Neurotheology

Neurotheology is a buzzword for attempts to interpret religious phenomena in neurophysiological.

Representative

Experiments in which with externally applied magnetic fields ( Transcranial magnetic stimulation TMS) at 80 percent of the subjects feel the presence of a " higher reality " could be created, made ​​known to the Canadian neurologist Michael Persinger. Many of his religious subjects spoke of having been touched by God, atheists, however, of a perceived connectedness with the universe.

Imaging techniques began Andrew Newberg of the University of Pennsylvania to get the experience of meditation neuroscience closer. He moved into The results in neurobiological justifiable theories for the formation of myths and rituals.

But independent replication studies show different results. So Mario Beauregard found more brain regions involved in meditation, as Newberg had assumed. And in a double-blind study by Pehr Granqvist with magnetic stimulation after Persinger showed that subjects whose helmets were not activated, as frequently of spiritual experiences reported as those whose helmets were active.

In Germany, especially Detlef Linke involved in the debate, with popular science books (religion as a risk ) and lectures.

Religious interpretations

Chance to watch Attempts religious interpretations of neurobiological events, such as Laurence McKinney's book Neurotheology that trying to find a neurological legitimacy of Buddhism or the presumption that stimulable regions of the brain were a kind of " mailbox God," by which the Holy Spirit of God the people who prays his answers and information in the form of inspirations and illuminations can get.