Neurotheology: How God Changes Your Brain

A growing number of neuroscientists are engaging with the question of how religious experiences change your brain.

by

December 4, 2012

Get the Big Think newsletter on Substack

A growing number of neuroscientists are engaging with the question of how religious experiences change your brain.

Director of Research

The Game Issue October 2025

Test Special Issue

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

3 videos 8 articles

A large square window frames a view of rows of houses and tall apartment buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

Featured Classes

A stylized collage featuring a woman's face, abstract patterns, and a winding arrow in green, red, and black on a divided background.

How to Rewire Your Brain for Learning

Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Oakland University

Related Content

Starts With A Bang

Groupthink in science isn’t a problem; it’s a myth

Scientists are notoriously resistant to new ideas. Are they falling prey to groupthink? Or are our current theories just that successful?

by Ethan Siegel

solar system model

Mini Philosophy

If humans went extinct, could we re-evolve?

Maybe — just don't expect a carbon copy.

by Jonny Thomson

Six orange origami shapes on a light background, with hand-drawn arrows connecting them to illustrate a progression or transformation—evoking themes of change and even human extinction.

Can you measure love? 3 experts discuss

From neuroscience to philosophy, experts reveal why compassion may be the most important human skill we have.

In partnership with

Unlikely Collaborators

with Meghan Sullivan, Thupten Jinpa & Sharon Salzberg

Six brain MRI scan images are arranged in two rows, showing various cross-sectional views of the human brain, with the bottom row featuring a blue and pink color overlay.

Resilience is overrated: Unlock the real secret to business longevity

Andrew Markell — philosopher, martial artist, and CEO advisor — argues that true endurance comes from desire, ritual, and learning to evolve through chaos.

by Eric Markowitz & Ethan Siegel

A collage featuring Andrew Markell thinking at a desk, a close-up of a handshake, and a person standing alone, overlaid with swirling red and green arrows.

Learn from the world's biggest thinkers.

© Copyright 2007-2026 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved.