Download or read book The Neuroscience of Spiritual Transformation written by Ephraim T. Gwebu and published by Ephraim T. Gwebu. This book was released on with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many Christians in the world live a life of contradictions. They are fully aware and thoroughly cognizant of what is expected of them and yet their practices do not reflect that. There is a need for spiritual transformation in these Christians. This book proposes that spiritual transformation has everything to do with our mind (brain function) control. It describes how a recently discovered brain phenomenon called neuroplasticity (brain malleability) can be harnessed to bring about spiritual transformation. The book identifies some incongruities (conflicts) in the life of a Christian. It then describes the brain as the pinnacle of God’s creation. Neurons (also called nerve cells) are the basic units of the brain. Neurons receive sensory input from the external world. For example, they send motor commands to our muscles to act, interpret what our ears hear and what our eyes see, and coordinate all the necessary functions of life. Their interactions define who we are as people created in the image of God. Neurons make this possible through a highly complex and sophisticated network (fibers) called neural pathways constituting what neuroscientist refer to as the NeuroverseTM; that is influenced by every thought we have, every challenge we encounter, every new perspective we become aware of, as well as every habit we develop.
Download or read book Anatomy of the Soul written by Curt Thompson and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2010 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do you want to improve your relationships and experience lasting personal change? Join Curt Thompson, M.D., on an amazing journey to discover the surprising pathways for transformation hidden inside your own mind. Integrating new findings in neuroscience and attachment with Christian spirituality, Dr. Thompson reveals how it is possible to rewire your mind, altering your brain patterns and literally making you more like the person God intended you to be. Explaining discoveries about the brain in layman’s terms, he shows how you can be mentally transformed through spiritual practices, interaction with Scripture, and connections with other people. He also provides practical exercises to help you experience healing in areas where you’ve been struggling. Insightful and challenging, "Anatomy of the Soul" illustrates how learning about one of God’s most miraculous creations—your brain—can enrich your life, your relationships, and your impact on the world around you.
Download or read book Changing your Mind written by Victor A. Copan and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2016-04-11 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book takes you on a journey that unpacks and demystifies what spiritual growth is and how it unfolds. The aim is to set you on your own path toward genuine, personal spiritual transformation. The book provides all the tools you need--biblical, scientific, and practical--so that you can develop your own pathway for spiritual growth. What is unique about Victor Copan's approach to spiritual growth is that he explores recent findings of brain research as well as scientific research on habit formation and brings them into conversation with the process of spiritual formation. Research on the brain and on habit formation has uncovered significant insights about the process and dynamics of human transformation that can be fruitfully incorporated into our own pursuit of spiritual transformation. Tapping into this research allows us to work in concert with how God designed humans to function--body, soul, and spirit.
Download or read book Renovated written by Jim Wilder and published by NavPress. This book was released on 2020-04-21 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christianity has tended to focus on right beliefs and right choices as the keys for personal growth. But biblical evidence and modern brain science show that our character is shaped more by whom we love than what we believe. Through conversations he had with Dallas Willard at the Heart & Soul Conference shortly before Dallas's death, Jim Wilder shows how we can train our brains to relate to God based on joyful, mutual attachment--which leads to emotional and spiritual maturity as our identity and character are formed by our relationship with God.
Download or read book How God Changes Your Brain written by Andrew Newberg, M.D. and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2010-03-23 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: God is great—for your mental, physical, and spiritual health. Based on new evidence culled from brain-scan studies, a wide-reaching survey of people’s religious and spiritual experiences, and the authors’ analyses of adult drawings of God, neuroscientist Andrew Newberg and therapist Mark Robert Waldman offer the following breakthrough discoveries: • Not only do prayer and spiritual practice reduce stress, but just twelve minutes of meditation per day may slow down the aging process. • Contemplating a loving God rather than a punitive God reduces anxiety and depression and increases feelings of security, compassion, and love. • Fundamentalism, in and of itself, can be personally beneficial, but the prejudice generated by extreme beliefs can permanently damage your brain. • Intense prayer and meditation permanently change numerous structures and functions in the brain, altering your values and the way you perceive reality. Both a revelatory work of modern science and a practical guide for readers to enhance their physical and emotional health, How God Changes Your Brain is a first-of-a-kind book about faith that is as credible as it is inspiring.
Download or read book The God Shaped Brain written by Timothy R. Jennings and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2017-04-18 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What you believe about God actually changes your brain. Psychiatrist Tim Jennings unveils how our brains and bodies thrive when we have a healthy understanding of who God is. This expanded edition now includes a study guide to help you discover how neuroscience and Scripture come together to bring healing and transformation to our lives.
Download or read book Your Faithful Brain Designed for so Much More written by Dr. Leonard Matheson and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2014-12-01 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do you want more out of life? In Your Faithful Brain, Dr. Matheson introduces several powerful brain capacities that can be harnessed through an active relationship with God. You can take advantage of these capacities by developing a “faithful brain”. Using more than four hundred recent neuroscientific references, Dr. Matheson makes the case for the life and teaching of Jesus as your optimal path to brain health and fitness. Dr. Matheson explains how to handle anxiety, depression, and trauma and move toward Jesus’ promise of “life to the full”. You will experience hope and joy and peace as you grow beyond your circumstances. Thought-provoking and exciting, Your Faithful Brain aligns neuroscience with the Biblical narrative of redemption. Faith and neuroscience belong together, because your spiritual and physical lives must be integrated to optimize health and longevity.
