ThirstySouls
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The mind as a computer – Part Two
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The mind as a computer – Part Two
Software
In part one of The mind as a computer, I talked about the Hardware of our minds, the physical pieces of the brain. In part two, we will look at the Software, or programming of our minds.
But hardware is not enough for a computer to function. It must also have software–or programming. A computer must have an “operating system”–a framework of rules to direct its functioning. Microsoft Windows would be an example of such an operating system. The brain comes with hardware or hardwiring that has genetically programmed it with certain features that make it ready to receive an operating system. The operating system gets installed/instilled during childhood and constantly undergoes modification throughout life. The language we speak, the God we worship, our beliefs, values, morals, how we play and interact with others–all are part of this complex operating system.
Jennings, Timothy . Could It Be This Simple?: A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind (pp. 9-10). Kindle Edition.
Do our beliefs really matter? Some health care providers see mental health issues as simply a chemical imbalance. They believe that finding the proper combination of medications will restore brain chemistry and balance. But what about religion or spirituality? Do these make any difference?
There are only a few psychiatrists who believe that spirituality affects our mental health. But the broader field of general medicine has a more open mind. There are documented studies that seem to show that what a person believes to be true can affect physical health. Completely unconventional treatments have been shown to work for those who believe the treatments will be effective. For example, in the not too distant past, doctors injected cobra venom into patients suffering from angina pectoris, the pain related to insufficient blood flow to the heart, or performed unnecessary surgeries such as removing the thyroid or parts of the pancreas. These methods are not considered to have any physiological benefits. However, such methods were effective in 70-90 percent of patients who believed the methods would work. After science proved that these methods did not provide any benefits, the rate dropped to 30-40 percent.
Everything that we see, read, or experience goes into our mind and affects our neural pathways. The facts are important, but the way we interpret the data is what directs our beliefs. The good news is that as we direct our thoughts and feelings toward God’s design, we can reprogram our minds toward mental and emotional health.
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