Neuroeconomics and ‘the’ special relationship

‘Something tells me that within ten years, by 2010, the entire digital universe is going to seem like pretty mundane stuff compared to the new technology that right now is but a mere glow radiating from a tiny number of American and Cuban (yes, Cuban) hospitals and laboratories. It is called brain imaging and anyone who cares to get up early and catch a truly blinding twenty-first-century dawn will want to keep an eye on it...If I were a college student today, I don't think I could resist going into neuroscience. Here we have the two most fascinating riddles of the twenty-first century: the riddle of the human mind and the riddle of what happens to the human mind when it comes to know itself absolutely.’ —Tom Wolfe, Hooking Up (2000)

There is an area of research that makes use of brain imaging in an attempt to understand the mutual-reliance of economics and its neighbours psychology, sociology, anthropology – Neuroeconomics.

Within this field there is a ‘hunch’ that despite different types of decisions are made using multiple areas in the brain a common neural currency exists within the workings of the human mind that is at the heart of all decisions we make. Where the same data is available the individuals neuro-fingerprint enables a set of perceptions to develop which are shaped by beliefs and values. Further the research is showing that context within which decisions are arrived is key; for example a state of uncertainty or fear.

Herd behaviour appears to be fuelled by the fact that our brains are highly social and look for external input to aid the decision making process in relation to such extenuating contexts.

I wondered about this in relation to my faith and my relationships with those around me. The spirit as my common currency with others on the journey, but my individual ‘neuro-fingerprint’ (the collection of teaching, experience, values etc) giving me a unique take on the challenges for the christians in the Twenty First Century. I wondered about the ‘herd instinct’ of certain groups of Christians and their perception of a ‘special relationship’ with God, and how that ‘God’s on my side’ attitude can lead to an isolationist approach that doesn’t recognise input from ‘people of peace’ out there in the ‘real’ world.

I wonder whether the current context of uncertainty and fear will 'find out' the local church, or will we be being stoned with the migrant worker rather than standing by holding coats?

Will neuroeconomic theory be blown apart by the staggering capacity of faith to bring about the most unlikely transactions?

I do hope so!

Misappropriation or Misunderstanding?

I wonder why the idea of incarnational mission is seen as so ‘peripheral’ and even ’threatening’ by much of the ‘main-stream’ church?

I heard a news item this morning criticizing large relief charities for spending so much of their money on staff, administration and lobbying, rather than on frontline services such as food, water, clinics and so on. This opinion seemed to be based on the idea that as Mr Bloggs in the street drops a pound in the bucket, he assumes that his pound equates to a kilo of rice or the like.

As I considered this I wondered about the ‘local church’s’ charitable status. Is it reasonable to use the vast majority of its income on buildings and maintenance (which in turn are too often an inwardly facing resource) or even stadiums and mass evangelism, seen as a legitimate expense for the purposes of ‘outreach’?

In defence of the large charities, they odten find theselves with ‘an argument to win’ working hard to persuade national governments etc to put their hands increasingly deeply in to their pockets. They are also operating in a slick business savvy world and need a professional staff & administrative structure to stay alive.

The Church, on the other hand, has not been called to win an argument but simply, and in my view primarily by its actions rather than words, to live out Christ’s message of good news. In terms of relating to (or in some Christian’s minds, competing with) the highly polished world, with its consumerist expectations, we could learn a few lessons from the growing Amish communities in the US.

Salt and light are exactly that, and for as long as many within the church treat them as gentle seasoning and subtle up-lighting, we will continue to see the church marginalised with little or nothing to offer our post-modern, post-Christendom world.

Alternative.....me?

I have been told that I hold some unorthodox and alternative views about faith, and that I should get blogging.

It’s that ‘alternative’ word that bothers me; doesn’t it often mean untried, quirky and for many just simply barking! Nonetheless and despite my tendency to ramble and my self-proclaimed intellectualism that is unfortunately based on a failure to make the most out of my excellent educational opportunities (adequately demonstrated by the fact that until today I have always written ‘none the less’ as three separate words), not to mention my tendency to string too many thoughts together in one sentence to the extent that even I lose the thread!, I am setting off on the ‘Bloggers’ trail with so many of you other fine folk out there!

One of my favourite sayings is:

‘The man who has stopped changing his mind has probably stopped thinking!’

One encounter (quite some years ago now) helped me to see that developing a communal theology (and on to a vibrant and shared orthopraxy) is best achieved through dialogue rather than polarising pronouncements, from dug in positions.

It was when visiting the London Mennonite’s I first experienced the practice of hands being raised when someone’s voice was not being heard, and the even more alien (to me anyway) habit of engaging the preacher in mid-flow with questions or contributions. This very collective approach made me question the preacher / congregation model I was used to. Being a born contributor I liked it, but I also made a quick mental note never to accept a speaking engagement at the Mennonite Centre.

So it is, that I have to put this rider on the continuance of this blog; I expect to be able to change my mind as often as is pragmatically required in response to the hopefully insightful comments from you my fellow bloggers – nay, companions on the journey!

Obamarama

Later today 'a simple man' with all his strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears, will become arguably the most influential leader on the planet.

Millions of eyes will be on him and millions of ears will be listening to him; he will for those few moments whether he likes it or not, acknowledge and in some unexplainable way carry the expectations of 'his' people. Atlas-like, he will stand looking invicible, with the world on his shoulders.

Someone said, 'to become the President of the United States of America is like drinking from a firehose' - so how will Barak Obama avoid being washed away?

Perhaps, if enough other simple men and women around him, and out there in the states, counties, cities and towns ask not 'who is in charge?', but 'how shall we live?', then Mr Obama will end up presiding over the most exciting period of US history.