Apparently, claims of that sort are not working out:
One brain imaging study conducted at Oxford University compared an image of the Virgin Mary with that of a regular woman, both painted in the same period. Researchers found that when Roman Catholics concentrated on the Virgin Mary while being subjected to electric shocks, this alleviated their perception of pain compared to looking at the other woman. This decrease in pain was associated with an engagement of the right ventro-lateral prefrontal cortex, a region known to drive pain inhibitory circuits.
No similar effect was found for the unbelievers, although they rated the secular image as more pleasant than the religious one. But what if the unbelievers being tested were members of the Positivist Temple and were instead shown an image of their goddess of humanity — would this have alleviated pain in a similar way to that experienced by the religious individuals?
The future cognitive science of atheism will have to think hard about how to move forward. It needs to develop models that account for cultural variations as well as consider the implications of atheists engaging with rituals that celebrate humanity.
Miguel Farias, “Are the brains of atheists different to those of religious people? Scientists are trying to find out” at Conversation
Well, could these people try common sense before they go over a cliff?
First, Catholics’ love for the mother of Jesus is very simple to understand if you keep in mind that she was the first Christian. And when all Jesus’s disciples had run away, his mother was standing at the foot of the cross. But John soon returned and Jesus, soon to die, asked John to look after her. And John did. Catholics think of themselves as John.
There. It has been made simple for you.
It’s amazing what counts for science studies of religion these days.