“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
- Maya Angelou
Spirituality in practice
Spirituality research
Below are a range of resources on the types of research being undertaken and the tools available for use.
Spirituality research articles top^
Can Positive Thoughts Help Heal Another Person?
An article reporting new research on the power of prayer and positive thinking.
NPR website, Barbara Bradley Hagerty, linked 08/16
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104351710
Does Science Make Belief in God Obsolete?
Thirteen views on this question, hosted by the John Templeton Foundation. These essays collected in the pdf booklet were coordinated and edited by Dr. Michael Shermer.
JTF website, linked 08/16
http://www.templeton.org/belief/essays/essays.pdf
Healing as an Interfaith Practice
The author asks, "Are Science and the Spirit Interwoven?".
An interesting article on the possible connection between prayer/positive thoughts and healing.
TIO website, by Francis Geddes, linked 08/16
http://theinterfaithobserver.org/journal-articles/2012/7/15/healing-as-an-interfaith-practice.html
Prayer May Reshape Your Brain and Your Reality
An easy-to-read article on the new science of neurotheology demonstrating that prayer and meditation may rewrite neural connections in the brain — and how you see the world.
NPR website, Barbara Bradley Hagerty, linked 08/16
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104310443
Science and Spirituality Should Be Friends
Chopra suggests in his article that "two trends in spirituality and science have started to converge":
1. to seek God outside the church
2. a growing interest by scientists in questions about consciousness
CNN website, By Deepak Chopra, Feb 15, 2011, linked 08/16
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/15/my-take-science-and-spirituality-should-be-friends/?hpt=C1
Spirituality in Higher Education
Reports on UCLA's ongoing national study of college students' search for meaning and purpose.
Website, linked 08/16
http://spirituality.ucla.edu/
Spirituality research institutes top^
Center for Spirituality and the Mind
Established at the University of Pennsylvania, its purpose is to develop, organize, and coordinate research, scholarship, education, and dialogue, both locally and globally, that focuses on the relationship between spirituality and the brain.
Website, linked 08/16
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/apr06/CSM.htm
Spiritual Science Research Foundation
Provides a platform for seekers to understand and practice the science of spirituality, with particular emphasis on using ESP to investigate the fourth (time) and fifth (space) dimensions.
Website, linked 08/16
http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/