This coming Monday a new podcast will drop that will be one of three podcast which deal with the importance of adolescent religious experiences. It may very well be that popular reasoning that suggest religious experiences are only emotionally driven and not useful to today's post-modern or post-truth world is scientifically wrong. What do you think? Why are so many practitioners in church ignoring, downplaying, any type of religious experiences when the scientific community is suggesting just the opposite? Are we leading by our feelings where cultural relevance proceeds Biblical relevance? Are we ashamed of a God who designed us to be touched by emotions? Do we die on the altar of Descartes? Or do we let modern science lead us to adjust our strategies for developing faith in adolescents? We will explore these questions and more in the upcoming three podcast series: Lethal Faith and Religious Experiences. What do you think?
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The Crucial Importance of Adolescent Religious Experiences
The Crucial Importance of Adolescent Religious Experiences
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Dear Jonathan,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write. The information you are referring to is in the book NeuroTheology from Dr. Andrew Newberg. He is a leading Neurologist at the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the leading expert of neurological religious experiences. I am currently fascinated with his work. So sorry that it has taken me awhile to respond, my father came down with Covid-19 and the rest is history. However, the Lord has been gracious and he is doing well! If I can answer anymore questions, please let me know!
Hi! I was listening to this weeks podcast, Religious Experiences Pt. 2, and around the 13:15 marker you all had made an interesting point. you said that our brains are wired so that if we think God is angry at us our brains are designed to run away from Him, but if we think God is good our brain is designed to run towards Him. You referenced something about how there has been a perceptible difference in the brain operation of atheists and Christians in this regard. Where could I read more on this? I think that our perceptions of God, and how our churches shape our people’s perceptions of God is vitally important. I had recently lead a study at our church going through a book called Distorted Images of God by Dale and Juanita Ryan that dealt with perceptions of God. I can see the exciting implications of brain functions changing based on our understanding of God, and how understanding in what way the brain reacts differently to negative perceptions of God would also help us to understand what psychologically needs to be presented or done for people in order to make them more open to the gospel. I enjoy listening and appreciate the ministry you all do. Thanks!