Biotheology

Biotheology, also known as neurotheology, is a field of scientific study that analyzes the biological basis of spirituality. This deals with the neurological, evolutionary, and psychological structures for cognitive experiences traditionally categorized as spiritual, such as feeling that time, fear and self-consciousness have dissolved, spiritual awe, oneness with the universe, ecstatic trance, sudden enlightenment and other altered states of consciousness which are the basis for many religious beliefs and behaviors.

See also

• Neuroscience
• Zen and the Brain (MIT Press)

References

• Matthew Alper. The "God" Part of the Brain: A Scientific Interpretation of Human Spirituality and God (http://www.godpart.com/)
• James H. Austin. Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness (http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=3236)
• Andrew Newberg, Eugene G. D'Aquili and Vince Rause. Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief. ISBN 0345440331

External Links

• Your Brain on Religion: Mystic visions or brain circuits at work? (http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/neuro/neuronewswk.htm) (Newsweek Neurotheology Article, May 2001) Recommended
• Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics (http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/neuro/neurotheology.htm) Neurotheology resource directory

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