Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation 123 Why We Gather: The Neuroscience Behind Corporate Worship (with Dr. Joshua Cockanye)
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Jul 10, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Dr. Joshua Cockayne, Director of the Bede Centre for Church Planting Theology, explores the depths of corporate worship. He challenges the view that worship is mere information transfer or emotional manipulation. Instead, he highlights how joint attention in communal worship shapes spiritual experiences and fosters deep connections. The conversation also dives into attachment theory and cognitive-emotional interplay, emphasizing how collective worship enhances community bonds and individual transformation.
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Worship Shapes Desires and Beliefs
- James K. Smith reveals worship is not mainly about learning facts but about shaping desires and habits.
- Humans are driven equally by desires and beliefs, not just by cognition.
Cognition and Affect Are Intertwined
- The distinction between cognition and affect is artificial; they develop intertwined from infancy.
- Implicit cognition shapes us below the surface and cannot be separated from our desires or emotions.
Driving Shows Implicit Cognition
- Learning to drive a manual car illustrates implicit cognition at work as routines become automatic.
- Actions rely on cognitive processes below conscious awareness, not just explicit thought.
