I've
been reading the book “THE BRAIN THE STORY OF
YOU” by David Eagleman. Eagleman talks about killing and genocide.
He tells about a number of studies and experiments showing how the
human brain works.
In one
experiment, the researchers asked each person of a group of people
what they would do in two different scenarios. In the first scenario,
they were told to imagine themselves standing next to a railroad
track. There's a switch right there that would make the train go in
either of two directions. There are 4 workers on the track that the
switch is now switched to. On the other track there is 1 worker. A
runaway railroad car is coming down the track in your direction. You
have to decide what you will do. Will you leave the switch alone and
let the railroad car kill the 4 workers or will you switch the track
and the car kill the 1 worker. Almost every person said they would
switch the track. They felt it was better for 1 to die rather than 4.
In the
second scenario, they were to imagine themselves on a water tower
next to a railroad track. Again, there are 4 workers on the track but
no switch this time. Standing next to you on the water tower is a
very large person. There's that runaway railroad car coming down the
track and you see that it will kill the 4 workers unless you do
something. You can see that if that very large person standing next
to you was somehow to fall onto the track it would stop the car. He
would die but the 4 workers would be saved. Would you push the one
large person off the tower killing him to save the 4 workers? Almost
everyone said that they would not push that person off the tower.
When you
examine both scenarios, your actions would do the same thing; kill 1
person to save 4. What made them choose differently between the two
scenarios?
The
researchers found that in the first scenario, the
same regions of the brain that it uses to work out a math problem were activated. It
was solving a logic problem; pull lever, kill one, save 4. In the
second scenario, other regions of the brain were also activated that
involve our emotions; pushing an innocent person to his death was wrong. It was no longer just a logic problem for the brain. ((I want
to mention something about those regions of the brain that involve
our emotions. I believe they are the same regions that are directly
connected to the heart. (see post The
Heart – It's Not Just A Pump
))
Think
about how our brain can change killing someone into a logic problem,
just because there is something between us and the one we cause to
die. Now think about those who make the decision to go to war but are
not involved in the killing. Also think about how killing has been transformed into someone just pushing a button. Killing becomes a
logic problem, our emotions don't kick in.
At the
end of this section of his book, Eagleman wrote this: “One pundit
suggested that the button to launch nuclear missiles should be
implanted in the chest of the President's best friend.”
I want
to jump to another section of Eagleman's book about genocide. On pg.
152 he writes this: “What allows such an alarming shift in human
interaction? How can it be compatible with a eusocial species? Why
does genocide continue to happen all around our planet? Traditionally
we examine warfare and killing in the context of history and
economics and politics. However, for a complete picture, I believe we
need also to understand this as a neural phenomenon. It would
normally feel unconscionable to murder your neighbor. So what
suddenly allows hundreds or thousands of people to do exactly that?
What is it about certain situations that short-circuits the normal
social functioning of the brain?”
Eagleman
goes on to explain how each of us have people in our “ingroup” an
others in our “outgroup”. He lists a number of experiments that
have demonstrated that we tend to place more value on those in our
“ingroup”; we can empathize with them. But, those in our
“outgroup” become mere objects to us. Through the form of neural
manipulation, propaganda, the dehumanization of those in our outgroup
comes about and wars are started.
Why am I
bringing up killing and genocide? For one thing, I think it helps to
understand how our brain functions. But mainly it's because God can
change our minds so that these awful things won't happen if we but
recognize we need help.
Just
think about some things I've already talked about. (This is what I
believe) Hell {at jugement} is not a place but is a form of shame
instead. All people will be in God's new kingdom. There is no more
death (you can't kill yourself to try and end the shame).
For
those who have taken part in killing, how will they feel when or if
they meet up with those they killed? When Jesus was with us, He said
some things about how it will be more tolerable for some than others
in the judgment.
Luke 10:10-16 Common English Bible (CEB)
10 Whenever you
enter a city and the people don’t welcome you, go out into the
streets and say, 11 ‘As a complaint against you, we brush
off the dust of your city that has collected on our feet. But know
this: God’s kingdom has come to you.’ 12 I assure you that
Sodom will be better off on Judgment Day than that city.
Judgment against cities that reject Jesus
13 “How terrible
it will be for you, Chorazin. How terrible it will be for you,
Bethsaida. If the miracles done among you had been done in Tyre and
Sidon, they would have changed their hearts and lives long ago. They
would have sat around in funeral clothes and ashes. 14 But
Tyre and Sidon will be better off at the judgment than you. 15 And
you, Capernaum, will you be honored by being raised up to heaven? No,
you will be cast down to the place of the dead. 16 Whoever
listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever
rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
Hebrews 10:19-24 Common English Bible (CEB)
Second summary of the message
19 Brothers and
sisters, we have confidence that we can enter the holy of holies by
means of Jesus’ blood, 20 through a new and living way that
he opened up for us through the curtain, which is his body, 21 and
we have a great high priest over God’s house.
22 Therefore,
let’s draw near with a genuine heart with the certainty that our
faith gives us, since our hearts are sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience and our bodies are washed with pure water.
23 Let’s hold on
to the confession of our hope without wavering, because the one who
made the promises is reliable.
