The Transformative Potential of Religious, Spiritual, and Mystical Experiences

Michael Barros; Lola Schultz

Abstract

Religious, spiritual, and mystical experiences (RSMEs) hold the potential to bring about transformative changes in individuals, according to studies in the field of neuroscience. This essay explores the psychological and social effects of RSMEs, including the promotion of positive attitudes such as compassion, empathy, and altruism, and the modification of beliefs. Despite ongoing debates about their nature, whether they are sui generis or attributional phenomena or a combination of both, this essay adopts an integrated model. The transformative potential of RSMEs cannot be overlooked, and the recognition of their utility in this context is well warranted.

References

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[refR-2] scientific approaches to the phenomenon / neuropsicología de la experiencia religiosa. una revisión de distintas aproximaciones científicas al fenómeno. Estudios De Psicología, 40(2), 338–362. https://doi.org/10.1080/02109395.2019.1596373DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-3] Azari, N. P., Nickel, J., Wunderlich,G., Niedeggen, M., Hefter, H.,Tellmann, L., Herzog, H., Stoerig,P., Birnbacher, D., & Seitz, R. J.(2001). Neural correlates ofreligious experience. EuropeanJournal of Neuroscience, 13(8),1649–1652.https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0953-816x.2001.01527.xDOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] Barros, M. (2021). ON THECLAIMS OF JORDANPETERSON'S COMPLEXITYMANAGEMENT THEORY. SocialScience and Humanities Journal,5(10), 2364-2374.http://sshj.in/index.php/sshj/article/view/748/275Google Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Boczkowska, M. M., & Zię a, M.(2016). Preliminary study ofreligious, spiritual and mysticalexperiences. thematic analysis of oles Adult’s narratives. Current Issues in Personality Psychology, 3, 167–176. https://doi.org/10.5114/cipp.2016.61484DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] Czachesz stv n. 2017). Cognitivescience and the New Testament: Anew approach to early Christianresearch. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Czachesz, . 2013). Jesus’ religiousexperience in the gospels: Toward acognitive neuroscienceapproach. Jesus - Gestalt UndGestaltungen, 569–596.https://doi.org/10.13109/9783666593628.569DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Czachesz, I. (2015). Religiousexperience in mediterraneanantiquity: Introduction to the specialissue. Journal ofCognitive Historiography, 2(1),5–13. https://doi.org/10.1558/jch.v2i1.30984DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

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[refR-13] Jefsen, O. H., Elfving, B., Wegener,G., & Müller, H. K. (2020).Transcriptional regulation in the ratprefrontal cortex and hippocampusafter a single administration ofpsilocybin. Journal ofPsychopharmacology, 35(4), 483–493. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881120959614DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Kozasa, E. H., Lacerda, S. S.,Menezes, C., Wallace, B. A.,Radvany, J., Mello, L. E., & Sato, J.R. (2015). Effects of a 9-dayshamatha buddhist meditationretreat on attention, mindfulness andself-compassion in participants witha broad range of meditationexperience. Mindfulness, 6(6),1235–1241.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0385-8DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Peterson, J. B. (2013). THREEFORMS OF MEANING AND THEMANAGEMENT OFCOMPLEXITY. The Psychology ofMeaning (pp. 17). AmericanPsychological Association.10.2307/j.ctv1chrrc4.5DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Piedmont, R. L. (1999). Doesspirituality represent the sixth factorof personality? spiritualtranscendence and the five-factormodel. Journal of Personality, 67(6), 985–1013. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6494.00080DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] yysi inen lkka. 2004). Magic,miracles, and religion: A scientist's perspective. AltaMira Press.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Taves, A. (2008). Ascription,attribution, and cognition in thestudy of experiences deemedreligious. Religion, 38(2), 125–140.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.religion.2008.01.005DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Vaillant G. E. (2008). Positiveemotions, spirituality and thepractice of psychiatry. Mens sanamonographs, 6(1), 48–62.https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1229.36504DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-20] Vaillant G. E. (2013). Psychiatry,religion, positive emotions andspirituality. Asian journal ofpsychiatry, 6(6), 590–594.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2013.08.073DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

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[refR-22] narratives in the psychological study of religious experiences. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 20(4), 223–254. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2010.507666DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-23] Wintering, N.A., Yaden, D.B.,Conklin,C.J., Alizadeh, M., Mohamed,F.B., Zhong, L., Bowens, B.K., Monti, D., &Newberg, A.B. (2020). Effect of aOne-Week Spiritual Retreat onBrain Functional Connectivity: APreliminary Study. Religions.Google Scholar ↗

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