According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, as of 2001 there were 19 major world religions, divided into 270 large religious groups, and subdivided further into tens of thousands of smaller sects. Within Christianity 34,000 separate groups have been identified, and despite many contradictory beliefs essentially all claim the Bible as their basis of faith.[1] Even within the same congregation heated battles over divergent views of God occur.

With so many different views of God being taught, the question arises, does our understanding of God make a difference, or is it enough to simply believe in God? Could our belief in God, if that belief is distorted in some way, actually cause injury, pain and suffering?

Jesus taught that eternal life is founded upon truly knowing God. (Jn 17:3) And Paul tells us that if we exchange the truth of God for a false god construct the mind becomes darkened, depraved and futile (Rom 1:28-31).

Fascinating new brain science has confirmed that Paul was right! Our beliefs do make a difference. The God we worship actually changes our brain circuits, activating different pathways, altering gene expression and literally changing who we are. Depending on the God we worship we either become more like Jesus, with greater capacity for love, compassion, understanding, and wisdom, which corresponds with development of higher brain circuits; or, we become more selfish, fearful, arrogant, and exploitive, which corresponds with greater development of more primitive brain regions.

All the contradictory views of God cannot be right. Paul tells us we must employ divine weapons to demolish everything that “sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” (2Cor 10:3-5). But what are those weapons and how do we employ them? According to Scripture, God has provided us with three types of spiritual weapons.

These three weapons are:

• Scripture “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2Tim 3:16)
• Science “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Rom 1:20) (emphasis mine)
• Experience “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34:8); “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (Jn 20:27)

God not only inspired the Scriptures, but is also the Creator of nature and the author if its laws. Rightly understood science and Scripture always harmonize and lead to ever increasing knowledge of and appreciation for God. But when these three threads, Scripture, science and experience are separated misunderstandings arise. Science without Scripture leads to godlessness. Experience separated from science and Scripture leads to mysticism and fanaticism. And Scripture without science and experience is vulnerable to a variety of distorted God constructs resulting in 34,000 different Christian groups all claiming the same Scripture yet often teaching divergent beliefs, many of which are actually harmful to the human condition.

In The God-Shaped Brain, I explore how our view of God change us, either increasing our capacity to love or hardening our hearts, depending on which view of God is believed. I examine divergent God constructs and demonstrate the profound impact a change in belief about God has upon mental, physical and relational health.

With so many competing views of God, often occurring within the same church, I invite you to consider this book a tool to assist in comparing the different views and enhancing our journey toward ever increasing intimacy with Him.

The Institute of Medicine, commissioned by the National Institutes of Health, the government’s top research agency, has found on average that Americans, yes, you and I, experience disease, injury and die sooner than people in other high-income countries. This study includes the upper income with an education and good health insurance. This study is the first analysis to compare the burden of multiple diseases and injuries in the United States with 16 other affluent democracies including Western Europe, Australia, Canada, and Japan.  I applaud the government for publishing the study and making the results available. Let’s look at some of the details of the study.

This study released in January 2013 ranked American men last in life expectancy among the 17 comparison countries. American women ranked next to last. Americans also ranked at or near the bottom in the areas of heart disease, which is dear to me, chronic lung disease, obesity, diabetes, injuries, homicides, and sexually transmitted disease. The next question is why? Is it time to change the course of health care?

Some might point to a large uninsured population and limited access to primary care. Others will blame poverty and income inequality. I think there are multiple explanations. Let me mention a few.

Sixty percent of Americans are overweight and 30 percent are obese. This causes many chronic problems including heart disease, diabetes, joint problems, sleep apnea, and mental health issues. Then there is the rising problem of heart disease, strokes, and cancer. It is not surprising that many of these conditions are related to a poor diet. As our nutrition worsens, the chronic diseases as well as the associated health expenditures will rise proportionately.

Then there are the higher rates of drug abuse, traffic accidents, alcohol use, and acts of violence. When Americans take more prescription medications and over the counter medications than any other country in the world, it does not take long to surmise that abuse of medications are part of the problem as well. In my book Medicines that Kill. I make the argument that medications are the number one cause of death in America.

The New York Times wanted to raise the public awareness and suggested we study what other countries are doing that might be useful here. We not only need to do this, but take an honest look at why we have so many problems. What is the real cause of chronic disease? Why do we take so many medications that do not fix problems? Why are mental health problems escalating? Are we ready to have an honest and open discourse, or will lobbyists, politics, and traditions shape the discussion? We cannot afford to continue the current course. We need a health revolution to change the course. This revolution starts with you and I.

Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws legalizing medical marijuana[a] and voters in Colorado and Washington voted Nov 6, 2012 to legalize recreational marijuana use.

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) member’s help desk, as of November 8, 2012, the APA did not have a position statement on medical marijuana use, even as it pertains to mental health related treatment. But if the APA desires to fulfill its role as the world leader in mental health standards, it cannot remain silent any longer.

History is replete with accounts of doctors utilizing treatments that not only failed to help, but actually harmed, increasing morbidity and mortality. For more than two millennia physicians practiced bleeding and leaching to drain evil humors. George Washington, after falling ill, had half his body’s blood drained, certainly accelerating his demise.[1]^,[2]

Tobacco was used by doctors for centuries to treat a variety of medical illnesses, including ulcers, polyps, skin lesions, headaches, respiratory problems, and diseases of the glands.[3]^,[4]^,[5]^,[6]^,[7] In the 19^th century doctors used a variety of poisons such as opium, quinine, arsenic, calomel (mercury), antimony, and strychnine[8] to treat a broad range of conditions. They called these toxins “medicines.”

And if treating patients over the years with purging, puking, poisoning, puncturing, cutting, cupping, blistering, bleeding, leeching, heating, freezing, sweating, and shocking,[9] were not bad enough, psychiatry jumped in with the infamous lobotomy early in the 20^th century to treat a variety of mental, behavioral and emotional problems.

Today, psychiatry is positioned with a unique opportunity to stand up and oppose the latest chicanery to be promoted as “medicine” – medical marijuana. Over the past year I have had a number of patients present with anxiety, depression, attention problems and other issues who were smoking marijuana daily. When I attempted to educate them on the brain damaging effects of marijuana they pulled out their medical marijuana card and reported that they only smoke the amount their doctor has prescribed.

Medical marijuana for the treatment of psychiatric problems is no better than prescribing cigarette smoke to treat lung disease. Yet, while professional societies and licensing boards would take quick action to redirect physicians who were prescribing cigarette smoke for COPD, such august bodies have remained silent while medical marijuana prescribing for psychiatric illness steadily increases. But what does the evidence reveal regarding marijuana and brain health?

Multiple studies have now documented that marijuana increases the risk for psychosis.[10]^,[11] The active compound in marijuana, ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), exerts its central effect through the CB₁ cannabinoidreceptor. Brain regions with such receptors include hippocampus (new memory/learning), amygdala (alarm, alertness), and the cerebral cortex (thinking, reasoning, planning, long term learning). Acute effects of marijuana smoking include alteration in motor control, short term memory impairments, intoxication, loss of motivation and drive, decreased anxiety, increased appetite and some reduction in pain, particularly if neurological in nature.

Long-term affects include structural changes in brain regions associated with higher cognitive function.[12] Madeline Meier PhD from Duke University and her multicenter team of investigators found that marijuana use before the age of 16 was associated with an eight-point drop in IQ that was not fully recovered after cessation of marijuana use.[13]

Marijuana smoking impairs prefrontal cortex functioning, undermining reasoning, planning, organization, initiation, drive, motivation and achievement. Functional imaging scans consistently reveal impaired prefrontal cortex activity in marijuana smokers, recent research documents long term use damages white matter connectivity in the brain.[14]^,[15]^,[16]^,[17]

Finally, marijuana appears to be more toxic than cigarette smoking. This is due to several factors. Cannabis smokers inhale one-third more deeply than cigarette smokers and hold their breath four times longer to ensure maximum lung exposure. Secondly, marijuana has higher concentrations of toxic chemicals than cigarette smoke. Dr. David Moir of Health Canada compared the chemicals in cigarette smoke to marijuana smoke and found that marijuana smoke had 20 times as much ammonia, five times as much hydrogen cyanide, and five times as much nitrogen oxides, which negatively affect circulation and the immune system.[18]

For patients who are terminal, suffering with severe intractable pain and/or nausea with no other possible way to experience relief, yes, out of mercy marijuana should be available. But, the use of marijuana to treat psychiatric illness is not only contrary to sound brain science, clinical research and common sense, it smacks of modern day quackery.

