Religion and the Brain: Where Science Meets Spirituality
Dr. Andrew Newberg is a neuroscientist and professor at Thomas Jefferson University who studies the relationship between brain function and various mental states. He is a pioneer in the neurological study of religious and spiritual experiences: a field known as “neurotheology.” His research includes taking brain scans of people in prayer, meditation, rituals, and trance states, in an attempt to better understand the nature of religious and spiritual practices and attitudes.
Overview
Have you ever wondered where in the brain we think about God? Whether God exists or not, religion and God change our brain in many fascinating ways. This talk, based on the best-selling book How God Changes Your Brain, reviews some of the most recent research on spiritual practices like meditation and prayer—a growing field called neurotheology. We will also review how the brain pictures God, feels about God, and thinks about God. We will consider both the positive and negative sides of religion—when religion makes people charitable and altruistic, versus a terrorist. Finally, we will discuss how we might foster the more compassionate side of religion and the brain. This information will provide fascinating ideas to reflect on and consider for everyone’s spiritual beliefs.