The Cognitive Neuroscience of Religious Experience

This updated and expanded edition reviews brain-based accounts of religious experiences, covering decentering, self-transformation, supernatural agent cognitions, mystical states, religious language, ritualization, and religious group agency. It incorporates major findings from the past decade on methodology, future thinking, and psychedelics, and systematically examines the rationale for using neuroscience approaches to religion. The account is intended for religious studies scholars and those interested in comparative religion, philosophy of religion, cultural evolution, and personal self-transformation, explaining how such transformation occurs within religious contexts.

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Abstract

The Cognitive Neuroscience of Religious Experience, now updated and expanded in a new edition, updates key topics covered in the first edition including: decentering and self-transformation, supernatural agent cognitions, mystical states, religious language, ritualization, and religious group agency. It expands upon the first edition to include major findings on brain and religious experience over the past decade, focusing on methodology, future thinking, and psychedelics. It provides an up-to-date review of brain-based accounts of religious experiences, and systematically examines the rationale for utilizing neuroscience approaches to religion. While it is primarily intended for religious studies scholars, people interested in comparative religion, philosophy of religion, cultural evolution, and personal self-transformation will find an account of how such transformation is accomplished within religious contexts.