![]() However, it should be stressed that for neurotheology to grow as a field, it is imperative that one remains open, at least somewhat, to all of the different perspectives including those that are religious or spiritual, cultural, or scientific. There, no doubt, will be differing view points that will be raised throughout this process, some of which may be more exclusive of one perspective or the other. Therefore, neurotheology, which should provide an openness to a number of different perspectives, might also be viewed as a nexus in which those from the religious as well as scientific side can come together to explore deep issues about humanity in a constructive and complementary manner. It is at the neurotheological juncture that the science and religion interaction may be most valuable and help establish a more fundamental link between the spiritual and biological dimensions of the human being. Such a dialogue can be considered a constructive approach that informs both perspectives by enriching the understanding of both science and religion. This book will also have the purpose of facilitating a sharing of ideas and concepts across the boundary between science and religion. In short, for neurotheology to be successful, science must be kept rigorous and religion must be kept religious. The religious side must maintain a subjective sense of spirituality, a phenomenological assessment of the sense of ultimate reality that may or may not include a Divine presence, a notion of the meaning and purpose in life, an adherence to various doctrinal processes, and a careful analysis of religion from the theological perspective. The scientific side must progress utilizing adequate definitions, measures, methodology and interpretations of data. It is also important to preserve the essential elements of both perspectives. It is important to infuse throughout the principles of neurotheology the notion that neurotheology requires an openness to both the scientific as well as the spiritual perspectives. The overall purpose of this book is to set forth the necessary principles of neurotheology which can be used as a foundation for future neurotheological discourse and scholarship. If neurotheology is to be considered a viable field going forward, it requires a set of clear principles that can be generally agreed upon and supported by both the theological or religious perspective and the scientific one as well. The scientific and religious communities have been very interested in obtaining more information regarding neurotheology, how to approach this topic, and whether science and religion can be integrated in some manner that preserves, and perhaps enhances, both. Several books have been written addressing the relationship between the brain and religious experience and numerous scholarly articles have been published on the topic. ![]() As a topic, neurotheology has garnered substantial attention in the academic and lay communities in recent years. "Neurotheology" is a unique field of scholarship and investigation that seeks to understand the relationship specifically between the brain and theology, and more broadly between the mind and religion. At the end of the eight weeks, they came back for another scan, and Newberg found some dramatic differences. Newberg took scans of their brains, then taught them a mantra-based type of meditation and asked them to practice that meditation 12 minutes a day for eight weeks. Newberg describes one study in which he worked with older individuals who were experiencing memory problems. Newberg's scans have also shown the ways in which religious practices, like meditation, can help shape a brain. "This has really given us a remarkable window into what it means for people to be religious or spiritual or to do these kinds of practices." He and his team then compare that with the same brains in a state of rest. " evaluate what's happening in people's brains when they are in a deep spiritual practice like meditation or prayer," Newberg says. Newberg tells NPR's Neal Conan that neurotheology applies science and the scientific method to spirituality through brain imaging studies. And he's written a book, Principles of Neurotheology, that tries to lay the groundwork for a new kind of scientific and theological dialogue. He studies the relationship between the brain and religious experience, a field called neurotheology. Andrew Newberg has scanned the brains of praying nuns, chanting Sikhs and meditating Buddhists. In an effort to address those questions, Dr.
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