The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious Experience

By: Andrew Newberg, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Andrew Newberg

Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Does God exist? Do we have a soul? Is it possible to make contact with a spiritual realm? How should we respond to the divine? Will life continue beyond death?Most people, whether deeply religious or outright doubters of any spiritual power, have probably pondered these questions for themselves. In fact, the religious impulse is so powerfully pervasive that neuroscience has posed a provocative question: Are our brains wired to worship?

Now, in a series of 24 riveting lectures from an award-winning scholar and practicing neuroscientist, you can explore the exciting field of neurotheology - the new discipline aimed at understanding the connections between our brains and different kinds of religious phenomena. Using an academic, experimental approach into what he calls "objective measures of spirituality," Professor Newberg attempts to explain what others have previously only guessed at: the neuroscientific basis for why religion and spirituality have played such a prominent role in human life.

In these captivating lectures, you'll learn how religious experiences originate, their meaning, and the reasons why religion plays such a huge role in human experience - peering directly into the seat of all human thought and action as you delve into the relationship between brain function and spirituality.

A leading researcher in neurotheology, Professor Newberg offers you innovative approaches to ancient beliefs and practices. Using brain imaging and other cutting-edge physiological studies, he helps you to better understand how the brain controls or responds to religious and spiritual beliefs and behavior.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

just loves this!

I love how this lecture was sensitive to all those with rigid belief systems. he provides neuroscience of the brain to explain spiritual experience. Why some are more prone to accept religion and those who are atheists.

slow start

lectures star slow and seem to drag, but it picks up. the topics were interesting and informative

interesting but deep

Will have to relisten and take notes. would be listening and sometimes the concepts just flew over my head

Mind blowing!

the questions asked and the analysis made were brilliant. the lectures were both skeptical and with awe, revealing and concealing. some parts of the lectures felt a little repetitive, and sometimes I felt that the ideas were lectured in a somewhat shallow way, but maybe it is because of my previous knowledge and curiosity.

Lots to Think About

Having read, studied, and discussed how our brain works, I find Dr. Newberg's insights mind-expanding...toward infinity-n.

Wow. Engaging and Fluid

Fascinating subject; by itself, and in addition to the professors passion and curiosity of it, which are pleasantly overarching in each lecture - and the course itself.

What I liked:
-Andrew engaged me with questions throughout the lectures
-Each lecture flowed naturally into the other, and as a whole
-I enjoyed Andrews refreshing ways of exploring science

Who should listen to this? Anyone who has ever thought about religion, spirituality, the brain, or are interested in expanding the way they see the world.

*I've read Andrew's book 'How Enlightenment Changes your Brain' and listened to 'How God Changes your Brain'* - both are incredibly interesting, and can give you further insights to his research.

Expanding my mental universe

For me the entire presentation encompassed a parallel to my own lifetime experience of searching to understand my reason for being, and seeking to know God. The context of how the brain interfaces with this search was enlightening.

Outstanding overview

Professor Andrew Newberg presents an outstanding synthesis of a very complex subject, the latest research on brain activity, measured with the latest neuroimaging and other biological methods, to determine their relationship to prayer, meditation, mysticism, faith, speaking in tongues, and other characteristics of religious people. This course is appropriate for a general adult audience however it will be appreciated by both theology and scientific audiences.

Interesting

This is interesting and enlightening from both a scientific and religious perspective. Did God create the brain to seek him, or did our brains evolve to create God. Understanding more about how our brains work can help us in our pusuit for answers and understanding why we think the way we do.

Very Interesting read.

A very Interesting look into how our brain influences and is influenced by the concept of God.