Amongst the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) of the United States and Canada, a small number of neuroscience resources and references were found related to Hinduism and traditions of India. Bessel Van der Kolk’s book The Body Keeps the Score, endorsed and used as required reading in multiple ATS courses, advocates the use of yoga in the healing of trauma.[1]
The ATS accredited Loyola Marymount University (LMU) has a long-running course on Yoga Philosophy, which describes Yoga as:
a set of spiritual practices but in itself is not an institutionalized religion, per se. Hinduism is related to yoga through a common recognition of the Vedas as an authoritative source, and both Buddhism and Jainism share many of the core values of the yoga tradition. But Classical Yoga is best understood as a system of spiritual practice, rather than a particular religion.[2]
Sanjay Kumar was a professor of religions of India, Yoga studies and global healing traditions at LMU.[3] Another professor who reflects on neuroscience and Hinduism is Kelley Bulkeley, who states that his blog “draws much insight from all spheres of life, including astronomy, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, psychoanalysis, and much more.”[4]
[1] Van der Kolk’s inclusion of yoga is less about spiritual or religious relevance than it is advocated as a therapy to overcome traumatic stress through integration with the body.
[2] “Yoga Philosophy,” LMU, https://bellarmine.lmu.edu/yoga/academics/yogaphil/.
[3] “Syllabus Fall 2019 THST 3238,” LMU, 2019 course, https://www.coursehero.com/file/102588562/SYLLABUS-Fall-2019-THST-3238-MON-SECTIONpdf/; See also Johnston and Bauman, eds., Science and Religion, 2014.
[4] “About,” Kelly Bulkeley, https://kellybulkeley.org/about-kelly-bulkeley/.