Andrew Newberg, MD, is author or coauthor of Born To Believe, Kundalini Rising: Exploring the Energy of Awakening, How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain, How God Changes Your Brain, Neurotheology, Principles of Neurotheology, The Metaphysical Mind, The Rabbi's Brain, Why God Won't Go Away, and Words Can Change Your Brain.

Andrew Newberg, MD, is author or coauthor of Born To Believe, Kundalini Rising: Exploring the Energy of Awakening, How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain, How God Changes Your Brain, Neurotheology, Principles of Neurotheology, The Metaphysical Mind, The Rabbi's Brain, Why God Won't Go Away, and Words Can Change Your Brain.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Batgap/permalink/2478493942376391/ Also see https://batgap.com/andrew-newberg/ Andrew B. Newberg, M.D. is currently the Associate Director in Charge of Research at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital in Philadelphia.

Give yourself the gift of knowledge - subscribe to Big Think Edge: http://bit.ly/bigthinkedge If you're interested in licensing this or any other Big Think clip for commercial or private use, contact our licensing partner Executive Interviews: https://www.executiveinterviews.biz/rightsholders/bigthink/ Enlightenment is a traditionally mystical and slippery concept, but when it is subjected to the rigors of empirical analysis, there is a lot to be learned about our brains and ourselves.

Give yourself the gift of knowledge - subscribe to Big Think Edge: http://bit.ly/bigthinkedge If you're interested in licensing this or any other Big Think clip for commercial or private use, contact our licensing partner Executive Interviews: https://www.executiveinterviews.biz/rightsholders/bigthink/ http://bigthink.com/ The question as to whether or not we are hardwired for religion and spirituality is an important one, says pioneering neuroscientist Andrew Newberg.