Advertisement
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: How God Changes Your Brain Andrew Newberg, M.D., Mark Robert Waldman, 2009-03-24 God is great—for your mental, physical, and spiritual health. Based on new evidence culled from brain-scan studies, a wide-reaching survey of people’s religious and spiritual experiences, and the authors’ analyses of adult drawings of God, neuroscientist Andrew Newberg and therapist Mark Robert Waldman offer the following breakthrough discoveries: • Not only do prayer and spiritual practice reduce stress, but just twelve minutes of meditation per day may slow down the aging process. • Contemplating a loving God rather than a punitive God reduces anxiety and depression and increases feelings of security, compassion, and love. • Fundamentalism, in and of itself, can be personally beneficial, but the prejudice generated by extreme beliefs can permanently damage your brain. • Intense prayer and meditation permanently change numerous structures and functions in the brain, altering your values and the way you perceive reality. Both a revelatory work of modern science and a practical guide for readers to enhance their physical and emotional health, How God Changes Your Brain is a first-of-a-kind book about faith that is as credible as it is inspiring. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: How God Changes Your Brain Andrew Newberg, M.D., Mark Robert Waldman, 2010-03-23 God is great—for your mental, physical, and spiritual health. Based on new evidence culled from brain-scan studies, a wide-reaching survey of people’s religious and spiritual experiences, and the authors’ analyses of adult drawings of God, neuroscientist Andrew Newberg and therapist Mark Robert Waldman offer the following breakthrough discoveries: • Not only do prayer and spiritual practice reduce stress, but just twelve minutes of meditation per day may slow down the aging process. • Contemplating a loving God rather than a punitive God reduces anxiety and depression and increases feelings of security, compassion, and love. • Fundamentalism, in and of itself, can be personally beneficial, but the prejudice generated by extreme beliefs can permanently damage your brain. • Intense prayer and meditation permanently change numerous structures and functions in the brain, altering your values and the way you perceive reality. Both a revelatory work of modern science and a practical guide for readers to enhance their physical and emotional health, How God Changes Your Brain is a first-of-a-kind book about faith that is as credible as it is inspiring. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Words Can Change Your Brain Andrew Newberg, Mark Robert Waldman, 2012-06-14 In our default state, our brains constantly get in the way of effective communication. They are lazy, angry, immature, and distracted. They can make a difficult conversation impossible. But Andrew Newberg, M.D., and Mark Waldman have discovered a powerful strategy called Compassionate Communication that allows two brains to work together as one. Using brainscans as well as data collected from workshops given to MBA students at Loyola Marymount University, and clinical data from both couples in therapy and organizations helping caregivers cope with patient suffering, Newberg and Waldman have seen that Compassionate Communication can reposition a difficult conversation to lead to a satisfying conclusion. Whether you are negotiating with your boss or your spouse, the brain works the same way and responds to the same cues. The truth, though, is that you don't have to understand how Compassionate Communication works. You just have to do it. Some of the simple and effective takeaways in this book include: • Make sure you are relaxed; yawning several times before (not during) the meeting will do the trick • Never speak for more than 20-30 seconds at a time. After that they other person's window of attention closes. • Use positive speech; you will need at least three positives to overcome the effect of every negative used • Speak slowly; pause between words. This is critical, but really hard to do. • Respond to the other person; do not shift the conversation. • Remember that the brain can only hold onto about four ideas at one time Highly effective across a wide range of settings, Compassionate Communication is an excellent tool for conflict resolution but also for simply getting your point across or delivering difficult news. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain Andrew Newberg, Mark Robert Waldman, 2016-03-15 The bestselling authors of How God Changes Your Brain reveal the neurological underpinnings of enlightenment, offering unique strategies to help readers experience its many benefits. In this original and groundbreaking book, Andrew Newberg, M.D., and Mark Robert Waldman turn their attention to the pinnacle of the human experience: enlightenment. Through his brain- scan studies on Brazilian psychic mediums, Sufi mystics, Buddhist meditators, Franciscan nuns, Pentecostals, and participants in secular spirituality rituals, Newberg has discovered the specific neurological mechanisms associated with the enlightenment experience--and how we might activate those circuits in our own brains. In his survey of more than one thousand people who have experienced enlightenment, Newberg has also discovered that in the aftermath they have had profound, positive life changes. Enlightenment offers us the possibility to become permanently less stress-prone, to break bad habits, to improve our collaboration and creativity skills, and to lead happier, more satisfying lives. Relaying the story of his own transformational experience as well as including the stories of others who try to describe an event that is truly indescribable, Newberg brings us a new paradigm for deep and lasting change. