The neuroscience of religious experience / Patrick McNamara.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McNamara, Patrick, 1956- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Psychology, Religious.

Evolutionary psychology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvi, 301 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Technical advances in the life and medical sciences have revolutionised our understanding of the brain, while the emerging disciplines of social, cognitive, and affective neuroscience continue to reveal the connections of the higher cognitive functions and emotional states associated with religious experience to underlying brain states. At the same time, a host of developing theories in psychology and anthropology posit evolutionary explanations for the ubiquity and persistence of religious beliefs and the reports of religious experiences across human cultures, while gesturing toward physical bases for these behaviours. What is missing from this literature is a strong voice speaking to these behavioural and social scientists - as well as to the intellectually curious in the religious studies community - from the perspective of a brain scientist.

Contents:

God and the self

On the self and the divided self

Mechanisms and dynamics of decentering

Neurology of the self

Neurology of religious experiences

Neurochemistry of religiosity

Self-transformation as a key function of performance of religious practices

Self-transformation through spirit possession

God concepts

Religious language

Ritual

Lifespan development of religiosity and the self

The evolution of self and religion.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0-511-69943-3

1-107-20125-X

1-107-42801-7

1-282-31802-0

9786612318023

0-511-60462-9

0-511-60522-6

0-511-60384-3

0-511-60492-0

0-511-60306-1

OCLC:

609845785