Science & Health Benefits of Belief in God & Religion | Dr. David DeSteno

My guest is Dr. David DeSteno, PhD, a professor of psychology at Northeastern University. We discuss science, God and religion, including what science can and can’t reveal about the existence of God and where religious faith and science do and do not align. We also discuss why questions about life’s origins, miracles and the afterlife have persisted across time. Dr. DeSteno explains how religious rituals cause meaningful improvements in mental and physical health and how prayer and gratitude can markedly reduce stress, increase honesty and compassion and buffer against loneliness and despair. Finally, we explore what distinguishes religions and mission-based communities from cults, and we discuss the role that communities such as 12-step and Burning Man play in modern life. 00:00:00 David DeSteno 00:02:10 Science & Belief in God, Does God Exist? 00:07:06 Universe Origins & Scientific Questions; Religion & Life/Health Benefits 00:15:16 Sponsors: Our Place & LMNT 00:18:23 Russell's Teapot, “Overbelief”, Faith; Religio-prospecting, Traditional Practices 00:26:49 Mediation & Compassion, Prayer & Stress Relief, Tools: Meditation, Prayer 00:34:40 Superstition, Prayers & Rituals; Mourning Rituals, Eulogies, Shiva, Connection 00:43:58 Grieving & Different Religious Traditions 00:47:15 Sponsors: AG1 & Eight Sleep 00:50:12 God vs Religion?; Prayer, Community, Religious Rituals & Ideals 00:56:17 Psychedelics, Ego Death, Right vs Left-Handed Roots 01:01:24 Good & Evil; Lies & Cheating; Gratitude & Prayer 01:11:03 Loneliness, Community & Religion, Relationship with God & “3AM Friend” 01:16:25 Sponsor: Function 01:18:12 Feeling God; Intelligent Design, Evolution, Eye; Awe 01:25:21 Overwhelm & Spiritual Experiences, Awe Despite Understanding 01:31:01 Fear of Death, Afterlife, Tool: Contemplating Death 01:37:11 Time Perception, Connectedness, Traditional Practices 01:42:53 Addiction; 12-Step Programs & Surrender to a Higher Power 01:49:02 New Religions, Burning Man, Modern Spiritual Experiences, Cults 01:58:06 Cults vs Religions, Religious Interpretation & Reorientation 02:03:56 AI, Technology, Religion & Intelligence; Religious “Branding” 02:11:05 Religion Figures & Flaws, Direct Experience of God 02:15:13 Finding a Belief System, Embracing Religious Practices, Tool: Sampling Religions 02:21:40 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter