Let’s talk…Hardwired to God?

Neurotheology unites the mind, science and psychology with religious beliefs. There are several mechanisms that link spirituality with improved health. Love and compassion are positive emotions that makes your brain healthier. A recent study show that praying can, in some cases, increase antibodies against certain diseases. The question of how the brain might be “hardwired” for spirituality has cap-tured the interest of many investigators who have established careers in fi elds as different as neurology, theology, and neuroscience and birthed the new disci-pline of neurotheology.Numerous articles in Psychiatric Times, PsycNet and National Library of Medicine seem to agree with neurotheologians that the structure and function of the human brain predispose us to believe in God. They claim that the site of God’s biological substrate is the limbic system deep within the brain, which has long been considered to be the biological center for emotion. Rhawn Joseph, a prominent neurotheologist, goes a step further to suggest that the limbic system is dotted with “God neurons” and “God neurotransmitters (pathways).”Neurotheologians point to changes in functional MRI scans in these areas as research subjects (people) engage in religious prayer meditation. They reason that if thinking about God changes the way the brain works, there must be some inherent imperative to believe in God in the fi rst place. In making this connec-tion, neurotheologians are following the lead of neuroscientists who claim that changes seen in functional brain scans in persons who are happy, depressed, or obsessed demonstrate that these phenomena are brain driven. Some areas of the brain which stores our self-centeredness goes dark while praying and focusing on God. Bottom Line: We are wired to seek our Creator. Moral law resides inside each person awaiting how each individual responds. It seems a brain can be sculpted or shaped by what we choose to believe-and praying alters the brain in a posi-tive way.All this research reminds me of the numerous scriptures on renewing your mind each day. In Romans 12:2 “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect, will of God.” Fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around us, God brings out the best in us.Science now states that praying and mediating improves our brain and bodily functions. Therefore, the Bible command from God of praying each day seems to link good body and mind health while moving the soul into a closer and more precious loving and obedient relationship with our God and Savior. Psalms 139:14 NIV “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Scientists are learning what most of us already know!

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