Born to Believe: God, Science, and the Origin of Ordinary and Extraordinary Beliefs

by Andrew B. Newberg, Mark Robert Waldman

Born to Believe was previously published in hardcover as Why We Believe What We Believe .

Prayer...meditation...speaking in tongues. What do these spiritual activities share and how do they differ? Why do some people believe in God, while others embrace atheism? From the ordinary to the extraordinary, beliefs give meaning to the mysteries of life. They motivate us, provide us with our individual uniqueness, and ultimately change the structure and function of our brains.

In Born to Believe , Andrew Newberg, MD, and Mark Waldman reveal -- for the very first time -- how our complex views, memories, superstitions, morals, and beliefs are created by the neural activities of the brain. Supported by groundbreaking original research, they explain how our brains construct our deepest convictions and fondest assumptions about reality and the world around us. Using science, psychology, and religion, the authors offer recommendations for exercising your brain in order to develop a more life-affirming, flexible range of attitudes. Knowing how the brain builds meaning, value, spirituality, and truth into your life will change forever the way you look at yourself and the world.

Genres: Religion, Science, Nonfiction, Psychology, Spirituality, Philosophy, Faith

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2006

About the author

Dr. Andrew Newberg is Director of Research at the Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Medical College. He is also Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He is Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Nuclear Medicine. He is considered a pioneer in the neuroscientific study of religious and spiritual experiences, a field frequently referred to as – neurotheology. His work attempts to better understand the nature of religious and spiritual practices and experiences. This has been compiled into his latest book, Principles of Neurotheology, which reviews the important principles and foundations of neurotheology. Believing that it is important to keep science rigorous and religion religious, he has engaged the topic like few others. He has been fascinated by the implications of this research for the study of the mind, brain, consciousness, morality, theology, and philosophy. He has also been particularly interested in the relationship between the brain, religion, and health. His research has included brain scans of people in prayer, meditation, rituals, and various trance states. He has also performed surveys of people's spiritual experiences and attitudes. Finally, he has evaluated the relationship between religious and spiritual phenomena and health. This includes a recent study on the effect of meditation on memory.

In his career, he has also actively pursued neuroimaging research projects on the study of aging and dementia, Parkinson's disease, depression, and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. He has also researched the neurophysiological correlates of acupuncture, meditation, and alternative therapies, and how brain function is associated with mystical and religious experiences. Dr. Newberg helped develop stress-management programs for the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems and received a Science and Religion Course Award from the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences for his program entitled "The Biology of Spirituality" in the Department of Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania. He is currently teaching a course in the Department of Religious Studies entitled, “Science and the Sacred: An Introduction to Neurotheology.”

Dr. Newberg has published over 150 research articles, essays and book chapters, and is the co-author of the best selling books, Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief (Ballantine, 2001) and How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist (Ballantine, 2009). He has also published, Principles of Neurotheology (Ashgate, 2011) Why We Believe What We Believe (Ballantine, 2006), and The Mystical Mind (Fortress Press, 1999). He has presented his research throughout the world in both scientific and public forums. He appeared on Nightline, 20/20, Good Morning America, ABC's World News Tonight, National Public Radio, London Talk Radio and over fifteen nationally syndicated radio programs. His work has been featured in Time, Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and many other newspapers and magazines. An overview of his work can be viewed at on this site.

Reviews

[Muhammad Ridha Ar-Rasyid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku menarik mengenai pembuktian keimanan melalui perpektif neuroscience. Di satu sisi, penulis berhasil mengungkapkan sinyal-sinyal neuron yang bekerja ketika seseorang meyakini keberadaan Tuhan. Buku ini cukup membantu kita untuk membuat kita paham, bahwa keimanan memang didesain terpatri dalam tubuh kita.

[akhmad saputra syarif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku in menjelaskan bagaimana kita melihat agama menggunakan pendekatan sains. Keren ..

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever asked yourself, "How could they BELIEVE that???" I'm fascinated by the crazy-assed things intelligent people believe, and I've wondered about it my whole life (well, at least since I entered Catholic school in the third grade!).

Well, the newest research in neuropsychology and evolutionary biology is revealing amazing things about how we think...and why. There's a lot published on this subject, and I've perused a lot of it...this is an excellent explanation of what scientists currently understand about our minds. Very accessible, very interesting.

[Kimberly White]

A more balanced summary of current research on brains and belief. It was actually a summary of a lot of related issues, some of which were only tangentially related to belief and many of which were about actual religious experience (they did brain scans of people who were speaking in tongues, for example). The authors went to great pains to insist that they weren't trying to disprove God or religious experience, for which I respect and appreciate them. Nevertheless... I bet they weren't believers themselves.

[Jrobertus]

the first part is good, where he describes brain experiments on mystics and maps out a basis for the feeling of 'one with the universe' . later they get all religious and suggest our brains may have a portal to god. rather unscientific i thought.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even finish this book. The "science" in it was so sloppy.

[Mark Talley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book combining neuroscience and religion. That should be enough to intrigue you.

[nur'aini tri wahyuni · Rating 4 out of 5]

mau baca yang tipetipe begini lagi, deh :)