Dr Andrew Newberg is a neuroscientist and one of the world’s leading researchers exploring the relationship between neuroscience and spirituality.
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 experiences.
He has published over 250 peer reviewed articles and 14 books. His work has been featured in Time, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, and he was listed as one of the 30 most influential neuroscientists alive today by the Online Psychology Degree Guide.
In this conversation, we explore:
- Studies exploring the relationship between mass meditations and crime rate
- Near death experiences
- Dr Newberg’s views on consciousness
- The extent to which we can say that religious and spiritual experiences cause physical changes in the brain
- The link between spirituality and mental health.
And more.
You can learn more about Dr Newberg’s research and books by visiting: www.andrewnewberg.com.
---
Dr Andrew Nerberg is a neuroscientist, author, Professor, and the Research Director in the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He studies how brain function is associated with various mental states, and is a pioneer in the neurological study of religious and spiritual experiences - a field known as “neurotheology.” Dr Newberg’s 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. You can learn more about Dr Newberg’s work at: www.andrewnewberg.com
--
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
0:23 - Consciousness and Crime
7:09 - Science, Spirituality, and Consciousness
14:17 - Transcendental Shifts in Near-Death Experiences
22:57 - Frontal Lobe and Spiritual Transformations
27:34 - Analytical Idealism and Conscious Experience
30:17 - Brain Regions, Beliefs, and Religion
38:08 - Brain, Belief, and Compassion
44:30 - Spirituality and Neuroscience
49:36 - Religious Bonds as Secure Bases
53:40 - Infinite Exploration
--
Links:
- Dr Andrew’s website: www.andrewnewberg.com
- Dr Andrew’s books: amzn.to/3uIAC4F