The science of temptation...
When most people think about temptation and sin, they think of a mysterious interaction between good and evil, like the cartoon characters of an angel and devil sitting on someone’s shoulders. While these feelings ring true for many, and for many the battle is all too real, science tells us that what is happening is just a simple neurological process that can be understood and controlled.
When a person does whatever, they feel like doing, some call this freedom. But when their actions impinge upon the freedom of others, most people consider this as oppression. Science tells us that for every action there is a reaction. Psychiatric research confirms that what we think has a physical reality in the neurological functioning of our brains. That our thoughts and feelings, our hopes, and dreams, even our beliefs, our faith, and what we understand as love, can all be traced, documented, and manipulated as biochemical processes. But does this mean that if there is a physical explanation for these things, that their spiritual reality no longer exists?
We come by temptations naturally, our brains are hardwired to seek the things that make us feel good. They impartially prioritize the production of dopamine because that is what makes us feel good, and every body always wants to feel good. This is the neurological process behind addiction. It’s not the chemicals themselves that cause us problems; it’s the reactions we have to them. The way to avoid becoming slaves to our own bodily processes, is to control them before they take control of us.
Dr. Kevin Majeres, a Harvard psychiatrist who combines medical science with church teaching into a practical method of understanding temptation and sin. In the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPznfR2dcls (it’s a long video, but well worth viewing) he describes how understanding the neurology behind temptation can help us grow beyond our human state. That there is well established and supported science behind our Christian beliefs and practices. He says that the best way to change your behaviour is to change the thinking that controls it. The trick is to deal with the temptation before it becomes transformed into an action. You can do this by reframing the initial thought in a more helpful way. This will take some practice and a good deal of vigilance for it to be effective. But it is well worth the effort, considering what is at stake.
Once you begin to master the thought process of your physical body, your spirit is given more freedom to explore the fullness of life that we are promised. This is where true joy is found, where life is more than a biological process, but an endless eternal reality with our ever loving and merciful God.
May you give into the temptation of this opportunity and find the peace that you are looking for,
Fr. John
Dr. Majeres websites:
