on lecture content... If I can get through 'part one' today I think I'll be satisfied with my progress.

In other news? Our Cuban friends are joining us for a big dinner tonight, as well as another friend of ours, Hope, who's working with me to coordinate refugee ministry at our church. There are just so many refugees attending now, I wish Drew & I had the time to get to know each of them in more depth! We celebrated two Congolese teenage girls' birthdays this morning after the service & their father (an extremely well educated, well spoken man) shared with the church his deep appreciation for the community they've found at Living Water. He said that he always believed that after death he would join in with people from all countries & of all skin colors to worshiping God without boundaries... to his surprise, however, he's been given the opportunity to do that even now. Never, he says, has he been part of such an undivided community, representative of people not only of different races/cultures but also of different economic & educational levels. This message made my heart sing. :)

i told you

Listen, I told you Mollie sleeps in strange positions. If the 'Fluffy Face' post didn't convince you, this will.
Please forgive the poor photography. Our camera's not been friendly with us lately. But you get the picture.

Skates the Wolf & Birthday Fun

We had what we agreed might be our favorite Chicago birthday for Drew this past week. He usually puts pressure on me months in advance to NOT plan anything... I suppose that should make my life easier but being the social animal I am, I feel much less stress with a birthday coming up knowing I've organized a nice gathering, complete with party hats, blowers, gift bags and... of course... plenty of cake.

This year I went ahead & invited a few friends to join us for Happy Hour at the Straits' & a Wolves hockey game. Nicky (top left--and yes, she's quite pregnant) has her birthday the day before Drew's so we celebrated both of their beautiful lives (they even shared candles to blow out). We enjoyed all sorts of hors d'oeuvres here at home followed by a raucous game.Eric took the time to educate me on the rules of the game, as the one & only time I'd been to a hockey game was forever ago, with the Lutheran church's junior high youth group. Can't say I remembered much. BUT boy do I know now! From high sticking to icing, I'm getting this game down.

Skates the Wolf entertained us between each period... and there was a blimp (??still confused by that??). Very small children wearing very large pads playing with very large sticks also came out onto the ice between periods... we enjoyed watching the smallest children trying to keep up. Okay, that's not true. I mostly enjoyed watching them try & break in with the larger kids crowding the puck & spinning in circles because they weren't strong enough to push themselves along wearing all that gear & then falling over & then falling over again. I know. I'm a bad person. But it was cute.

Happy birthday, my dear Drew, and happy birthday, our dear Nicky! And thanks to Jenna, Nick & Eric for celebrating with us.

Scholar Drew

I've resigned myself to the fact that Drew would rather be sitting in this precise location reading--cup of coffee on hand & candles lit--than pretty much anything else. Period.

It's true. And cute.

I can only hope that our children take after his study habits and not mine... Should they take after me, they'll spend most of their study time on the couch with gchat & facebook open, a tv show streaming in the background and checking their email every 10 seconds. I know. Pathetic.

Fluffy Face

We've had quite the pet-filled week. Tink, in an effort to escape Mollie the Wild, leaped into our open dish shelf, where all the pretty breakables are housed (you know, dishes, wine glasses, serving bowls...)... only to 'happen' to knock to the floor the only items that are not replaceable: the lovely shiny antique bowls with the cutest handles that my mother gave me. All of them.

She also puked in the windowsill. Awesome.

Mollie received an 8+ hour haircut, completed over 3 sessions. Poor baby. And poor Drew, the barber. Her hair is quite short but grooming a goldendoodle's tough work! They get matted very quickly. We've had to institute a nightly brushing sesh. I don't even brush my own hair that often. Hopefully we won't have to cut her hair this short again until summer...

The weather's been amazing the past few days (literally, it's gone from -30 to +66 oF!!), so Drew & Moll have spent a significant amount of time at the park, be it on a run or playing with doggie friends. When she comes back she's zonked... Mollie sleeping is hilarious, let me tell you. She's either on her back, legs spread eagle, or next to the wall with her back feet propped up on something.

See?

In other news, Drew's birthday was Saturday & we had such a fun evening! Post coming soon...

And I started a design blog. We'll see if I can keep it up. http://www.lucilovely.com

can this happen at the loyola red line stop every day?

Ready-Raska-Strait Reunion

We were so thankful to have time to be with the Raskas & the Readys while in Spokane (we missed Ben & Maile--you two would have completed the bunch!). We spent an entire day vegging together on Susie & Duffy's sofas, then had a kick *ss New Year's slumber party at Erin's parents' house on the river. We made some serious New Year's resolutions & particularly enjoyed Brent's liturgical dance that rung in the New Year. Let me tell you, Erin's parents make a mean slumber party breakfast. Mmm...

