The Varieties of Spiritual Experience: 21st Century Research and Perspectives

by David B. Yaden, Andrew Newberg

Overview

A cutting-edge guide to the psychology and neuroscience of spiritual experiences

Spiritual experiences have occurred within people around the world and throughout history, up to and including the present day. The founders of every major religion described them, philosophers since antiquity have pondered them, and according to recent polls, about 30% of people still report them. A century ago, philosopher and psychologist William James famously analyzed accounts of these experiences and raised questions for future scientific study. What triggers these events? How are the brain and body affected? How do these brief moments have such lasting effects? Now, modern science has some answers.

This book invites readers into contemporary psychology and neuroscience laboratories around the world to learn about these elusive yet profound inner events. As it explores phenomena ranging from divine revelations to paranormal experiences to life-changing experiences of unity, findings from modern science are illustrated with a diverse set of personal accounts from believers and non-believers alike, plunging readers into deeply personal and sometimes transformative moments. Written by two renowned scientists in the field, this book is a deep exploration of the psychology and neuroscience of a range of profoundly meaningful experiences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190665678
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	09/01/2022
Pages:	440
Sales rank:	261,209
Product dimensions:	6.45(w) x 9.38(h) x 1.41(d)

About the Author

David B. Yaden, PhD is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. His research focus is on how brief inner experiences, or 'altered states of consciousness,' can have long-term positive impacts. He currently studies the subjective effects and treatment potential of psychedelics. His work has been featured in outlets such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, CNN, NPR, BBC, and The New York Times.

Andrew B. Newberg, MD is a Professor in the Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences and the Research Director at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University. He has published 12 books which have been translated into 17 different languages, including the best-selling books: How God Changes Your Brain and Why God Won't Go Away. He has appeared on Good Morning America, Nightline, CNN, and others. His work has also been featured in outlets such as Newsweek, Time, National Geographic, Discover, and The New York Times.

Table of Contents

PART I: THE SCIENCE OF ALTERED STATES
Chapter 1: Introduction: Toward a Science of Spiritual Experience for the 21st Century
Chapter 2: William James: A Study in Human Nature
Chapter 3: The Varieties: The Classic Text and its Impact
Chapter 4: The Psychology of Spiritual Experiences
Chapter 5: The Brain on Spiritual Experiences
Chapter 6: Origins: Triggers of Spiritual Experience
Chapter 7: The Pragmatic Principle: Positive and Pathological Experiences
PART II: THE VARIETIES
Chapter 8: Types of Spiritual Experience
Chapter 9: Numinous Experiences: Encountering Divinity
Chapter 10: Revelatory Experiences: Voices, Visions, and Epiphanies
Chapter 11: Synchronicity Experiences: “Everything happens for a reason”
Chapter 12: Mystical Experiences: Unity and Ego-Dissolution
Chapter 13: Aesthetic Experiences: Awe and the Sublime
Chapter 14: Paranormal Experiences: Ghosts, Angels, and Other Entities
PART III: CONSIDERATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Chapter 15: Interpretations and Integration of the Experience
Chapter 16: Beliefs Reprise: Philosophical Reflections
Chapter 17: Transformations
Chapter 18: Clinical Applications
Chapter 19: Consciousness and Altered States
Chapter 20: Conclusion: Ever not Quite

Editorial Reviews

"Their [Yaden and Newberg] sensible and sensitive work should sit comfortably on the shelf next to James's." — Daniel Burke, The Washington Post

"The most important book on the science of religion in my lifetime." — Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Author of Learned Optimism and Authentic Happiness

"If you have the slightest curiosity about the spiritual dimensions of life and death, and if you value an approach that explores the outer reaches of mystical experience, yet never pretends to know what we don't yet know, this is the book for you." — Susan Cain, NY Times Bestselling Author of Quiet and Bittersweet

"This comprehensive and much needed book covers the latest science of psychedelics, spirituality, and altered states of consciousness in general. You will learn about the most cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience on these mental states while reading personal stories from people who have been fundamentally transformed by their visits to some of the most fascinating depths of human experience. I highly recommend this groundbreaking book!" — Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., Author of Transcend and Host of The Psychology Podcast

"What David Yaden and Andrew Newberg have done through their painstaking research is to provide the world with a 21st Century James. Like James, they are respectful of their subjects' experiences and careful not to pronounce judgments on the psychological and numinous worlds they inhabit. This book will become a classic." — Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister of Australia, Author of The Avoidable War?

