Neurotheology: Faith rites boost brains, even for atheists

Tom Heneghan's article on a book about the beneficial effects of the spiritual practices of the world faiths makes engaging reading.

The authors claim that there are benefits even for unbelievers, which would explain why adherents to non-theistic religions and people who do transcendental mediation can achieve what Christians would term 'peace of soul'.

I suppose Christians might want to claim that being able to focus lovingly on the person of the living Risen Jesus would in principle be more efficacious spiritually than just repeating a mantra, breathing rhythmically or concentrating on the unity of the universe. Of course the unbeliever might quite conceivably perform his or her exercises with greater intensity than the believer...

Or at greater length. '[T]he short prayers most believers say leave little trace on the brain because they are not as intense as meditation', reports Heneghan.

However the good news from the authors is that, "Even 10 to 15 minutes of meditation appear to have significantly positive effects on cognition, relaxation and psychological health".

Can you believe in Creation and Evolution

Our joint education project with the Origins Centre at Wits continues. We have already helped over 500 young people to understand that it is possible to believe in both Creation and Evolution. Encourage your children to ask their teachers to book. Bookings are now being taken for learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12 for Sept 6, 8, 10, 13, 15 or 17 (not August as previously announced). For more information contact Ms. Theresa Morgan at Origins on 011 717 4708.

Have you ever considered...

Would you like to do a 30-day individually-directed Retreat at the end of 2010?

attending our Winter Living Theology course?

The Jesuit Institute is offering
a retreat in the form of the full
Spiritual Exercises of
Saint Ignatius Loyola from
13-Nov to 18-Dec 2010 at the
brand new Mohale Rest and
Retreat Centre in Pretoria North.
The total cost is R14,000.
Read more...

This year’s lecturer will be Fr
Gerry O’Collins SJ, for over 30
years Professor of Fundamental
Theology in Rome and one of the
world’s most widely read
theologians. His subject will be
the ‘Many Faces of Jesus’.
Winter Living Theology will be
hosted in Jhb/Pta, Bloemfontein,
Cape Town and Durban.
Read more...

Latest Books from Institute members

Aids, Ancestors and Salvation: Local beliefs in Christian ministry to the sick

The Church and the Media

Vocations and what to do with them: Discerning Priestly and Religious Vocations

Aids, Ancestors and Salvation: Local beliefs in Christian ministry to the sick by Peter Knox SJ

The Church and the Media by Chris Chatteris SJ

Vocations and what to do with them: Discerning Priestly and Religious Vocations by Chris Chatteris SJ

Spiritual Direction in the African Context

With the help of a focus-group of experienced African spiritual directors, JISA is exploring the implications of this ministry in the African context.

Tsoseletsa

Tsoseletsa is one of the Jesuit Institute's spirituality programmes. It is a group-based parish retreat running two hours every evening for a week. The retreat is based on Ignatian spirituality and adapted to suit African people. The team which runs the retreat is trained in Ignatian spirituality. At present we offer four or five retreats per year.

Primary links

Sacred Space

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