Nothing, however, could beat the experience of cuddling, for the first time, Miles Duffy Ready!!! Troy & Jenny, you two have a gorgeous son & we cannot wait for the memories we have with him to come.

Christmas with FAMILY!

We officially had FOUR CHRISTMASES. Forget Reese Witherspoon--we did it for reals. 1. With the Cranes & Straits @ the Cranes in Anacortes, 2. With the Jacobsons & Straits @ the Jacobsons in Seattle, 3. With the Hamblets in Olympia and 4. With the Straits in Spokane. Four. Count 'em. The fun never stops!

Wish we had more photos of the other events, but we made out with some goodies at the Jacobsons. Sherrill & Jack put on such a special day--complete with Brian's unbeatable hors d'oeurves, Elliot's bartending skills (best cosmos yet!) and Sherrill's ingenious hand in the kitchen. My parents joined us for dinner & we all shared laugh after laugh.

See? Winn made the men & women Christmas aprons & Kevin loved his sooo much...

He forgot to take it off for the annual family photo. Hot!

My dad was a hit playing in Grandma Winn's wheelchair. He's the coolest wheel-chair-wheelie-doer I've ever seen. The best part was...




When he gloriously tipped over backwards (on purpose, of course) while we were getting a shot of these 3 together. Talk about a candid shot! Yes. We were all giggling.

Unfortunately, we never got a group shot! I have no photos of Sherrill & Jack, Courtney, Brian or Elliott. You'll all just have to believe me. They were there, in fine form.

Brrr....

Once we made it to Washington we were so very thankful for such romantic Christmas weather! The photo (of me snow-shoeing at Priest Lake) is a fabulous example of such weather. Although it made getting out of the house difficult (we were snowed in with my parents in Olympia for days & then on to Spokane for more snow)... there's just nothing better than sitting around in peace with the family you've missed for so long. We loved the Hamblet fire that Dad had perpetually roaring in the fireplace, plenty of hot cocoa, big breakfasts, wearing pajamas for much of the day & bundling up to head outside. Here in Chicago we don't have a magnificent amount of snow but the cold keeps us inside. It felt WARM in Washington!!

Once in Spokane we had plenty of outdoor fun. We shoveled 2 roofs (well, I helped shovel 1 & Drew helped with 2), took an overnight trip up to Priest Lake for snow-shoeing with Debbie & Kevin and loved all the time we got with friends (thanks to the Raskas, Readys, VanAnrooys, Joe Hewa, Johnsons & Barbours!) and family (both of the Strait sisters + Janie's husband Chris were in Spokane with us). PLUS we enjoyed a rowdy Gonzaga game at a classy tavern. What could be more fun??

Here are my favorite father-in-law & favorite husband clearing the roof of the cabin bunk house @ Priest Lake. 70" of snow--oh my!


Here are the guys show-shoeing out at Soldier Creek. Check out my view from the other direction--breathtaking!!

Oh how we loved our trip.

Happy New Year's!

We won't be sending paper cards this year (it's a biannual phenomenon in the Strait household), so e-cards it is. Happy holidays to all!

God Bless La Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia. We thank you.

a) Thanks to Dave Ormesher we found an airline that flies direct, Chicago to Vancouver (as opposed to using Seattle or Portland as the pacific northwest hub). We purchased brand spankin' new one-way flights for the 23rd.
b) A snow storm was predicted for the 23rd in Chicago, to begin just hours before our flight. Awesome.
c) Because the snow storm did, in fact, arrive it was impossible to call a taxi & all our nearby friends hit the roads early to avoid the bad weather. Not wanting to bother those not so nearby, we used our luggage as snow plows (literally) to make it out to a main street. I'll spare you the details, but in the end--we made it to the train. And, for you Seattle-ites without snow shovels (looking around it seems they're sold out???), we recommend heavy rolling luggage. Sure helped out our neighbors.
d) Made it to the airport. Gate changed 3 times. Got on plane. Could not see out plane windows due to white-out snow storm. Said "There's no way..." many times. But guess what. There IS a way. Because our plane took off in the middle of a snow storm, leaving 500 other flights canceled & many passengers stranded overnight at O'Hare.

Don't know how we got out, but we've enjoyed a full 24 hours with family already. We're at 2 Christmases & counting (both in Anacortes), & it's not even the 25th yet! 2 more Christmases tomorrow (1 in Seattle, the next in Olympia). Must... eat... more... food!!