It is time for the APA to take a leadership role in establishing strong policy denouncing the use of marijuana for psychiatric illness and advocating that state licensing boards censure physicians who prescribe marijuana for mental health related problems. If psychiatrists fail to address this issue, I fear history will judge us more severely than those who bled George Washington to death, because we actually have the science to know better.

Timothy R. Jennings, M.D.

President-Elect Tennessee Psychiatric Association

Chairman, Board of Regents, Southern Psychiatric Association

Tele-medicine Consultant for The Center, Edmonds, WA

President, Come and Reason Ministries

This incident has triggered many to ask for stricter gun control. After all, it is hard to kill without a weapon in the first place. Others want more guns and guards at schools. A recently introduced legislation in Tennessee has suggested allowing teachers to carry firearms.

Five percent of the population own 50% of the guns or so we think. Gun homicides claimed 32,000 deaths in the United States last year. Is access to guns the problem? Many claim the problem lies within the mental health of the population and the medications used to treat.

Patrick Purdy in 1989 in Stockton, California killed five and wounded thirty, He was taking Thorazine and Amitriptylline. Kip Kinkel in 1998 in Springfield, Oregon, killed his parents, killed two at school and wounded 25 others. He was taking the antidepressant Prozac. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold in Littleton, Colorado, killed 12 and wounded 26. Harris was taking Luvox. Klebold’s records are currently sealed. Jeff Weise in Red Lake, Minnesota, killed his grandparents, killed 7 at school and wounded 7 while on Prozac. Steven Kazmierczak of Dekalb Illinois, killed 5 and wounded 27. This is just a partial list. We do not know for sure what Adam Lanza was taking, but many have suggested he was on medication altering the brain.

David Healey, author of “Pharmageddon”, states, “Violence and other potentially criminal behavior caused by prescription drugs are medicine’s best kept secret.” Many of the medications used to treat mental illness have black box labels warning of the correlation between these medications and violence behavior. Prescription medications seem to be a contributing factor.

Why do we, as a society, need these medications in the first place? Are they treating the cause or a symptom? Why is our mental health so poor? Is it the steady stream of violence seen in the media damaging the developing brain? Is it the many hours spent on gaming systems where the entire goal is to kill as many people as one possibly can, thus numbing the senses?  Is it the lyrics heard in the latest rap hit? Is it lack of parenting, poor nutrition, a changing of societal values? Is it alcohol, drugs, painkillers, or a combination of factors?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health one in four 18 years or older suffer form a diagnosed mental disorder in any given year. These are the ones that are diagnosed. In Europe 27% suffer from mental disorders. The numbers with mental illness are similar between America and Europe and yet the number of gun homicides is much higher in the US than in Europe or other developed countries. In Japan there is mental illness but few gun homicides.

The “right” says the problem is with mental illness and lack of morals. The “left” says we have too many guns. No one is happy with a moderate view, but in thinking about Newtown, it appears we have mental health problems, possibly dangerous drugs treating symptoms, and too many guns. In order to find solutions we must continue to seek to understand the problem. We have a societal problem and must put politics aside.

Well, one thing it means is there must be a lot of prescriptions being written or a bunch of over the counter medications being sold. The fact this type of business is growing makes me concerned over the health of not only the country but the world. Why do we need so many medications? Are the real problems being adressesed? Can a trend like this mean the economy is going to improve? I doubt it. How can a society be creative and productive when they are taking more medications than ever?

It is now time to look at the reason why. In my experience as a physician, I have discovered that modern medicine does a great job at helping in an acute, do or die, situation. We have been less successful at solving chronic problems. A medication has never cured type II diabetes. A CPAP mask has never cured sleep apnea. A blood pressure medication does not cure hypertension. A narcotic does not cure the cause of the pain.

We are not living the way we were designed at creation. With this causes stressors, from not getting enough rest or water, to carrying extra weight and having strained relations. I define stress as anything that we do that goes against our original design. When I think about my life, I see many stressors. This is the first step, realizing what might be causing our chronic problems.