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Why God Won't Go Away Andrew Newberg, M.D., Eugene G. D'Aquili, Vince Rause, 2002-03-26 Why have we humans always longed to connect with something larger than ourselves? Even today in our technologically advanced age, more than seventy percent of Americans claim to believe in God. Why, in short, won’t God go away? In this groundbreaking new book, researchers Andrew Newberg and Eugene d’Aquili offer an explanation that is at once profoundly simple and scientifically precise: The religious impulse is rooted in the biology of the brain. In Why God Won’t Go Away, Newberg and d’Aquili document their pioneering explorations in the field of neurotheology, an emerging discipline dedicated to understanding the complex relationship between spirituality and the brain. Blending cutting-edge science with illuminating insights into the nature of consciousness and spirituality, they bridge faith and reason, mysticism and empirical data. The neurological basis of how the brain identifies the “real” is nothing short of miraculous. This fascinating, eye-opening book dares to explore both the miracle and the biology of our enduring relationship with God. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: The Rabbi’s Brain Andrew Newberg, David Halpern, 2018-10-23 The topic of “Neurotheology” has garnered increasing attention in the academic, religious, scientific, and popular worlds. However, there have been no attempts at exploring more specifically how Jewish religious thought and experience may intersect with neurotheology. The Rabbi’s Brain engages this groundbreaking area. Topics included relate to a neurotheological approach to the foundational beliefs that arise from the Torah and associated scriptures, Jewish learning, an exploration of the different elements of Judaism (i.e. reform, conservative, and orthodox), an exploration of specifically Jewish practices (i.e. Davening, Sabbath, Kosher), and a review of Jewish mysticism. The Rabbi’s Brain engages these topics in an easy to read style and integrates the scientific, religious, philosophical, and theological aspects of the emerging field of neurotheology. By reviewing the concepts in a stepwise, simple, yet thorough discussion, readers regardless of their background, will be able to understand the complexities and breadth of neurotheology from the Jewish perspective. More broadly, issues will include a review of the neurosciences and neuroscientific techniques; religious and spiritual experiences; theological development and analysis; liturgy and ritual; epistemology, philosophy, and ethics; and social implications, all from the Jewish perspective. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Why We Believe What We Believe Andrew Newberg, Mark Robert Waldman, 2006-09-12 WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THE THINGS YOU BELIEVE? Do you remember events differently from how they really happened? Where do your superstitions come from? How do morals evolve? Why are some people religious and others nonreligious? Everyone has thoughts and questions like these, and now Andrew Newberg and Mark Waldman expose, for the first time, how our complex views emerge from the neural activities of the brain. Bridging science, psychology, and religion, they demonstrate, in simple terminology, how the brain perceives reality and transforms it into an extraordinary range of personal, ethical, and creative premises that we use to build meaning, value, spirituality, and truth into our lives. When you come to understand this remarkable process, it will change forever the way you look at the world and yourself. Supported by groundbreaking research, including brain scans of people as they pray, meditate, and even speak in tongues, Newberg and Waldman propose a new model for how deep convictions emerge and influence our lives. You will even glimpse how the mind of an atheist works when contemplating God.Using personal stories, moral paradoxes, and optical illusions, the authors demonstrate how our brains construct our fondest assumptions about reality, offering recommendations for exercising your most important muscle in order to develop a more life-affirming, flexible range of attitudes. You'll discover how to: Recognize when your beliefs are altered by others Guard against mental traps and prejudicial thinking Distinguish between destructive and constructive beliefs Cultivate spiritual and ethical ideals Ultimately, we must always return to our beliefs. From the ordinary to the extraordinary, they give meaning to the mysteries of life, providing us with our individual uniqueness and the ability to fill our lives with joy. Most important, though, they give us inspiration and hope, beacons to guide us through the light and dark corners of the soul |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Principles of Neurotheology Assoc Prof Andrew B Newberg, 2013-06-28 Neurotheology has garnered substantial attention in the academic and lay communities in recent years. Several books have been written addressing the relationship between the brain and religious experience and numerous scholarly articles have been published on the topic, some in the popular press. The scientific and religious communities have been very interested in obtaining more information regarding neurotheology, how to approach this topic, and how science and religion can be integrated in some manner that preserves both. 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. Principles of Neurotheology sets out the necessary principles of neurotheology which can be used as a foundation for future neurotheological discourse. Laying the groundwork for a new synthesis of scientific and theological dialogue, this book proposes that neurotheology, a term fraught with potential problems, is a highly useful and important voice in the greater study of religious and theological ideas and their intersection with science. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Neurotheology Andrew Newberg, 2018 With the advent of the modern cognitive neurosciences, along with anthropological and historical research, the scientific study of religious and spiritual phenomena has become far more sophisticated and wide-ranging. It suggests answers as to how and why religion became so prominent in human societies and in human consciousness. Neurotheology--a term coined by Aldous Huxley in 1962 in his novel Island and introduced into the scientific literature in the 1990s by Newberg and others--explores some of the most controversial positions including the argument that religion was a necessary condition of cohesive societies, morality, and a sense of purpose. The book considers brain development from an evolutionary perspective and assesses how religious and spiritual beliefs and experiences arose and whether such evolutionary evidence eliminates the need for a religious explanation. Newberg demonstrates that religious beliefs and emotions can be both beneficial and detrimental in people's lives. For some, religion provides a means toward compassion, openness, and understanding; others turn to highly destructive acts, as is the case with suicide bombers. What is happening in the brains of such people? Are they pathological? And what of practices such as meditation, prayer, and the ingestion of psychoactive substances? Neuroimaging studies can show how these practices affect people in the moment and over a lifetime. Finally, the book investigates the deeper implications of a neurotheological approach. Does the neuroscientific study of religion negate any or all of the truth claims of religion? How does neurotheology address the big questions such as: What is the meaning of life? Why are we here? And what is the true nature of reality?