In Kind

25. Expert Hour, Neurotheologist Dr. Andrew Newberg on the Religion-Brain-Empathy Connection

Neurotheology? That's not a word you hear often. It's an emerging field that studies what's happening in the brain when people are in deep spiritual practice.  We know that the more we use certain neural pathways the stronger they get...but studies using brain imaging show that prayer, meditation, mindfulness, and affirmations can change our wiring. It takes awareness and practice. Dr. Newberg says our conscious selves need to help our unconscious brain to shift - it’s a partnership. He gives us two simple, powerful tactics to start (use the Chapters to jump to them),  and advises us to “Remember not to get stuck in who we are. We are our own experiment.” Start tinkering.

SHOW NOTES

Dr. Newberg
Mark Robert Waldman, author