Download or read book The Physical Nature of Christian Life written by Warren S. Brown and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-06-18 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the implications of recent insights in modern neuroscience that attribute mental capacities often ascribed to a disembodied soul instead to the functions of the brain and body in collaboration with social experience. It explores how this insight changes the traditional "care of souls," encouraging more attention to fostering spiritual growth through a social and communal focus.
Download or read book Sustainable Faith written by Christine M. Mutch and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Current research indicates that well-intentioned practices and programs aimed at forming people into the image of Christ are not producing the intended results. One roadblock is the misunderstanding and lack of value placed on the role of emotion in the transformation process. The purpose of this dissertation is to present neuroscience research about the integral role of emotion in one's life, and suggest practical ways to capitalize on emotion to effect transformation. Chapter one describes the goals of spiritual formation, in contrast to current attitudes and practices of those inside and outside the church. It provides a basic introduction to the brain's emotional system and its significance for transformation. Chapter two reviews the biblical narrative to demonstrate God's plan for personal transformation and the restoration of all creation, as well as the holistic role that embodied humans have in the process. Chapter three explores historical trends, from the early church to contemporary times, for approaches to spiritual transformation. The ongoing shift in emphasis between head and heart is highlighted, as well as a review of individual and communal practices. Chapter four examines neuroscience research that demonstrates how one's individual emotions can be tapped into to capture one's attention, improve memory and decision-making, and motivate one toward action. Chapter five explains attachment theory, the foundation of all emotional connection, including one's capacity for emotional contagion and emotional regulation. Chapter six explains neural plasticity, emotional revision, and the power that relationships have to effect change in oneself, others, and one's relationship with God. Chapter seven synthesizes information in prior chapters, and suggests approaches to spiritual formation-- from the ancient to the newly fashioned-- that are informed by the neuroscience of emotion. The ultimate goal is to describe a practical way forward for those striving to follow Jesus in a long-lasting, life-impacting way.
Download or read book How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain written by Andrew Newberg and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-06-06 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The bestselling authors of How God Changes Your Brain reveal the neurological underpinnings of enlightenment, offering unique strategies to help readers experience its many benefits. In this original and groundbreaking book, Andrew Newberg, M.D., and Mark Robert Waldman turn their attention to the pinnacle of the human experience: enlightenment. Through his brain- scan studies on Brazilian psychic mediums, Sufi mystics, Buddhist meditators, Franciscan nuns, Pentecostals, and participants in secular spirituality rituals, Newberg has discovered the specific neurological mechanisms associated with the enlightenment experience--and how we might activate those circuits in our own brains. In his survey of more than one thousand people who have experienced enlightenment, Newberg has also discovered that in the aftermath they have had profound, positive life changes. Enlightenment offers us the possibility to become permanently less stress-prone, to break bad habits, to improve our collaboration and creativity skills, and to lead happier, more satisfying lives. Relaying the story of his own transformational experience as well as including the stories of others who try to describe an event that is truly indescribable, Newberg brings us a new paradigm for deep and lasting change.
Download or read book This Is Your Brain on Joy written by Earl Henslin and published by HarperChristian + ORM. This book was released on 2011-06-26 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “This Is Your Brain on Joy is a thoughtful, practical, life-changing book that will help you take advantage of the latest neuroscience research—combined with biblical insights—to bring more joy and love into your life.” —from the Foreword by Daniel G. Amen, MD Author and speaker for the PBS special Change Your Brain, Change Your Life What does your brain have to do with experiencing joy? A lot more than most of us realize. In this breakthrough book, Dr. Earl Henslin reveals how the study of brain imaging turned his practice of psychotherapy upside down—with remarkably positive results. He shares answers to puzzling questions, such as Why isn’t my faith in God enough to erase my blue moods? Why haven’t I been able to conquer my anger? Pray away my fear and worry? Why can’t I find freedom from secret obsessions and addictions? Using the Brain System Checklist, Dr. Henslin explains what happens to the 5 Mood Centers in the brain when any of those areas are out of balance. This is great news, especially for those tortured by the fear that something is fundamentally wrong with them when the problem actually lies between their ears. Read this practical, easy-to-understand, and often entertaining book, and you’ll know exactly how to nourish your mind, balance your brain, and help others do the same. After all, the capacity for joy is a terrible thing to waste.