-- |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Changing your Mind Victor Copan, 2016-12-29 This book takes you on a journey that unpacks and demystifies what spiritual growth is and how it unfolds. The aim is to set you on your own path toward genuine, personal spiritual transformation. The book provides all the tools you need - biblical, scientific, and practical - so that you can develop your own pathway for spiritual growth. What is unique about Victor Copan's approach to spiritual growth is that he explores recent findings of brain research as well as scientific research on habitformation and brings them into conversation with the process of spiritual formation. Research on the brain and on habit formation has uncovered significant insights about the process and dynamics of human transformation that can be fruitfully incorporated into our own pursuit of spiritual transformation. Tapping into this research allows us to work in concert with how God designed humans to function - body, soul, and spirit. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Why We Believe What We Believe Andrew Newberg, Mark Robert Waldman, 2006-09-12 Prayer ... meditation ... speaking in tongues. What do these spiritual activities share and how do they differ? Why do some people believe in God, while others embrace atheism? From the ordinary to the extraordinary, beliefs give meaning to the mysteries of life. They motivate us, provide us with our individual uniqueness, and ultimately change the structure and function of our brains.--From publisher description. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: The "God" Part of the Brain Matthew Alper, 2008-09-01 A thought-provoking study of science and religion about our human need to believe in a higher power, for spiritual seekers and atheists alike. In The God Part of the Brain, Matthew Alper pioneers a radical theory: the human inclination toward spirituality and belief in a higher power can be attributed to a specific part of our brain. This bold hypothesis takes us on an exciting journey that merges science, philosophy, and spirituality in a unique way. Alper engages readers with compelling arguments based on neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and anthropology, provoking profound thought on the nature of existence and our inherent need for spiritual meaning as a coping mechanism that emerged in humans to help us survive our unique and otherwise debilitating awareness of death. His narrative is accessible yet deeply profound, providing insights that stimulate both intellectual curiosity and spiritual introspection. Key Features: Groundbreaking Hypothesis: Presents a bold new theory about the neuroscientific basis of human spirituality. Interdisciplinary Approach: Combines insights from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and anthropology to explore spiritual experiences. Intellectually Stimulating: Challenges readers to contemplate profound questions about existence, faith, and the human mind. Accessible Narrative: Engages readers with a narrative that is both informative and accessible, regardless of their scientific background. Provocative and Thoughtful: Invites deep introspection about our inherent need for spiritual meaning. Praise for The God Part of the Brain This cult classic in many ways parallels Rene Descartes' search for reliable and certain knowledge...Drawing on such disciplines as philosophy, psychology, and biology, Alper argues that belief in a spiritual realm is an evolutionary coping method that developed to help humankind deal with the fear of death...Highly recommended.— Library Journal I very much enjoyed the account of your spiritual journey and believe it would make excellent reading for every college student - the resultant residence-hall debates would be the best part of their education. It often occurs to me that if, against all odds, there is a judgmental God and heaven, it will come to pass that when the pearly gates open, those who had the valor to think for themselves will be escorted to the head of the line, garlanded, and given their own personal audience. — Edward O. Wilson, two-time Pulitzer Prize-Winner This is an essential book for those in search of a scientific understanding of man's spiritual nature. Matthew Alper navigates the reader through a labyrinth of intriguing questions and then offers undoubtedly clear answers that lead to a better understanding of our objective reality. — Elena Rusyn, MD, PhD; Gray Laboratory; Harvard Medical School What a wonderful book you have written. It was not only brilliant and provocative but also revolutionary in its approach to spirituality as an inherited trait.— Arnold Sadwin, MD, former chief of Neuropsychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania A lively manifesto...For the discipline's specific application to the matter at hand, I've seen nothing that matches the fury of The 'God' Part of the Brain, which perhaps explains why it's earned something of a cult following. — Salon.com All 6 billion plus inhabitants of Earth should be in possession of this book. Alper's tome should be placed in the sacred writings' section of libraries, bookstores, and dwellings throughout the world. Matthew Alper is the new Galileo...Immensely important...Defines in a clear and concise manner what each of us already knew but were afraid to admit and exclaim.— John Scoggins, PhD Vibrant ... vivacious. An entertaining and provocative introduction to speculations concerning the neural basis of spirituality.