These chronic stressors come with chemical changes, epinephrine, cortisol, cytokines, leukotrienes, and a host of other reactions. This is great if needed to fight, or better yet, to run away from a bear, but hour after hour, day after day, week in and week out, year after year, these chronically high level of stress chemicals damage our bodies and can change our genetics. Have you ever heard of the word epigenetics?

Sooner or later these chemicals cause a symptom- insomnia, palpitations, headaches, heart attacks, anxiety, and the list goes on. The symptoms indicate a physical abnormality and guess what, a prescription will soon be written or a self medication bought and the need for another pharmacy might be needed. Has the problem been solved? Of course not.

The solution is to move toward our original design. Develop a relationship with the Great Physician, the one who will help you find truth and give you the power to make seemingly impossible changes. This can start with a prayer, a walk in the woods, a trip to church, or opening the Bible. Asking for help is a great place to start.

This type of healthcare plan cannot be legislated. It must begin one person at a time, giving a plan that has hope and healing, a plan that does not judge but loves, a plan that meets an individual where they are and taking them to where they are designed to be.

A new health care plan complete with long term insurance for the future is available. It is great for chronic problems and can be used as a way to prevent as well as treat chronic disease. This is the new health plan I would like to introduce. I think this makes perfect sense.

Over the last 100 years dietary patterns in many westernized countries have changed. In the US, there has been a significant shift in the percentages of dietary oils ingested, away from healthy oils to more obesity promoting fats. Historically, the human diet containing no more than 1% of an oil known as linoleic acid (LA), which is an omega 6 fatty acid found in a variety of foods, but is highly concentrated in soy bean oil. Over the past century the US dietary intake of LA has increased from 1% to 8% of daily caloric intake.

Recent research has demonstrated that LA is a precursor to two brain derived marijuana like compounds known as “endocannabinoids.” These compounds are active in the brain region that controls appetite, caloric intake and satiety. Increasing activity in this brain region triggers increased appetite and is associated with increasing obesity.[1]

Remarkably, in animal studies conducted to evaluate the impact of increasing LA in the diet revealed those fed diets composed of 35% fat and 8% LA had significantly greater obesity than animals fed 60% fat diets and only 1% LA. This indicates that the LA trigger of the endocannabinoid receptors mediates obesity, and even if one lowers the amount of fat in the diet, if the diet retains a high percentage of LA, then obesity increases.

However, supplementing the 8% LA diet with 1% omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil, (EPA and DHA) reversed the elevations of endocannabinoids and decreased both food consumption and obesity.

 Further, insulin levels were not altered in either group, meaning the obesity was occurring before diabetic metabolic dysregulation occurs, and was not caused by insulin resistance.

Soy bean oil is about 50% LA by weight and is the single greatest contributor to the increase in LA in the American diet over the last century. Combine this with the reduction in DHA and EPA either through less fish consumed, or increased farm raised fish, which are generally devoid of EPA and DHA, and we have a dietary set up for increased obesity. This dietary change corresponds with the increase in obesity seen in the US.

A diet low in DHA and EPA, and high is LA is associated not only with increased obesity, but increased risk for mental health related problems to included, psychosis, mood disorders and dementia. Therefore reducing LA and increasing DHA and EPA in the diet has been shown to be healthy for the brain.

Foods high in omega 3’s (EPA and DHA) include wild sardines, salmon, mackerel, tuna, and trout. Fresh water fish have significantly less DHA/EPA than cold water ocean fish. DHA and EPA are not produced in plants, with the exception of some sea algae and seaweed. Therefore, vegans are encouraged to find a seaweed supplement high in DHA and EPA. Flax seed is high in omega 3 ALA, which is poorly converted in the body to the form the brain needs, with approximately 8% converted to EPA and less than 1% converted to DHA. Therefore, flax seed supplement is not recommended as a substitute for DHA and EPA.

[1] Alvheim, A., et al, Dietary Linoleic Acid Elevates Endogenous 2-AG and Anandamide and Induces Obesity. Obesity (2012); 20 10, 1984–1994.

