Neuroscience involves physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, psychology, and many other disciplines. Spirituality involves dimensions of human life that relate to the way people experience, express, or seek meaning, purpose and transcendence. Spirituality includes the way we connect to the moment, to ourselves, to others, to nature, or the sacred.
The correlation of our spiritual and emotional lives with the neuroscience of our bodies and brains is the core of spiritual neuroscience. Love, joy, peace, and kindness coursing through our bodies not only provide meaning and purpose, but also profound benefit to our overall health and well-being.
According to the National Academy of Medicine, “Medical care is estimated to account for only 10-20 percent of the modifiable contributors to healthy outcomes for a population. The other 80-90 percent are sometimes broadly called the social determinants of health: health related behaviors, socioeconomic factors and environmental factors.” If we act in love by overcoming hate of our differences, we will map a better, healthier, and more prosperous future for all of us.
This site is maintained by Bryan Spoon, a Board Certified Chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains. His Bachelor of Arts degree in theology from Georgetown University concentrated in comparative and critical study of various religious views. His Master of Divinity is from Virginia Theological Seminary. He holds a certificate in Muslim-Christian Dialogue from the Washington Theological Consortium and is also a Roothbert Fellow. After many years serving as a hospital chaplain, he is now currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Aberdeen.
He is the author of Neuroscience and the Fruit of the Spirit. You can also see him as a featured participant in the Episcopal Church’s Embracing Evangelism six-part digital course. He also maintains the website www.neurotheology.info with neuroscience resources to support and inspire the Christian community. Above all, he is a strong and vocal advocate that amid our spiritual differences, we all have much to learn and share with one another.