— Free Inquiry Magazine |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Brain Weaver Andrew Newberg, Daniel A Monti, 2021-05-25 Though adult cognitive development has previously been thought to be unyielding and static, Brain Weaver offers new hope and empowerment to remain mentally vibrant for a lifetime. Doctors Newberg and Monti’s team at Thomas Jefferson University’s Marcus Institute of Integrative Health are at the forefront of research in brain functioning and applications of the most advanced understanding in real-world strategies to expand options for optimizing our complex neurophysiology. Their findings show that optimal brain health is achievable by successfully weaving together a tapestry of our bio-psycho-social-spiritual dimensions. Brain Weaver also coincides with a decades-long surge in the public’s interest in whole-person treatments—body, mind and spirit evidence-based integrative therapies that include pharmaceuticals, electromagnetics, nutrition and meditation. Brain Weaver’s timeliness is all the more important now to address a new paradigm for post-pandemic wellness that emphasizes our individual and collective responsibility for proactive healthcare |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: The God Virus Darrel W. Ray, 2009 For those hungering for more after reading the books written by [Richard] Dawkins or [Christopher] Hitchens, The God Virus is a logical and thought-provoking follow-up.--Hemant Mehta. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: NeuroWisdom Mark Robert Waldman, Chris Manning, 2019-06-04 Perfect for readers of How God Changes Your Brain, two researchers present over thirty brain exercises to help readers generate happiness and success, in business and in life. This remarkable book translates state-of-the art neuroscience into practical techniques that rapidly promote personal transformation. If you want to double your happiness and your income, start using these powerful brain-changing exercises today! ―John Assaraf, New York Times bestselling author and CEO of NeuroGym Adapted from a business school course they created for professionals, bestselling author Mark Waldman and Chris Manning present simple brain exercises, based on the latest neuroscience research, to guide readers to improvement in all parts of life, from work to home, from how we think to how we feel. Their promise is to help people create more wealth in their lives, defined as the combination of money, happiness, and success. Using the latest research studied by two experts in their field, the book presents both the scientific background and sets of NeuroWisdom exercises that will help people reduce neurological stress and increase happiness, motivation, and productivity. The worry centers of the brain are turned off and the optimism circuits are turned on. Work becomes more pleasurable and creativity is increased, enabling the brain to anticipate and solve problems more efficiently. From the cutting edge of brain science to real-world solutions, these exercises help readers gain the wisdom that leads to greater fulfillment. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Brain Longevity Dharma Singh Khalsa, Cameron Stauth, 2001-01-01 In the tradition of Andrew Weil's bestseller Spontaneous Healing, this is a physician's breakthrough medical program for the brain designed to diminish the effect of memory impairment caused by stress, aging, and Alzheimer's disease. As we grow older and experience the stresses of life, at about age 40 many of us begin to have trouble remembering things, concentrating, and generally staying mentally sharp. This book contains a four-part program including nutritional, stress-relieving, pharmacological, and mind-body exercise therapies to help people overcome the undesirable effects of normal brain aging. By controlling cortisol, a hormone that is toxic to the brain and present in excessive levels as we age, Dr. Khalsa's plan can help improve memory and emotional zest. This is the first book to: Describe a program that may diminish age-associated memory impairment Feature a clinical method that can promote memory functioning impaired by Alzheimer's disease Detail the physical damage done to the brain by stress, how it adversely affects memory and our other mental abilities, and what can be done about it. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: The Metaphysical Mind Andrew B. Newberg, 2013-12 How are philosophical and theological concepts conceived in the mind? Why are certain topics of greater importance to philosophers and theologians? Why do people think about these issues in the first place? These are the questions that are explored in the ground breaking book, The Metaphysical Mind. Philosophy and theology usually considers various fundamental concepts such as those related to being, reality, causality, logic, or phenomenology. But the philosophical approach to these topics often leaves out one of the most important things - the human brain. After all, it is the brain that is actually thinking about these ideas in the first place. The Metaphysical Mind explores the relationship between the brain and philosophical thought and helps us to understand how the brain enables and restricts our ability to think about these metaphysical concepts. One of the major developments of contemporary thought has been the field of hermeneutics. Hermeneutics considers the environmental, linguistic, and cultural factors that influence a given philosopher in order to determine how particular ideas or texts may have been shaped. However, no one has ever examined philosophical and theological thought specifically from the hermeneutical perspective of the neurobiological and genetic substrate that underlies such thinking. This neuroscientific hermeneutic or neurohermeneutic refers specifically to the functions of the brain and how they are related to various thought processes which have been at the cornerstone of philosophical and theological thought throughout history. Additionally, this neurohermeneutic helps to better interpret how and why such thoughts develop. Neurohermeneutics is based upon a synthesis of information from multiple fields including anthropology, neurophysiology, cognitive neuroscience, genetics, theology, and philosophy. Many of the major