Dr. Andrew Newberg, director of research in nuclear medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania, and coauthor of Why God
Won't Go Away, is one of the world's foremost experts in
the study of mystical states and the mind. His research seeks
to uncover the physical correlates—if any actually
exist—between spiritual experiences and measurable changes
within the brain itself. Employing an arsenal of advanced
imaging technologies, Dr. Newberg maps the changing neurological
landscape of his test subjects while they engage in prayer,
meditation, and other religious and spiritual activities.
Dr. Newberg's goal is not simply to find quantifiable counterparts
to subjective experience. He recognizes that science alone may
not be able to answer questions such as: Does the experience of
emptiness produce an observable effect in the brain? If it
does, does some particular area of the brain “house”
this profound meditative experience? What are the implications
for how we think about consciousness and the mind if the
ecstatic realization of God doesn't stem from the brain at all?
Dr. Newberg himself acknowledges that “individuals have
that kind of experience where they go outside of the brain to
take a glimpse of ultimate reality.”
In this intriguing interview with WIE senior editor
Craig Hamilton, Dr. Newberg discusses the results of his
research and speaks about why he advocates a more integrated
approach to the study and pursuit of science and spirituality.
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