How God Changes Your Brain: An Introduction to Jewish Neurotheology

When we think about the relationship between the brain and Judaism there are many possibilities to explore, ranging from the practical to the esoteric. Over the past twenty years there has been a growing development in this field, which some have referred to as neurotheology. Broadly speaking, neurotheology is a multidisciplinary field of study that seeks to understand the relationship specifically between the brain and theology, and more broadly between the mind and religion. Neurotheology is not a scientific attempt to explain away religion and is also not an attempt to relegate science to an extension of religion. Neurotheology ideally is a “two-way street” in which science and religion can mutually inform each other. Thus, neurotheology can provide a new perspective to old questions. It does not replace current theological or doctrinal concepts but rather provides a different perspective that integrates the best of what science can offer with what religion and spirituality offer. Importantly, this integrated approach can show that science and religion need not be at odds with each other. In fact, neurotheology can be an important intersection for science and religion. The goals of this paper are to show how science and religion may be compatible, to demonstrate some evidence regarding the impact of religion on the brain, and to show how neurotheology can provide new perspectives on Jewish thought and liturgy. In my recent book, Principles of Neurotheology (Ashgate, 2010), I began by emphasizing the importance of adequate definitions for a variety of terms related to religion. For example, even the terms, religion