The science of spirituality, and how it can change your brain

Big Think · 3m · transcribed 19d ago

Section Insights

# 0:00

The Instinct for Religious Thinking

Why has religious thinking been a part of human experience?

Religious thinking is an inherent part of humanity, rooted in our instinct for substance dualism, which suggests a separation between body and mind or soul.

Religious thinking has existed since the beginning of human experience.
Children exhibit an instinct for understanding dualism.
The universality of religious experience suggests a deeper human need.

# 0:37

The Adaptive Advantage of Religion

What is the adaptive advantage of religion?

Religion likely provides an adaptive advantage, though many explanations focus on its functions rather than its existence.

Religion exists due to its adaptive benefits.
Functionalist answers often miss the deeper reasons for religion's existence.
Humans are both unique individuals and part of a larger consciousness.

# 1:14

Spirituality and Mental Health

How does spirituality relate to mental health?

Individuals recovering from depression often find profound support and renewal through connection to a higher power, suggesting that spirituality can be neuroprotective.

Spiritual connections can aid in recovery from depression.
A thicker cortex may indicate the neuroprotective effects of sustained spiritual life.
Spirituality can enhance perception and reflection on life.

# 1:51

The Awakened Brain and Human Experience

What does the awakened brain reveal about human experience?

The awakened brain shows that humans universally seek experiences of love, guidance, and connection, despite the rise of scientific rationalism in recent history.

Humans have an innate desire to feel loved and connected.
Scientific advancements have not answered existential questions.
The quest for understanding remains a fundamental aspect of human life.

# 2:29

Faith and Science: A Unified Quest

How do faith and science relate to each other?

Faith and science are not oppositional; both seek truth and understanding, reflecting our brain's compulsion to believe in something greater than material existence.

Faith and science are both valid paths to truth.
Human beings are driven to seek meaning beyond material existence.
The spiritual path may already be part of one's journey.

Transcript

0:00 - Religious thinking has been a part of the human experience from the beginning. The question then becomes why? Studies of children have shown that we are born with this instinct for what's called substance dualism, the idea that the body and the mind or soul are separate. Religious experience is a universal phenomenon if it can be traced throughout all time, then there must be some adaptive advantage, otherwise it wouldn't exist.

0:41 The problem is that the countless different answers that have been given for why religion failed, primarily because they’re functionalist answers. What religion does, Not why religion exists. We are a point and we are a wave. We are magnificently distinct and unique and diverse, and we are part of one field of life, one sacred consciousness. So it turns out that every single one of us are all born with the neuro docking station for awakened awareness.

1:16 Together with my colleagues, we looked at people who recovered from depression through an awakening. We could see that people who suffered the most really derive profound support and even renewal when connecting to their higher power. To God, the universe, whatever their word might be. They were more likely to perceive and reflect in a profoundly spiritual way, in this tendency to see life on spiritual bedrock was mirrored by a thickening of the cortex, offering some evidence that sustained spiritual life is neuroprotective against depression.

1:54 And in addition, when we looked at the awakened brain, what we saw is that universally, we are drawn into an experience in which we are loved and held, guided, and never alone. If you think about the past three, 400 years of human history, especially the history of the Western world, we've had this explosion. Some call it the age of certainty, the explosion of scientific rationalism. But we've had this explosion of knowledge about how the world actually works.

2:26 Weight, height, gravitational pull, electromagnetic force. And yet the same questions are still gnawing at the soul. What's it mean? What are we doing here? This idea somehow that faith and science are an opposition I've always found to be complete insanity. Both are searching for the truth. There is something in the way that our brains work that compel us to believe that we are more than just the sum of our material parts.

2:59 Is it possible that you have been on a quest that you already are walking a spiritual path?

Summary

Religious thinking is an intrinsic part of the human experience, rooted in our instinctual understanding of dualism—the separation of body and soul. This universal phenomenon suggests that religion offers adaptive advantages, particularly in fostering connections to higher powers, which can lead to profound psychological benefits, including resilience against depression.

- Humans are born with an instinct for substance dualism, indicating a natural inclination towards spiritual beliefs.
- Religion has persisted throughout history, implying it serves an essential adaptive function.
- Spiritual experiences can lead to neuroprotective effects against depression, as evidenced by changes in brain structure.
- Individuals recovering from depression often find renewal through connections to a higher power.
- The historical rise of scientific rationalism has not resolved existential questions about meaning and purpose.
- Faith and science are not oppositional; both seek to uncover deeper truths about existence.
- Our brains are wired to perceive ourselves as more than mere physical entities.
- Everyone may already be on a spiritual path, whether they recognize it or not.