Neurotheology, also known as “spiritual neuroscience” [1] is an emerging field of study that seeks to understand the relationship between brain science and religion [2]. Scholars in this field strive up front to explain the neurological ground for spiritual experiences such as “the perception that time, fear or self-consciousness have dissolved; spiritual awe; oneness with the universe” [3]. There has been a recent considerable interest in neurotheology worldwide. Neurotheology is multidisciplinary in nature and includes the fields of theology, religious studies, religious experience and practice, philosophy, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, and anthropology. Each of these fields may contribute to neurotheology and conversely, neurotheology may ultimately contribute in return to each of these fields [4].
Clearly, one of the initial problems with neurotheology as a field is the exploitation of “neurotheology” as a term. Too often, the term “neurotheology” has been used inaccurately or inappropriately [5]. Many times, it appears to refer to a study of an idea that incorporates neither neuroscience nor theology. Strictly speaking, neurotheology refers to the field of scholarship linking the broad categories of both neurosciences and theological studies. Neuroscience would thus refer to the empirical study of the central nervous system or ‘brain and theology’; would refer to the critical and rational analysis of a particular religious belief system, pertaining to God [6]. It may also constitute a robust “natural theology of the brain” [7]. Of course, both the terms “neuroscience” and “theology” have evolved over time [8].
Research by Mario Beauregard at the University of Montreal, using fMRI on Carmelite nuns, has purported to show that religious and spiritual experiences include several brain regions and not a single 'God spot'. As Beauregard has said, "There is no God spot in the brain. Spiritual experiences are complex, like intense experiences with other human beings [9]. The neuroimaging was conducted when the nuns were asked to recall past mystical states, not while actually undergoing them; "subjects were asked to remember and relive (eyes closed) the most intense mystical experience ever felt in their lives as a member of the Carmelite Order. "[10]
References
[1] Biello D. Searching for God in the Brain [Online] [cited 2013 June 15]; Available from: URL: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=searching-for-god-in-the-brain.
[2] Newberg AB. Principles of Neurotheology. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing; 2010. pp. 1–3.
[3] Burton R. Neurotheology. In: Burton R, editor. On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press; 2009.
[4] [6] [8] Neurotheology: The relationship between brain and religion. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3968360/
[5] Newberg AB. Neuroscience and religion: Neurotheology. In: Jones L, editor. Encyclopedia of religion. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Macmillan Reference USA; 2005.
[7] Ashbrook JB, Albright CR. The humanizing brain: where religion and neuroscience meet. Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press; 1997. p. 7.
[9] Harper Collins Publishers Author Interview with mario Beauregard, HarperCollins.com, archived from the original on 10 January 2019, retrieved 21 August 2011.
[10] Neurology. Wikipedia.
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