Changes
[[File:Cerebellum.jpg|right|thumb|240px200px|The human brain is the most complex physical entity in the universe.<ref>[http://creation.com/the-human-body-gods-masterpiece The Human Body: God's Masterpiece]</ref><ref>[http://creation.com/the-human-body-gods-masterpiece The Enigmatic Human Brain] by Wallace G. Smith</ref><ref>[http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/most-complex-structure The Most Complex Structure], Creation Moments</ref>]]
Brain researchers and social scientists have conducted a number of studies focusing on the differences between atheists and the religious.
''See also:'' [[Religiosity and larger frontal lobes]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence]] and [[Atheism and irrationality]] and [[Homosexuality and frontal lobe injury]]
[[File:Cerebrum lobes.svg.png|thumbnail|300px200px|right|Graphic of cerebral lobes. Light brown section of the graphic depicts the area of the frontal lobe. (Click on graphic to enlarge)]]
According to ''Scientific American'':
{{cquote|Several studies have revealed that people who practice meditation or have prayed for many years exhibit increased activity and have more brain tissue in their [[frontal lobe]]s, regions associated with attention and reward, as compared with people who do not meditate or pray.<ref>[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/askthebrains/ Ask the Brains, Scientific American, Dec 23, 2011]</ref>}}
Although many atheists in the [[Western World]] are reluctant to meditate, in the East nontheist Buddhists often practice meditation.<ref>''Christians Talk about Buddhist Meditation, Buddhists Talk About Christian Prayer'', edited by Rita M. Gross, Terry C. Muck, page 89</ref>
[[File:G. Christina.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px200px|Atheist [[Greta Christina]] wrote: "A lot of atheists, [[Secular humanism|humanists]], and other nonbelievers are leery or dismissive of meditation and mindfulness."<ref>[http://thehumanist.com/magazine/november-december-2013/fierce-humanism/mind-is-matter-2 Mind is Matter], Greta Christina, The Humanist.com</ref>]]
=== Functions of the frontal lobe ===
==== The role of the front lobes in sexuality ====
[[File:2404429188 ea8f1fc48b.jpg|thumbnail|left|255px205px|Research indicates that religious women (especially [[evangelicalism|evangelical]]/[[low church]] [[Protestantism|Protestant]] women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.<ref>
*The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 115
*[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/25/the-christian-sexual-awakening.html Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?] by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008
=== Causes of autism related to factors which exist in secular societies in the developed world ===
[[File:Watoto Childrens Choir picture.jpg|thumbnail|right|320px200px|Although there have been no formal epidemiological studies, the evidence suggests that autism is rare in the economically developing continent of Africa and mainly exists within elite families.<ref>[http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2011/09/14/autism-in-africa/ Autism in Africa?], Jonathan Rabinovitz published in ''Scope'', a publication of [[Stanford University|Stanford]] Medicine, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/11/out-of-africa-a.html Out of Africa and Into Autism: More Evidence Illuminates the Somali Anomaly in Minnesota], By Mark F. Blaxill, AgeofAutism.com website (I don't agree with the anti-vaccine portion of the article)</ref> Africa is a religious continent with high birth rates and low rates of obesity.<ref>
*[http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-myths-fastest-growing.htm Christianity/Islam and Africa]
*[http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/worlds-fattest-countries-forbeslife-cx_ls_0208worldfat.html World's fattest countries]</ref>
==== Atheism, autism, alcoholism, illegal drug use, depression and other factors ====
[[File:Europe map.png|thumbnail|250px200px|right|According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe- Alcohol usage of Europe]</ref>]]
Secular societies and many atheists have significant problems with alcoholism (See: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]). The link between alcoholism and autism needs to be explored further based various pieces of existing data.<ref>Pharmacol Res. 2015 Sep 25;102:71-80. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.09.011. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26408203 Epigenetic mechanisms: A possible link between autism spectrum disorders and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders]. Varadinova M1, Boyadjieva N2.</ref><ref>[http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/addiction-and-autism/ Alcohol and Autism], AlcoholRehab.com</ref><ref>Int J Epidemiol. 2010 Aug;39(4):1074-81. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyq056. Epub 2010 Apr 5. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20371506 Prenatal alcohol exposure and autistic spectrum disorders--a population-based prospective study of 80,552 children and their mothers]. Eliasen M1, Tolstrup JS, Nybo Andersen AM, Grønbaek M, Olsen J, Strandberg-Larsen K.</ref> A significant number of atheists have problems with illegal drug use as well (see: [[Atheism and drug addiction]]). Cocaine use by expecting mothers may be a cause of autism according to the medical literature.<ref>Reprod Toxicol. 2015 Aug 15;56:155-69. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2015.05.007. Epub 2015 May 27. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26021712 Prenatal factors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)]. Ornoy A1, Weinstein-Fudim L2, Ergaz Z3.</ref>
==== Low rate of autism among the religious American Amish ====
[[File:Amish farm morristown new york.jpg|left|thumb|300px200px|An Amish farm near Morristown, New York. Due to their high levels of physical activity, the Amish have low rates of obesity.<ref>
*[http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/12/04/4-healthy-habits-to-steal-from-amish.html 4 healthy habits to steal from the Amish], Fox News Health, December 04, 2014</ref> ]]
== Secular European economic stagnation and falling intelligence ==
[[File:Union jack.jpg|thumbnail|280px200px|right|In [[Great Britain|Britain]], which is a country less religious than many countries, phenotypic intelligence is now declining.<ref>[http://www.academia.edu/1203173/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_World_1_ ''The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ''] by Thomas Hally</ref><ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/05/14/whats-the-most-godless-place-on-earth/ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth?] by [[Hemant Mehta]], May 14, 2012</ref> See: [[Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries|Intelligence trends in secular countries]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries]] and [[Atheism and economics]]
== Atheism, obesity, secular Europe and falling rates of intelligence ==
[[File:Human brain.png|right|thumb|240px200px|Medical research indicates that excess weight impairs brain function.<ref>
*[http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=110328 Obesity Linked to Changes In Cognitive Patterns], Psychiatric News, Joan Arehart-Treichel, Clinical and Research News, September 15, 2006
*[http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2009/08/25/as-waistlines-widen-brains-shrink.html As Waistlines Widen, Brains Shrink: The obese and overweight have less neurological tissue, study finds], U.S News & World Report August 25, 2009]