There are many well-meaning Christians who have innocently promoted the idea that faith is believing without evidence. And therefore, it is not surprising to find a certain resistance amongst Christians to evidence-based thinking. But, I have been dismayed and disappointed by the practice of “blind” non-thinking, non-evidenced based “faith” within the scientific community since the scientific community purports to base its beliefs upon testable evidence.

I suspect the majority of scientists when asked which is more scientific (based on testable evidence), the theory of evolutionary origins or creation origins, would confidently state “evolution.” But how many of those same scientists would be willing to allow their belief to be subjected to testable evidence? If we are scientific, followers of testable evidence, we don’t fear examining our ideas in light of testable evidence, so let’s test these two competing theories (Evolution and Creation origins).

The big bang cannot directly be reproduced or tested and neither can God. Therefore, we are relegated to testing the premises both theories rest upon. As we pursue our answers I want to expose two points: 1) what we find when we test the premises these two theories are built upon, 2) which group, evolutionists or creationists, is willing to be scientific and follow the testable, reproducible evidence in the formation of their beliefs? And which group will deny the evidence in order to hold to preconceived beliefs?

Let’s examine the premises each theory is built upon and find out:

Can any scientist demonstrate something coming from nothing? I can show you a world filled with evidence of new things coming from something that already exists.

Can any scientist demonstrate life coming from non-living matter? I can show you a world teeming with life coming from living matter.

Can any scientist demonstrate complexity coming from chaos by random forces without any intelligent input? I can demonstrate a world filled with complex machines, computers, and technology, all of which is a result of intelligent design and input.

Can any scientist demonstrate random genetic mutation that has added genetic fitness? I can show you millions of genetic mutations that destroy fitness.

Can any scientist demonstrate selection that removes enough genetic damage to cause a species to become more genetically fit than the preceding generations? I can show you that despite selection the accumulation of genetic damage increases with each subsequent generation thereby degrading the species.

Further, which theory is in harmony with known laws of physics? The first law of thermodynamics, energy is conserved, rules out the first premise of evolution origins. Something cannot come from nothing if energy is conserved.

The second law of thermodynamics, things tend toward disorder unless energy is put into a system, simply states that left to its own things decay over time. This law rules out the premise that complexity comes from chaos without intelligent input. It also rules out the idea that genetic mutation results in increased fitness.

Both of these scientific laws of thermodynamics support the premises of creation origins but fail to support evolution origins.

So, which theory is actually built upon testable, reproducible evidence, in harmony with known laws, and which theory is demonstrated, by the evidence, to be inconsistent with testable evidence and laws? Then which theory is more scientific?

I find it fascinating that Creationism is actually founded upon scientific premises and beliefs, and supported by testable laws, whereas evolutionism origins is founded upon “blind faith,” premises that are disproved by objective testable science. Yet, scientists refuse to follow the evidence and instead persist in proclaiming evolutionary origins are actually scientific.

Whether you are currently a creationist or evolutionist I challenge you to become an evidence-based thinker. There is nothing to fear in following the evidence, for all evidence, when rightly understood, will lead us to greater enlightenment – back to the source of all light and truth, our amazing Creator!

The FDA has launched a website www.FDA.gov/BeSafeRX that gives tips on how to recognize rogue pharmacies. Another concern is that as a patient returns to the physician an assumption may be made that is incorrect. The doctor may think the medication is not working for the given situation or the disease is progressing when in actuality the patient had purchased a counterfit medication. Another variable is now added to the dangers inherent to medications.

Also there are now 12 confirmed deaths related to contaminated steroid injections. The CDC as a result of cases of meningitis following epidural injections and the isolated Aspergillus fungus have issued a recall. On October 3. 2012, the compounding center ceased all production of this injectable steroid. Yes mistakes are sometimes made. With the billions of prescriptions written each year, there will be mistakes at every level. Being careful where we get medications and more importantly trying to change our chemistry naturally is important. I tell my patients that I am a risk manager. Every medicine or treatment has risk. The less medications taken the less risk. There is little risk to eating right, being happy, resting, drinking water, and exercising. Balance, there is a place for modern medicine. There is a place for lifestyle changes. There is a place for the Ultimate Prescription, the relationship with our Creator which gives the power to change for the right reasons.