Episode 37: Talking About Neurotheology with Bryan Spoon

Sense of Mind Podcast Episode 37: Talking About Neurotheology with Bryan Spoon Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/jsZp_9ILcbI In this episode I’m talking about neurotheology with Bryan Spoon, who is a pastor, chaplain, and neuroscience YouTuber who runs the channel @Neurotheology. “Neurotheology” is the branch of neuroscience that seeks to understand the relationship between the human brain and religion. I loved having this conversation with Bryan. Even though we differ on our religious views (I’m an atheist and he’s a Christian pastor), we had a fruitful and amicable discussion about neuroscience, mindfulness, spirituality, and the many approaches to living a good and satisfying life. Bryan Spoon, is a Board Certified Chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains.  He is also an ordained priest within the Episcopal Church, currently serving with his wife Elisabeth in Mexico City.  After serving as a chaplain in three level one trauma hospital centers, he is now currently a doctoral candidate in practical theology at the University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability. He is the author of “Neuroscience and the Fruit of the Spirit,” host of the website spiritualneuroscience.com which focuses on the correlation of neuroscience with spirituality from scholarly, research, and diverse faith backgrounds, as well as host of the website christianneuroscience.com which features top-rated and diverse Christian neuroscience resources.  He is a strong and vocal advocate that amid our spiritual differences, we all have much to learn and share with one another. Check out Bryan’s Channel @Neurotheology (https://www.youtube.com/c/Neurotheologyinfo) And the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Neurotheology-Spiritual-Neuroscience-107193668087188 -- Chapters: 00:00 Talking About Neurotheology with Bryan Spoon 00:33 Bryan’s background and interest in neurotheology 03:41 What is the fruit of the spirit? 08:01 What is spirituality? 13:21 LSD, psilocybin, and neurotheology 15:59 Cherokee two wolves story 20:48 Truth and Goodness 25:27 The vagus nerve and wellbeing 31:02 How to heal our political divisions 42:11 The neuroscience of prejudice 48:30 What is faith? 01:01:50 Does free will exist? 01:10:00 What is the most important quality of mind? 01:15:08 Neurotheology book recommendations from Bryan Spoon -- Connect, Follow, Subscribe and Support Sense of Mind! Linktree: https://linktr.ee/senseofmind Support: https://anchor.fm/senseofmind/support Subscribe to the Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC610T-s8gpOVDtAVXTZ35FQ?sub_confirmation=1 Website: www.Senseofmindshow.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/senseofmind/support