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. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank
you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Our Place:
https://fromourplace.com/huberman LMNT:
https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Eight Sleep:
https://eightsleep.com/huberman Function:
https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00) David
DeSteno (02:10) Science & Belief in God, Does God Exist?
(07:06) Universe Origins & Scientific Questions; Religion &
Life/Health Benefits (15:16) Sponsors: Our Place & LMNT (18:23)
Russell's Teapot, Overbelief, Faith; Religio-prospecting,
Traditional Practices (26:49) Mediation & Compassion, Prayer
& Stress Relief, Tools: Meditation, Prayer (34:40)
Superstition, Prayers & Rituals; Mourning Rituals, Eulogies,
Shiva, Connection (43:58) Grieving & Different Religious
Traditions (47:15) Sponsors: AG1 & Eight Sleep (50:12) God vs
Religion?; Prayer, Community, Religious Rituals & Ideals
(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
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