"Neurotheology” has garnered substantial attention in recent years addressing the relationship between the brain and religious experience and numerous scholarly articles have been published on the topic, some in the popular press.
The scientific and religious communities have been very interested in obtaining more information regarding neurotheology, how to approach this topic, and how science and religion can be integrated in some manner that preserves both.
Dr. Andrew Newberg, a pioneer and leader in this field joins me for a mind-expanding episode discussing everything from spirituality to Neuro Emotional Technique's clinical research in partnership with Jefferson Medical School.
Dr. Andrew Newberg is the director of research at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health and a physician at Jefferson University Hospital. He is board certified in internal medicine and nuclear medicine. is a neuroscientist 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.
Andrew has been asking questions about reality, truth, and God since he was very young, and he has long been fascinated by the human mind and its complex workings. While a medical student, he met Dr. Eugene d’Aquili, who was studying religious experiences. Combining their interests with Andrew’s background in neuroscience and brain imaging, they were able to break new theoretical and empirical ground on the relationship between the brain and religion.
Andrew’s research now largely focuses on how brain function is associated with various mental states—in particular, religious and mystical experiences. His research has included brain scans of people in prayer, meditation, rituals, and trance states, as well as surveys of people's spiritual experiences and attitudes. He has also evaluated the relationship between religious or spiritual phenomena and health, and the effect of meditation on memory. He believes that it is important to keep science rigorous and religion religious.
Andrew has also used neuro-imaging research projects to study aging and dementia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, depression, and other neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Some of Dr. Newberg's books:
How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist
https://amzn.to/2CaQfIV
How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain
https://amzn.to/2NGLHPE
Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and The Biology Of Belief
https://amzn.to/2NDc4pD
The Rabbi's Brain: Mystics, Moderns and the Science of Jewish Belief
https://amzn.to/2ra5pMf
Dr. Newberg's Website:
http://www.andrewnewberg.com
The O.N.E. Foundation
ONE Research Foundation is committed to the natural, noninvasive healing of the mind and body using Neuro Emotional Technique.
http://www.onefoundation.org
Other people mentioned in this episode:
Rabbi David Aaron
Endless Light: The Ancient Path of Kabbalah
https://amzn.to/2Nesl5m
Seeing God:10 Life Changing Lessons of the Kabbalah
https://amzn.to/2CaSsEd
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