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Quote by Andrew B. Newberg

“There is a built-in mechanism by which we respond fairly strongly and fairly negatively to somebody who is being negative or to somebody who is simply disagreeing with us, in which case it's a very unhappy position for our brain to be in. Our brain does not want us to be wrong. Because that has very dire consequences in terms of our overall survival.”

Author

Andrew B. Newberg

Andrew B. Newberg is a neuroscientist born in 1966. His research focuses on the impact of religious and spiritual practices on the human brain, particularly in areas such as meditation, prayer, and religious rituals. Newberg's work provides scientific insights into the role of the brain in religious and spiritual activities. more

“I think our brains does have a tendency to be true to its own ideas and statements. Everything we do and everything we think about is a belief. Until we get to the point where we look beyond our own ego-self, and to some degree beyond our own mind, we are always going to make assumptions and have beliefs to make our brains feel more comfortable. And if we can get to a point where we embrace that uncertainty and doubt, and be willing to learn from that and to explore that, I think that that could be a very positive experience.”

Thinking Mind Belief Brain Doubt Embrace Being True Uncertainty Assumption Very Positive

Author:Andrew B. Newberg

“The concept of God can be very interfering for some and very opening for others. There are many people who say it's not God, or a personal God, but it's an energy, it's a force, it's a unifying conceptualization of the universe. For some people it can be a very positive, and a beneficial way of looking at things. But then for others it can get in the way. It depends to a large extent on how one defines what God is especially if it becomes exclusive and a hate filling definition.”

People Hate Universe Energy Interfere Very Positive

Author:Andrew B. Newberg

“The thing that concerns me more than anything is when anybody becomes closed off and exclusive of other people's ideas. All of our brains are in the same mode of searching when trying to understand reality, and when we come to a belief system that makes sense to us we hold it strongly, whether it's an atheist view, or a Christian view, or a Muslim view, whatever, then it's very hard to let go and I think it's so important to try to foster dialogue.”

Thinking Trying Important Reality Christian Belief Brain Letting Go Concern Atheist Dialogue Make Sense

Author:Andrew B. Newberg

“You can use meditation, and prayer, and ritual to foster compassion, love, and inclusiveness, or you can use them to foster hatred, and exclusiveness, and anger. And it's really just a matter of what concepts, ideas you decide to focus on.”

Prayer Compassion Focus Meditation Hatred Ritual Using Me

Author:Andrew B. Newberg