The Biology of Belief

Lipton, Bruce H. Ph.D, The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the power of Consciousness, Matter & Miracles. Carlsbad: Hay House, Inc. 2008.

The Biology of Belief, extends the implications of “New Biology” beyond what one might expect into the realm of “consciousness, matter & miracles.” “New Biology” refers to a shift in cell research from the assumption that DNA is the controller—the brain, if you will—of the living cell, to recent research  tending to show that living cells respond much more to events in the outer membrane than was thought. For me, that wouldn't have meant much except for Lipton's readable treatise on what the shift in thinking about cell functioning might mean; implications extend to everything from understanding the evolution of life from the single-cell stage to complex systems like animal life to the rethinking of allopathic medicine as it's practiced today.

            We've long been held in thrall by the idea of  genetic determination (he inherited it from his dad!) and haven't really done justice to the role of environment (he learned it from his dad!). In fact, Lipton suggests that the recent Human Genome Project has increased our tendency to look to inherited characteristics; in this regard, he drops some remarkable stats: “95% of breast cancers are not due to inherited genes.” - 43)

            At one level, we acknowledge that racism is founded on a belief in inherited characteristics but on the other hand, we cling to the notion that much of what we are lies in our genes.

            Both single cells and communities of cells (the liver, for instance) reach their destined makeup through the genetic code of parents; beyond this makeup, however, research has shown that the behaviour of cells and communities of cells responds to signals received through their covering membranes. Some of these signals come through the various hormones and glandular secretions that trigger fight or flight responses in our muscles and organs, some are transmitted through the nervous system (both conscious—like reading and following a map, and subconscious—like ducking in response to an approaching object) but the point is that our body cells are responsive to all kinds of environmental signals. Take the difference between the physiology that responds to stress and fear versus the physiology that follows relaxation or an experience of loving interaction.

            We've long known that laughter makes good medicine; Lipton basically urges us to carry this thought into our health practices with the assurance that we can reduce our reliance on pharmaceuticals and surgery.

            We all know how integral to health care the pharmaceuticals manufacturers have become. Take a walk through a nursing home ward just before meal time and watch the nurse dispensing pills and potions to the patients resident there. Frequently, the particular medications are “experimental;” physicians “try out” a drug or a dosage, alter it if it proves in-efficacious. New research on cell functioning makes it much clearer why this reliance on drug solutions is wrong headed. A drug cannot be assumed to target a problem in one area without finding its way through other cells and cell communities in the body where it's presence may be entirely inappropriate; we euphemistically call the results of drug actions in inappropriate places “potential side effects.” For example, we've known forever that a certain drug that acts against histamine overload also effects a drowsiness, a sure signal that cells involved in our sleep cycles are absorbing drug material and responding inappropriately.

            We live in a hazardous age, health consciousness wise. Genetic modifications to plants and animals may prove to have no dilatory effect when consumed, but we're not sure we want to take that chance. This is in itself a stressor and in a biology that recognizes the role of environment— physical, spiritual and emotional—in the behaviours of cells and cell communities, the mechanics of GM modifications might well be overshadowed by the overall negative consequences of being afraid of our food. That kind of living is very bad for cell health and for cell communities. 

            Lipton ends with a chapter called “Conscious Parenting: Parents as Genetic Engineers” The growth and protection gates on children's cells are active at birth and the implications for raising children in fear or safety are enormous. Habits of thought and expectations are formed early in life and can be highly persistent into adulthood, so it makes sense that the most potent of preventative measures for health is the loving, supportive nurturing of children. Unfortunately, this is difficult for parents who have themselves been raised in an atmosphere of dark thoughts and may still be wrestling with the demons surrounding them as they grew up.

            Passing genes on to a next generation is by no means the critical contribution in parenting.

            Among other things, Lipton's Biology of Belief invites us to rethink our persistent separation of spirit and body, mind and biology. May I hazard a suggestion: what we call “miracles” are not magic events; unexplained remissions and cures happen but not because God reverses the laws of nature for the occasion. It's probable that we have underestimated the environmental influence coursing through our bodies when circumstances of pain and illness meet hope, faith and belief.

            I admit that Biology of Belief leaves me somewhat skeptical, but that's just me. It's clear that health care costs, for instance, are taxing our ability to pay and this escalating cost has no end in sight. If Lipton is right, much of the cost of surgical and drug therapy is wasted; I'd really like to believe there are better ways to be healthy and to that possibility, Lipton lends credence.