Humans are spiritual beings even when wisdom and evidence points in another direction humans believe in a higher power. However, as researchers look for answers and they find new questions. Opening a Pandora's box spirituality and religiosity create questions that open up vast amounts of discussion on cognitive ability and spirituality. Finally, neurobiologists and neuropsychologist are researching and looking at spirituality and meditation to determine answers to questions about brain activities during spiritual processes. Through the use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI,s), these researchers are looking at the physiological effects upon the brain and body during processes of spirituality. Nevertheless , researchers are trying to understand the religious and spiritual phenomenon's and the actions that occur in the mind and the body during these spiritual processes.
In the beginning ancestral myths passed from generation to generation they recognized forces that controlled nature. Since the beginning of human existence man has sung and danced and passed down their beliefs to others of their group through oral tradition. As man progressed they wrote down there sacred text and attempted to answer life's ultimate questions. “Where are we? Why are we here?
What does it all mean? What if anything are we suppose to do?”(Smith, 1994).
However, science and technology came along and also attempted to ask the ultimate questions. ``Through systematic modalities they changed how the world was viewed. This systematic use of experiments and data collection, scientist looked for empirical answers in which to base their theories. However, most of the first methods of data collection were based on quantitat...
... middle of paper ...
...d spiritus meaning breath. The spiritual realm deals with the perceived
eternal realities regarding man's ultimate nature, in contrast to what is temporal
or worldly. Religions are organized belief systems promulgated and sustained by
human institutions, ethnic groups, tribe or culture and involves definite rules
of behavior, rituals and practices” (http://msmonograph.org/articles.asp?=0973-1229).
Attempting to find a focal point on spirituality science began attempting to try to explain religious and spiritual phenomena through neuroscience. Researchers using brain scans of various types are examining spiritual activities within the brain such as meditation and prayer. Using EEG, PET, MRI and other brain scans researchers have just scratched the surface of spirituality. All experiences both in our mind and in the concrete reality exists in our brain.
Religion has 7 core attributes that allow someone to call it a religion, these include Narrative, Doctrine, Emotional, Material, Ethical, Ritual and Social. These seven attributes help individuals identify what can be classified as a “religion”, however spirituality has no “easy way” to identifying it. Spirituality can be found within the individual looking for their “meaning” but not physically expressed.
Ramachandran and his team concluded that although the patients were not experiencing seizures or experiencing supernatural occurrences at the time of testing, they were highly sensitive to religious words. Thus, the experiences of temporal lobe seizures strengthened the patients interest in religion (11).
As psychological field of study advances with its technologies to investigate changes in the mind, using such technology to look at effects of mindfulness meditation would strengthen its argument and understanding of the mechanisms in the brain, to change meditators into the new awaken state. This essay will reveal the evidence of mindfulness meditation making an impact on the mind. First, this essay will present the studies which found physiological functional differences in the body for those who did mindfulness meditation. Second, this essay will present the studies which found functional differences in the brain for those who perform mindfulness meditation. Third, this essay will present the studies which found structural differences in the brain for those who performed mindfulness meditation.
Underlying each of these claims is the theme of the unification of body and mind into a state of consciousness which greatly facilitates clarity and order in one's awareness. Through the deep periods of rest achieved during levels of transcendental consciousness, t...
For years there has been discussion over the controversy of whether or not psychologists should be counted as shamans. Shamanism comprises a range of traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spiritual world (Marohn, 2014). Although psychologists uses their beliefs and their practices when analyzing the mental processes of a patient, they may not necessarily correlate their findings with ideas involving the spiritual world. Some psychologists may be counted as shamans based on their methods of treatment, but generally psychologists aren’t shamans.
Meditation is logical in not only the minds of Buddhist practitioners, but also in those of scientific standpoints. Meditation, however, is not exclusive to Buddhism alone. These brain scan studies showed that Franciscan nuns that spend tim...
Meditation is an age-old practice that has renewed itself in many different cultures and times. Despite its age, however, there remains a mystery and some ambiguity as to what it is, or even how one performs it. The practice and tradition of meditation dates back thousands of years having appeared in many eastern traditions. Meditation’s ancient roots cloud its origins from being attributed to a sole inventor or religion, though Bon, Hindu, Shinto, Dao, and later, Buddhism are responsible for its development. Its practice has permeated almost all major world religions, but under different names. It has become a practice without borders, influencing millions with its tranquil and healing effects.
In this paper two topic from the Psychology and Spirituality course will be discussed in regards to spirituality and their influence on my personal life. I will examine how I have grown and what I have learned from the week on Spring Lake ranch and how I wish to continue moving forward in my attempt to be spiritual and build a closer relationship to God.
Walsh, K., King, M., Jones, L., Tookman, A., & Blizard, R., (2002). Spiritual beliefs may
However, the primary energy for this type of interactive neurological function is always formed under the authority of God as the Creator. In this context, the flow of the soul/spirits is created by God, which then allows the brain to receive this energy through the pineal gland (brown, 2006, p.37). This is an important argument that shows the duality of God’s omnipotence and the soul’s energy as it flows into the brain and creates the mind. These are the vital characteristics of interactive dualism of the mind and body that occur in the brain of a human being. This type of interactive dualism defines a sensible aspect of brain function and the mysterious “energy” of the soul/spirit that enters the mind and forms a
Loffredo, Joseph A. Jr. (2000, March). Spiritualist Basics. The Spiritualist Religion Page, 1-16. Retrieved November 1, 2004, from www.geocites.com.
Newberg, A., Alavi, A., Baime, M., Pourdehnad, M., Santanna, J., & D'Aquili, E. (2001). The measurement of regional cerebral blood flow during the complex cognitive task of meditation: A preliminary SPECT study. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 106(2), 113-122.
The most fundamental concept of spirituality is that there is a transcendent dimension to life, something or someone beyond our own ego and sense of experience. The experience of connection ...
Ricard, M., Lutz, A., & Davidson, R. J. (2014). mind of the meditator. Scientific American, 311(5), 38-45.
The brain is a complex machine capable of performing a multitude of tasks. More than that, it is also able to grow and develop. Amongst the many activities that aid in the enhancement of the abilities of the brain, many do not recognize that the effortless act of solemnly focusing on one’s own mind and sensations can actually enhance cognitive function; moreover, it can also boost physical and mental health. Accordingly, meditation has been confirmed to provide a wide range of benefits. By calming your thoughts now and then, you may notice improvements in the way you carry out particular tasks. With regular practice, this act of attaining a certain state of awareness through deep concentration