Characteristics of Online Pornography and Interventions Against its Negative Effects in Young People: Results from an International Delphi Panel

Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy - Online pornography represents a complex experience. The identification of determinant characteristics of this experience may allow to...     

IS CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY WELL SUITED TO ENTER THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN SCIENCE AND HUMANISM?

The last several years have seen the emergence of increasing hostility from philosophers toward some pronouncements on human nature by the biological and cognitive sciences. Theology is also concerned about such matters, even if there have been, until now, few theologians involved in the discussion. This essay examines both the reasons that justify a neutral position of theology in the face of scientific disqualification of human uniqueness and the reasons to engage apologetically in such a debate on the side of humanists. Constructing a synthesis, I propose a greater theological involvement and concern in the discussion already underway, even if it means accepting some trade‐offs.     

WHOM TO BLAME FOR THE CHARGE OF SECULARIZATION?

Abstract. In the last century science and technology have been viewed as guilty of contributing to the modern secularization process and also to a crisis in religion. The extent of this influence is less clear today: while technology is stronger, and an easy target for any kind of social and cultural criticism, science seems weaker than it used to. The aim of this commentary is to examine in a critical way the arguments for and against scientific and technological involvement in the crisis religion faces today. In the end, a revision of the future of religion is called into question, especially in the light of a more “technological theology.”     

Personality,amphetamine and intracranial self-stimulation in rats

The relationship between open-field ambulation and intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) at the lateral hypothalamic area was studied in rats. A treatment with i.p. saline of d-amphetamine was also applied to the animals prior to ICSS tests. High-ambulatory rats (comparable to human extraverts) showed an equally higher susceptibility to ICSS reward than low-ambulatory rats (comparable to human introverts) with both saline and amphetamine. These findings were interpreted comsidering the ICSS as a strong stimulation which would tend to produce ‘unconditioned inhibition’ much earlier in low-ambulatory rats than high-ambulatory rats thus leading to a better conditioning among the high-ambulatory Ss.     

Differences in dimensionality of electroencephalogram during awake and deeper sleep stages

The nonlinear dynamical systems theory provides some tools for the analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) at different sleep stages. Its use could allow the automatic monitoring of the states of the sleep and it would also contribute an explanatory level of the differences between stages. The goal of the present paper is to address this type of analysis, focusing on the most different stages. Estimations of dimensionality were compared when six subjects were awake and in a deep sleep stage. Greater dimensionality involves more complexity because the system receives more external influences. If this dimensionality is maximum, we can consider that the time series is a noisy one. A smaller dimensionality involves lower complexity because the system receives fewer inputs. We hypothesized that we would find greater dimensionality when subjects were awake than in a deep sleep stage. Results show a noisy time series during the awake stage, whereas in the sleep stage, dimensionality is smaller, confirming our hypothesis. This result is similar to the findings reached previously by other authors.     

CHALLENGES,OPPORTUNITIES, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR A RENEWED PROGRAM IN THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF RELIGION

This is an introduction to the Symposium on “The New Scientific Study of Religion Moving On.” The introduction briefly indicates why the cognitive science of religion (CSR) needs re-evaluation. It subsequently gives an overview of the contributions of the symposium's articles.     

New Proposals on Theological Apologetics – Faith and Its Critics: A Conversation – By David Ferguson; The Command of Grace: A New Theological Apologetics – By Paul D. Janz; Theology in Search of Foundations – By Randal Rauser

Recent titles announce a new interest on apologetics, not in the habitual format of a popular theology providing arguments to believe, but rather as a dialogical engagement with the current developments in philosophy and science. The books under exam offer an outstanding review of the meaning for theology and faith of such tendencies, the risks and challenges they pose. Nevertheless, opportunities are perceived through the ongoing dialogue as well, for a better theological endeavor.