Religious Scholar

What can biology teach us about spirituality? Plenty…and vice versa, while you’re at it…according to Andrew Newberg, MD, author of Principles of Neurotheology. Newberg is Director of Research at the Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Medical College.

Newberg lectured on neurotheology to a large, fascinated audience on March 7, 2012, at Princeton University’s Center for the Study of Religion. His past lectures have included the Medical Yoga Conference at Jefferson, which is directed each year by Dr. Vijayendra Pratap, Founding Director of the SKY Foundation, dedicated to the scientific exploration and practice of yoga.

What exactly is neurotheology? A new branch of science, neurotheology investigates the relationship between biology and spirituality and studies how each may impact on the other. As the religious views of large segments of the world’s population increasingly influence cultural attitudes and behaviors and flow over into secular life, the study of what makes religious or spiritual people act the way they do is not a frivolous pursuit, but rather a critical tool for understanding and survival. (For discussion of religion vs. spirituality, please see http://www.religiousscholar.com/religion-vs-spirituality-terms/ )

Newberg’s research includes impressive, concrete evidence that spiritual practice actually changes biology. During his lecture, he displayed SPECT baseline images of subjects before they started meditation practices and compared with them with images taken after the subjects had practiced kirtan kriya meditation 12 minutes a day for eight weeks. One of the results was the enlargement of the thalamus, the mass of grey matter in the center of the brain which is involved in sense perception and regulates motor activities. Brain studies of various religious or spiritual subjects, such as Christian nuns and Buddhist monks, have revealed countless remarkable features which suggest the powerful influence of faith practices.

Newberg is optimistic that scientists and people of faith can work together with respect and collegiality to explore the relationships between their knowledge and belief systems. Our faith must always filter through our brain. How exciting to be at the dawn of an exciting new era of collaboration and discovery! Newberg’s book may be ordered at:  http://www.andrewnewberg.com/