Synopses & Reviews
Are we hard-wired for spiritual experience? And if so, why? On God and the Brain, Dr. Andrew Newberg reveals surprising new evidence that the human capacity for transcendent consciousness may have been a critical factor in our survival and evolutionary success as a species. This pioneer of brain studies and co-author of Why God Won't Go Away presents the first audio course on his groundbreaking research into the fascinating links between spirituality, biology, and the evolution of the brain. With new material from Dr. Newberg's research available nowhere else, this 3-CD programme features:- How prayer and meditation alter and enhance the physiology of the brain- Neurotheology: how our brain chemistry shapes our sense of morality, meaning, and divine connection- Inside the heads of the optimist and the pessimist-exploring the survival value of positive thinking- The biology of forgiveness: why this spiritual act boosts the health of the nervous system- A special guided exercise for enhancing the listener's neurological capacity for balance and peace. Whether one is a devout Christian, a Buddhist meditator, or even a dedicated atheist, the part of the brain that controls spiritual experience has a profound impact on our entire identity. On God and the Brain, listeners join Dr. Andrew Newberg for a lucid and enthralling exploration of the uncharted regions of the mind-and what this new science means for our health, beliefs, and quality of life.
Synopsis
Are we hard-wired for spiritual experience? And if so, why? On God and the Brain, Dr. Andrew Newberg reveals surprising new evidence that the human capacity for transcendent consciousness may have been a critical factor in our survival and evolutionary success as a species. This pioneer of brain studies and co-author of Why God Won?t Go Away (Ballantine, 2006) presents the first audio course on his groundbreaking research into the fascinating links between spirituality, biology, and the evolution of the brain. With new material from Dr. Newberg's research available nowhere else, this 3-CD program features: ? How prayer and meditation alter and enhance the physiology of the brain ? ?Neurotheology?: how our brain chemistry shapes our sense of morality, meaning, and divine connection ? Inside the heads of the optimist and the pessimist?exploring the survival value of positive thinking
Synopsis
Is it our biological destiny to seek the divine? Is faith in a higher power a survival trait? On God and the Brain, Dr. Andrew Newberg presents intriguing evidence that the human brain is a "believing machine"--and that our capacity for self-transcendence and spirituality helps drive our evolution as a species.
This pioneer of brain studies presents the first audio course on his groundbreaking research into the fascinating links between faith, neurobiology, and the mysteries of the psyche, including:
- Why this emerging science enriches both the faithful and the skeptical
- How prayer and meditation enhance your health--tips for tailoring a spiritual regimen that suits your individual needs
- How the world's spiritual paths uniquely shape the brain and mind
- The "myth-making brain"--the survival value of our storytelling and human imagination
- The biology of forgiveness--why this critical spiritual skill is so important to your physical and psychological wellness
No matter what you believe--or don't believe--about God, the parts of your brain that manifest spiritual experience have a profound impact on your entire identity. With his balanced approach of spiritual wonder and scientific rigor, Dr. Andrew Newberg is a leader in exploring the uncharted territory where our human bodies overlap with our experience of the sacred. On God and the Brain, he shares core insights that will deepen your understanding of our most human gift--the experience of the divine.
Course objectives:
- Describe how our spiritual beliefs and practices affect our physical and mental health
- Compile a detailed account of the entire nervous system, the different areas of the brain and what they are responsible for, both physically and emotionally
- Discuss the history of religion and how its importance and practices have shifted in the past century
- Discuss the results of Newberg's studies of spirituality, and discuss why spirituality is hard to measure in a test-like hypothesis
- Assess the basic ways in which spiritual practices differ from one another, and also how they share some common characteristics