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.
Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/wXf7nNR
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*Dr. David DeSteno*
Website: https://davedesteno.com
Northeastern University academic profile: https://cos.northeastern.edu/people/david-desteno
How God Works (book): https://amzn.to/4njja27
How God Works (Podcast): https://www.howgodworks.org
Books: https://amzn.to/3HRWIhh
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=N-kiWT4AAAAJ
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-desteno-016ab6110
*Timestamps*
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
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