milestones in the history of philosophical and theological thought from pre-Socratic thinkers to the present day can be considered from the perspective of the functioning of the human mind and its multimodal interaction with the social, cultural, intellectual, and physical environment. In particular, the development of some of the most dramatic concepts in philosophy and theology can be considered in relation to certain brain functions and how those functions enable human beings to interpret meaning in the world. Similarly, contemplative/meditative traditions can be considered to be associated with certain brain functions in order to explore how such experiences are perceived and interpreted. This book will also consider the issue of the experience of reality from a neurophysiological perspective. This leads to fascinating conclusions regarding the nature and degrees of reality and how the brain experiences that reality. Although not all philosophical and theological concepts will be examined, many of the major movements will be considered in order to extrapolate to the notion that a neurobiological hermeneutic may provide a basis and fundamental bias for all philosophical thinking - a metaphilosophy (or metatheology in the specific context of religion). Ultimately, this approach might even lead to a megaphilosophy containing universal concepts that could be conceived of from any philosophical or theological perspective. The result of this analysis leads to a description of the metaphysical mind which is necessarily driven to pursue philosophical and theological questions, but also shapes how the answers to such questions arise. Thus, the brain itself is designed to function in a philosophical or metaphysical manner. This revolutionary approach to philosophical and theological thought will provide readers something to think about for the millennium to come. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: God According to God Gerald L. Schroeder, 2009-05-22 This “brilliant” book by an M.I.T. trained physicist “demands the attention of anyone who wonders if God must be exiled from the modern, enlightened mind” (David J. Wolpe, author of Why Faith Matters). In his first book since 2002’s acclaimed The Hidden Face of God, popular scientist Gerald Schroeder combines decades of scientific research and biblical study to present a groundbreaking new theory of how to understand God. With riveting chapters on the origins of life, a scientist’s view of creation, and the unique place of our planet in the galaxy, God According to God offers a radical paradigm shift that will forever change how we comprehend God. “This is as important a book on this subject as I recall ever having read.” —Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: The God Gene Dean H. Hamer, 2005-09-13 The overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God; this conviction has existed since the beginning of recorded time and is shared by billions around the world. In The God Gene, Dr. Dean Hamer reveals that this inclination towards religious faith is in good measure due to our genes and may even offer an evolutionary advantage by reducing stress, preventing disease, and extending life. Popular science at its best, The God Gene is an in-depth, fully accessible inquiry into research that can change the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Written with balance, integrity, and admirable scientific objectivity, this is a book for readers of science and religion alike. “Fascinating. . . . A compelling case that spirituality very well may be part and parcel of our genetic structure.” –Los Angeles Times “Challenges some basic assumptions we may have and certainly goads us into reflection about human nature.” – The News & Observer |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: The Mind of God Jay Lombard, 2017 With cutting-edge research and provocative case studies, renowned behavioral neurologist provides insights to some of the most curious spiritual questions of mortality. For fans of When Breath Becomes Air and the work of Oliver Sacks. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Embrace Kids Taryn Brumfitt, Zali Yager, 2022-08-02 Imagine a world where young people don’t feel held back by their bodies. Where we appreciate each other for who we are and what we do rather than what we look like. Body image, and the associated issues of weight, food and physical activity, are hot topics in our families. How did we get to this place of constant criticism about our own bodies, and how can we get out of it? To coincide with the release of her ground-breaking new documentary Embrace Kids, leading body image activist and powerhouse change-maker Taryn Brumfitt has collaborated with body image expert Dr Zali Yager on one of the most important health issues of our time – helping our children and teens feel comfortable about, and confident in, their bodies. With chapters for parents on understanding your own journey, appreciating your own body and creating a positive home environment, as well as tackling diet and fashion trends, friendship issues and social media challenges, Embrace Kids is full of evidence-informed suggestions and supportive, practical advice. This book will teach you everything you need to know to build your kids' body image, to wholeheartedly embrace their uniqueness, and to steer them on a path to body confidence that has the power to liberate them for life. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Happiness Beyond Thought Gary Weber, 2007-04 Praise for Happiness Beyond Thought Husband, father, scientist, military officer, and senior executive in industry and academia, Gary Weber has led a full and successful worldly life. Throughout all of this, Gary has relentlessly pursued a path of practice and inquiry in order to understand life and achieve enlightenment. It is rare to find one who has reached this goal, and rarer still to find such a one who has been so immersed in worldly life. With this book, Gary has successfully integrated his profound realization with traditional non-dualistic teachings, as well as insights from Zen Buddhism and modern brain research, into a practical path that uses Yoga's time-tested practices of asana, pranayama, chanting and meditation to illumine a path to enlightenment for the modern reader. -Gary Kraftsow, author of Yoga for Wellness and Yoga for Transformation Gary Weber offers a treasure chest of practices for the serious practitioner seeking liberation. On your own journey towards awakening, savor these simple, easy to follow practices culled from Weber's study with his primary teacher Ramana Maharshi, his on-going exploration of Zen meditation practice, and the life-enhancing results of his experiments on the laboratory floor of his yoga mat. -Amy Weintraub, author of Yoga for Depression |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: The Spiritual Brain Mario Beauregard, Denyse O'Leary, 2007-09-04 Do religious experiences come from God, or are they merely the random firing of neurons in the brain? Drawing on his own research with Carmelite nuns, neuroscientist Mario Beauregard shows that genuine, life-changing spiritual events can be documented. He offers compelling evidence that religious experiences have a nonmaterial origin, making a convincing case for what many in scientific fields are loath to consider—that it is God who creates our spiritual experiences, not the brain. Beauregard and O'Leary explore recent attempts to locate a God gene in some of us and claims that our brains are hardwired for religion—even the strange case of one neuroscientist who allegedly invented an electromagnetic God helmet that could produce a mystical experience in anyone who wore it. The authors argue that these attempts are misguided and narrow-minded, because they reduce spiritual experiences to material phenomena. Many scientists ignore hard evidence that challenges their materialistic prejudice, clinging to the limited view that our experiences are explainable only by material causes, in the obstinate conviction that the physical world is the only reality. But scientific materialism is at a loss to explain irrefutable accounts of mind over matter, of intuition, willpower, and leaps of faith, of the placebo effect in medicine, of near-death experiences on the operating table, and of psychic premonitions of a loved one in crisis, to say nothing of the occasional sense of oneness with nature and mystical experiences in meditation or prayer. Traditional science explains away these and other occurrences as delusions or misunderstandings, but by exploring the latest neurological research on phenomena such as these, The Spiritual Brain gets to their real source. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Am I Just My Brain? Sharon Dirckx, 2019-05 Looking at the body, mind and soul to answer the question: What exactly is a human being? |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Skeptic Michael Shermer, 2016-01-12 Collected essays from bestselling author Michael Shermer's celebrated columns in Scientific American For fifteen years, bestselling author Michael Shermer has written a column in Scientific American magazine that synthesizes scientific concepts and theory for a general audience. His trademark combination of deep scientific understanding and entertaining writing style has thrilled his huge and devoted audience for years. Now, in Skeptic, seventy-five of these columns are available together for the first time; a welcome addition for his fans and a stimulating introduction for new readers. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Spiritual Liberation Michael Bernard Beckwith, 2008-11-11 The dynamic spiritual leader and featured teacher in The Secret shares his practical wisdom and inspirational practices for unlocking your full potential and transforming your life. Michael Bernard Beckwith—the well-known spiritual leader who touched the hearts of millions in The Secret as well as founding the Agape International Spiritual Center—shares his transformational central message and his powerfully accessible methods for embodying that message in daily life. Here, in Spiritual Liberation, Beckwith reveals that it is our inner spiritual development—not outward appearances, religiosity, or dogma—that guides each of us toward our higher selves. Drawing on a wide spectrum of teachers both ancient and modern, this is a joyous reminder of the true fruits of spiritual labor. Featuring Beckwith’s personal and touching accounts, the book guides us to integrate and activate the gifts of divinity that are present within each of us. With affirmations, exercises, and a vibrant, personal narrative, Spiritual Liberation is destined to become a classic, to read again and again. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: In the Mind Fields Casey Schwartz, 2016-07-26 Neuroscience and psychoanalysis are historically opposed responses to the age-old quest to understand ourselves—one focused on the brain and the other on the mind. As part of a pioneering program to look for common ground between the two warring disciplines, Casey Schwartz spent one year immersed in psychoanalytic theory at the Anna Freud Centre, and the next year studying the brain among Yale’s cutting-edge neuroscientists. She came away with a clear picture of the distance between the two fields: while neuroscience is lacking in attention to lived experience, psychoanalysis is often too ephemeral and subjective. Armed with this awareness, Schwartz set out to study the main pioneers in the emerging and controversial field of neuropsychoanalysis. With passion and humor, she makes a trenchant argument for a hybrid scientific culture that will allow the two approaches to thrive together. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: The Spiritual Child Dr. Lisa Miller, 2015-05-05 In The Spiritual Child, psychologist Lisa Miller presents the next big idea in psychology: the science and the power of spirituality. She explains the clear, scientific link between spirituality and health and shows that children who have a positive, active relationship to spirituality: * are 40% less likely to use and abuse substances * are 60% less likely to be depressed as teenagers * are 80% less likely to have dangerous or unprotected sex * have significantly more positive markers for thriving including an increased sense of meaning and purpose, and high levels of academic success. Combining cutting-edge research with broad anecdotal evidence from her work as a clinical psychologist to illustrate just how invaluable spirituality is to a child's mental and physical health, Miller translates these findings into practical advice for parents, giving them concrete ways to develop and encourage their children's—as well as their own—well-being. In this provocative, conversation-starting book, Dr. Miller presents us with a pioneering new way to think about parenting our modern youth. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Folly of God John D. Caputo, 2015-11-17 |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: How God Changes Your Brain Dr Andrew Newberg, M D, 2010-07 Traditional Chinese edition of How God Changes Your Brain: breakthrough findings from a leading neuroscientist by Andrew Newberg M.D. This book contends that contemplating God in the form of prayer and meditation can reduce stress, enhance physical health and improve healing from illness. Includes the authors' research on how people experience God and where in the brain that experience might be located. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality Lisa J. Miller, 2024-02-06 This updated edition of The Oxford Handbook of Psychology and Spirituality codifies the leading empirical evidence in the support and application of postmaterial psychological science. Lisa J. Miller has gathered together a group of ground-breaking scholars to showcase their work of many decades that has come further to fruition in the past ten years with the collective momentum of a Spiritual Renaissance in Psychological Science. With new and updated chapters from leading scholars in psychology, medicine, physics, and biology, the Handbook is an interdisciplinary reference for a rapidly emerging approach to contemporary science. Highlighting fresh ideas and supporting science, this overarching work provides both a foundation and a roadmap for what is truly a new ideological age. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: What Your Body Knows about God Rob Moll, 2015-10-14 Scientists are now discovering ways that our bodies are designed to connect with God. Award - winning journalist Rob Moll explores the fascinating ways in which our brains and bodies interact with God and spiritual realities, using neuroscience to show how our brains actually change and adapt when engaged in spiritual practices. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: God on the Brain Brad Sickler, 2020-07-07 The human brain is incredibly complex. Both Christian and secular scholars alike affirm this fact, yet the traditional view of humanity as spiritual beings made in the image of God has come under increased pressure from humanistic and materialistic thinkers who deny that humans are anything more than their physical bodies. Christians have long affirmed that humans are spiritual beings made by God to know and fellowship with him, while the humanist position views humans as merely evolved animals. Bradley Sickler provides a timely theological, scientific, and philosophical assessment of the human brain, highlighting the many ways in which the gospel informs the Christian understanding of cognitive science. Here is a book that provides a much-needed summary of the Bible's teaching as it sheds light on the brain, with careful interaction with the claims of modern science, arguing that the Christian worldview offers the most compelling vision of the true nature of humanity. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Heaven and the Afterlife Erwin W. Lutzer, 2016-05-13 Get ready for life after death. Combining three books that together have sold nearly 1 million copies, Heaven and the Afterlife gives you Erwin Lutzer’s best reflections on eternity and what it means for you today. The trilogyincludes: One Minute After You Die. A simple and moving explanation of what the Bible teaches about death, this book makes you consider a sobering truth: one minute after you die, your life will not be over. Rather, it will be just beginning—in a place of unimaginable bliss or indescribable gloom. Are you ready for that moment? How You Can Be Sure You Will Spend Eternity with Godsummarizes the Bible’s teaching on salvation, answering questions like, “What role do I play in my own salvation? Can I lose my salvation if I commit a serious sin? What if I doubt that I’m saved?” Your Eternal Reward. This book explores the often-overlooked Scriptures about reward and judgment for Christians, answering questions like, “How will believers be judged? Do rewards for faithfulness vary? If heaven is perfect, why do rewards even matter?” Together these books will help you live faithfully today, readying you for that final hour when you meet your Maker. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: In Search of the Good Life Paul Marcus, 2018-03-21 Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995), French phenomenological philosopher and Talmudic commentator, is regarded as perhaps the greatest ethical philosopher of our time. While Levinas enjoys prominence in the philosophical and scholarly community, especially in Europe, there are few if any books or articles written that take Levinas's extremely difficult to understand, if not obtuse, philosophy and apply it to the everyday lives of real people struggling to give greater meaning and purpose, especially ethical meaning, to their personal lives. This book attempts to fill in the large gap in the Levinas literature, mainly through using a Levinasian-inspired, ethically-infused psychoanalytic approach. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: One Mind Larry Dossey, 2013 Emerging studies have shown that the One Mind isn't just an idea; it's a reality. In this book, Larry Dossey shares compelling research that supports the One Mind concept. These cases include experiences of: shared thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations with a distant individual, communication between humans and sentient nonhumans, such as pets, large groups of animals--flocks, schools, herds--behaving in highly coordinated ways, acquisition of previously unknown knowledge from a person who has died, hidden or lost objects found through mental means alone, and direct contact with a transcendent domain through near-death experiences, Through engaging stories, fascinating case studies, and brilliant insights from great thinkers throughout history, One Mind explores the outer reaches of human consciousness. In it, you will discover a new way to interpret the great mysteries of our experience and learn how to develop the empathy necessary to engender more love, peace, and collective awareness. The result is a rich new understanding of what it means to be human and a renewed hope that we can successfully confront the challenges we face at this crossroads in human history. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Could it be this Simple? Timothy R. Jennings, 2007 Feelings of worthlessness. Low self-esteem. Illegitimate guilt. The inability to forgive. Bitterness and resentment. Dependency. Unhealthy relationship patterns. These battles rage within the minds of millions of people, including Christians. Although these may be mistaken as private battles, they are part of a much larger battle--the battle between Christ and Satan, the battle for our hearts and minds. Fortunately the battle is not lost. In Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind you'll learn about God's original ideal for the mind and His beautiful plan to restore His children back into His image. Psychiatrist Timothy R. Jennings also exposes many of Satan's subtle tactics that interfere with God's plan to heal the mind. Armed with the tools provided in this book, you can cooperate better with God to achieve emotional and mental well-being and gain real spiritual victory. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: They Speak with Other Tongues John L. Sherrill, 1985 How a skeptical journalist was introduced to the charismatic renewal and to the phenomenon of speaking in tongues. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Spiritual Direction 101 Teresa Blythe, 2018-03-07 Spiritual Direction 101 brings spiritual guidance down to earth, making it accessible to people from a variety of spiritual and religious traditions. This book gives you the here's how it's done information, such as tips, tools, stories and descriptions to assist spiritual directors and build awareness in those seeking spiritual help. |
| andrew newberg how god changes your brain: Summary of Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman’s How God Changes Your Brain Milkyway Media, 2021-10-14 Buy now to get the main key ideas from Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman’s How God Changes Your Brain In How God Changes Your Brain (2009), Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist, and Mark Robert Waldman, a therapist, look at trust in God through a scientific lens, examining how spiritual activities and beliefs change the human brain for the better. The human brain's architecture and functions are altered by meditation and spiritual activities in ways that enhance mental and physical health, reduce sadness and anxiety, and delay neural aging. Consistent brain training alters social habits, resulting in improved relationships and social interactions. What's amazing is that these activities aren't only for religious people, and they don't require belief in God. Even atheists can enhance their mental health by practicing spirituality. This empirically proved, scientifically supported book serves as both an analytical study and a practical guide to spiritual activities, aiming to both educate and motivate readers to make positive lifestyle changes. |
Andrew - Wikipedia
Andrew is the English form of the given name, common in many countries. The word is derived from the Greek: Ἀνδρέας, Andreas, [1] itself related to Ancient Greek: ἀνήρ/ἀνδρός …
Who Was Andrew the Apostle? The Beginner’s Guide
Jun 17, 2019 · Andrew was the first apostle Jesus called and the first apostle to claim Jesus was the Messiah. Despite his seemingly important role as an early follower of Christ, Andrew is …
The Apostle Andrew Biography, Life and Death - What Christians …
The Apostle Andrew’s Death. From what we know from church history and tradition, Andrew kept bringing people to Christ, even after Jesus’ death. He never seemed to care about putting his …
What Do We Know about Andrew the Disciple? | Bible Study Tools
Sep 15, 2023 · We get one big glimpse of who Andrew was early in John, but outside of that he remains relatively unknown, though he was one of the twelve chosen by Jesus. Today we will …
Who was St. Andrew the Apostle and what did he do? - Aleteia
Nov 29, 2024 · Saint Andrew, apostle: born at Bethsaida, brother of Simon Peter and a fisherman with him, he was the first of the disciples of John the Baptist to be called by the Lord Jesus …
Andrew: Exploring the Forgotten Apostle of the Bible
Aug 8, 2024 · Andrew was one of the first disciples called by Jesus, initially a follower of John the Baptist. He immediately recognized Jesus as the Messiah and brought his brother Simon …
Meaning, origin and history of the name Andrew
May 29, 2020 · English form of the Greek name Ἀνδρέας (Andreas), which was derived from ἀνδρεῖος (andreios) meaning "manly, masculine", a derivative of ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man". …
Andrew: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity - Parents
May 21, 2025 · Andrew is a Greek name meaning "strong and manly." It's a variant of the Greek name Andreas, which is derived from the element aner, meaning "man." Andrew was the …
Andrew | The amazing name Andrew: meaning and etymology
May 5, 2014 · From the Hebrew נדר (nadar), to vow, and דרר (darar), to flow freely. An indepth look at the meaning and etymology of the awesome name Andrew. We'll discuss the original …
Who was Andrew in the Bible? - GotQuestions.org
Jan 4, 2022 · Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother, and they were called to follow Jesus at the same time (Matthew 4:18). The Bible names Andrew as one of the twelve apostles (Matthew …
Why God Wont Go Away Brain Scie…
of how the brain identifies the “real” is nothing short of miraculous. This fascinating, eye-opening book dares to explore both the miracle …
Andrew Newberg How God Chang…
research, including: How God Changes Your Brain. Have you ever wondered where in the brain we think about God? Whether …
Lê Xuân Hy th : : Seattle, WA 9812…
Review of Andrew Newberg, How God changes your brain: Breakthrough findings from a leading …
The Power of Surprise
Andrew Newberg, MD, best-selling author of Why We Believe What We Believe. “Michael Rousell has written a fascinating guide to …
By Andrew B. Newberg Spiritu…
By Andrew B. Newberg Evidence suggests that meditation, prayer, and other related religious and spiritual practices may …