Download or read book Spiritual Transformation and Healing written by Joan D. Koss-Chioino and published by Rowman Altamira. This book was released on 2006-05-12 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Joan D. Koss-Chioino and Philip Hefner's new volume is unique in exploring the meaning of spiritual transformation and healing with new research from a scientific perspective. An interdisciplinary group of contributors-anthropological, psychological, medical, theological, and biological scientists-investigate the role of religious communities and healing practitioners, with spiritual transformation as their medium of healing. Individual authors evaluate the meaning of spiritual transformations and the consequences for those who experience it; the contributions of indigenous healing systems; new frameworks for neurological and physiological correlates of transformative religious experiences; the support from neuroscience for the radical empathy and intersubjective exchange that takes place in healing practices; and evidence for universal elements of the healing process. This exciting new book will be an invaluable resource for those generally interested in the role of religion in society, across the sciences, social sciences, and all religious traditions. With a foreword by Solomon H. Katz.
Download or read book Relational Spirituality written by Todd W. Hall and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2021-05-25 with total page 317 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Human beings are fundamentally relational—we develop, heal, and grow through relationships. Integrating insights from psychology and theology, Todd W. Hall and M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall present a definitive model of spiritual transformation based on a relational paradigm, showing how transformation works practically in the context of relationships and community.
Download or read book The Neuroscience of Religious Experience written by Patrick McNamara and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2009-11-06 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Technical advances in the life and medical sciences have revolutionised our understanding of the brain, while the emerging disciplines of social, cognitive, and affective neuroscience continue to reveal the connections of the higher cognitive functions and emotional states associated with religious experience to underlying brain states. At the same time, a host of developing theories in psychology and anthropology posit evolutionary explanations for the ubiquity and persistence of religious beliefs and the reports of religious experiences across human cultures, while gesturing toward physical bases for these behaviours. What is missing from this literature is a strong voice speaking to these behavioural and social scientists - as well as to the intellectually curious in the religious studies community - from the perspective of a brain scientist.
Download or read book Healing the Hardware of the Soul written by Daniel Amen and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2008-09-16 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The author's approach to depression, anxiety, and obessesive-compulsive disorder demonstrates how to strengthen sections of the brain connected to spiritual well-being through exercise, meditation, and breathing techniques.
Download or read book The Awakened Brain written by Lisa Miller and published by Random House. This book was released on 2021-08-17 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A groundbreaking exploration of the neuroscience of spirituality and a bold new paradigm for health, healing, and resilience—from a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning researcher “A new revolution of health and well-being and a testament to, and celebration of, the power within.”—Deepak Chopra, MD Whether it’s meditation or a walk in nature, reading a sacred text or saying a prayer, there are many ways to tap into a heightened awareness of the world around you and your place in it. In The Awakened Brain, psychologist Dr. Lisa Miller shows you how. Weaving her own deeply personal journey of awakening with her groundbreaking research, Dr. Miller’s book reveals that humans are universally equipped with a capacity for spirituality, and that our brains become more resilient and robust as a result of it. For leaders in business and government, truth-seekers, parents, healers, educators, and any person confronting life’s biggest questions, The Awakened Brain combines cutting-edge science (from MRI studies to genetic research, epidemiology, and more) with on-the-ground application for people of all ages and from all walks of life, illuminating the surprising science of spirituality and how to engage it in our lives: • The awakened decision is the better decision. With an awakened perception, we are more creative, collaborative, ethical, and innovative. • The awakened brain is the healthier brain. An engaged spiritual life enhances grit, optimism, and resilience while providing insulation against addiction, trauma, and depression. • The awakened life is the inspired life. Loss, uncertainty, and even trauma are the gateways by which we are invited to move beyond merely coping with hardship to transcend into a life of renewal, healing, joy, and fulfillment. Absorbing, uplifting, and ultimately enlightening, The Awakened Brain is a conversation-starting saga of scientific discovery packed with counterintuitive findings and practical advice on concrete ways to access your innate spirituality and build a life of meaning and contribution.
Download or read book The Mind of God written by Dr. Jay Lombard and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2018-09-11 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For fans of Deepak Chopra, Rudy Tanzi, and Andrew Newberg. A renowned behavioral neurologist provides insights to some of the most curious spiritual questions we all face. Is there a God? It’s a question billions of people have asked since the dawn of time. You would think by now we’d have a satisfactory, universal answer. No such luck…Or maybe we do and we just need to look in the right place. For Dr. Jay Lombard that place is the brain, and more importantly the mind, that center of awareness and consciousness that creates reality. In The Mind of God, Dr. Lombard employs case studies from his own behavioral neurology practice to explore the spiritual conundrums that we all ask ourselves: What is the nature of God? Does my life have purpose? What's the meaning of our existence? Are we free? What happens to us when we die? For Lombard, these metaphysical questions are a jumping-off point for exploring the brain in search of the seat of the soul. It is neuroscience, the author contends, and how we and our brains interpret what’s going on around us that can lead us to a deeper and more fulfilling faith. Mixing his personal experiences in the medical field (including compelling cases such as the male patient who really thought he was pregnant and a woman who literally scared herself to death) along with his own visionary insight into spiritual experience, Lombard has much to tell us about the nature and power of belief—and what we can do to focus our beliefs in a positive direction. If you want to find more meaning in your life or are searching for a deeper understanding of why we believe what we believe, then this book can lead to an exciting transformation in the way you see and understand the world around you. With cutting-edge research and provocative case studies, renowned behavioral neurologist provides insights to some of the most curious spiritual questions of mortality.