"In the scientific project of demystifying mysticism, Yaden and Newberg are the undisputed heirs to the legendary research of William James. The authors deftly plumb the caverns of neuroscience, psychology, pharmacology, philosophy, and religious studies to usher the nebulous world of spiritual experience into the spotlight of 21st-century academic discourse. An encyclopedic feat that transcends disciplinary boundaries, and sets the stage for a bold new era of inquiry." — Brian C. Muraresku, Author of The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name

"This scholarly update of William James' seminal book, Varieties of Religious Experience, will be of great value to those interested in investigating the causes and enduring effects of sacred and secular spiritual experiences through a scientific lens." — Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., The Oliver Lee McCabe, III Professor in the Neuropsychopharmacology of Consciousness, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

"David Yaden and Andrew Newberg have produced a book that will bring you wonder, inspiration, and awe. It is for our 21st century what William James's Varieties book was for the 20th century: a comprehensive, open minded, rigorous exploration of human spiritual life" — Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology UC Berkeley, Author of The Power Paradox

"In this interdisciplinary study written for a general audience, the authors' declared aim is "to carry forward James's insights and fill in some of the empirical gaps of his speculations with decades of scientific work on spiritual experiences"." — Arthur Holder, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, Theological Studies 84(2)

"In this interdisciplinary study written for a general audience, the authors' declared aim is "to carry forward James's insights and fill in some of the empirical gaps of his speculations with decades of scientific work on spiritual experiences"." — Arthur Holder, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, Theological Studies 84(2)

"David Bryce Yaden and Andrew B. Newberg bring the field squarely into the modern day with The Varieties of Spiritual Experience: 21st Century Research and Perspectives...this book will offer you a deep well of thought and research to further your study and future questions that will hopefully lead to another book like this before the next century." — John W. Hall, PhD

"The authors present a rich variety of perspectives from psychology and religious studies, and they draw from multiple culture... They enlighten our understanding of James at the same time as they update it, placing his work in the context of current psychological and neuroscientific research. In doing this with a highly accessible book, they have done us all a great favor." — Michael E. Nielsen, The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion

"David B. Yaden and Andrew B. Newberg's The Varieties of Spiritual Experience: 21st Century Research and Perspectives engages thoughtfully with this science-and-spirituality nexus, considering the processes and psychological outcomes associated with an array of inner phenomena grouped under the umbrella of the "spiritual." The book reflects on the decades-long project of neurotheology in which Newberg was a founding figure, and takes up James's speculations about a science of religion with simultaneous modesty and ambition." — Alicia Puglionesi, H-Sci-Med-Tech

"The title summarizes the ambitious goal of the book: establishing a foundational work for the twenty-first-century study of spiritual experiences...the book would be a perfect read for scholars from psychology and neuroscience and for scholars and graduate students from medicine, religious studies, philosophy, pharmacology, anthropology, and psychiatry." — Zsuzsanna Szugyiczki, Religious Studies Review

"David B Yaden and Andrew B Newberg have written a seminal book that will be of high interest to mental health clinicians and researchers, pastoral counselors and caregivers, clergy, theologians, and philosophers." — Charles D.Mayer, Anglican Theological Review 103

"The Varieties of Spiritual Experience is a broad entree into contemporary research on spiritual experience and is a good go-to,...It would fit well in an undergraduate/graduate religious studies course as well as in a theory and methods class." — Benjamin Crace, Nova Religio vol 27.2

"The book is a fascinating tribute to one of the founding figures of the psychology of religion and an appeal to link it to contemporary scientific research." — Theology 127

From the Publisher