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#356 - Brain Scientist: God, Religion, Consciousness & What Happens When We Die | John Vervaeke

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Dec 19, 2025

Guest

John Vervaeke

John Vervaeke, a cognitive scientist and philosopher from the University of Toronto, dives deep into the meaning crisis and consciousness. He explores the transformative power of flow states and how they can lead to mystical experiences. Vervaeke discusses the interplay between AI and human relationships, warning against emotional dependencies on machines. He also examines grief's role in shaping our understanding of mortality and connection to reality. Lastly, the conversation touches on life's meaning and the fascinating origins of death-and-rebirth myths.

02:46:13

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insights

INSIGHT

Continuum From Fluency To Mystical Experience

Cognition sits on a continuum from fluency to insight, flow, and mystical experience, with each stage amplifying fittedness to reality.
Mystical experiences can be understood as domain-general flow that transform people by improving their relevance-realization and behaviour.

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ANECDOTE

Tai Chi Changed His Academic Presence

John practiced Tai Chi intensely in grad school and colleagues noticed he became more balanced and flexible in argumentation.
The embodied practice transferred into his academic interactions without deliberate effort.

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ADVICE

Cultivate Transferable Flow Skills

Train attention, orientation, and connectedness as domain-general skills to access flow across life domains.
Practice rituals (e.g., Tai Chi) that scaffold transferable flow so insights transfer into everyday behaviour.

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John's Religious Upbringing and Path to Cognitive Science

01:06 • 4min

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Relationship with Jordan Peterson and Academia Tension

Cognitive Continuum: Fluency to Mystical Experience

17:20 • 4min

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Flow State: Adaptation, Transfer, and Video Games

21:05 • 4min

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Training Intuition and Experimental Contexts

Mystical Experiences: Placebo, Cognition, and Reality Fit

33:36 • 4min

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Evolutionary Purpose of Flow and Intuition

37:42 • 18min

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AI, Biometric Harvesting, and Privacy Risks

55:27 • 13sec

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Personalized 'N-of-1' AI to Enhance Agency

AI Relationships, Grief Tech, and Ethical Concerns

01:04:07 • 10min

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Grief, Mortality, and the Value of Loss

01:13:41 • 11min

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Meaning, Resonance, and Why Immortality Fails

01:24:53 • 14min

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Origins of Death-and-Rebirth Myths and Sensed Presences

01:39:20 • 9min

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Dreams, Wake-Sleep Algorithms, and Predictive Learning

01:48:08 • 8min

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Parapsychology, Precognition, and Methodological Cautions

01:56:34 • 13min

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Consciousness: Function, Phenomenology, and Relevance

02:09:26 • 16min

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Why Humans Have High Consciousness and Moral Roles

02:25:20 • 19min

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Resources: Courses, YouTube Series, and Lectern

How We Know What Isn't So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life

Robin Hogarth

Thomas Gilovich

Thomas Gilovich examines why humans form questionable beliefs through research and examples of cognitive biases that distort perceptions, such as seeing patterns in randomness, misinterpreting incomplete data, and favoring confirming evidence. The book highlights pitfalls like post-hoc reasoning, the illusion of validity, and the influence of motives on belief, offering heuristics like considering sources, trusting facts over projections, and seeking disconfirming evidence to improve reasoning.

#32643

From Flow to Mystical Experience

Hussein Bakalou

Daniel Melling

John Vervaeke

This work examines the relationship between flow states and mystical experiences, proposing a continuum that progresses from enhanced fluency to insight, then to flow, and ultimately to mystical experience. The paper argues that mystical experiences represent a form of 'superflow' achieved through mastery of attention and orientation skills, where individuals experience a profound sense of connection and unity with reality that is often described as ineffable and transformative.

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A Deeper Understanding of Meaning and the Meaning Crisis

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In "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis," John Vervaeke explores the pervasive sense of meaninglessness in modern society. He delves into the cognitive and philosophical roots of this crisis, examining how our understanding of the world contributes to feelings of emptiness and disconnection. Vervaeke offers a framework for understanding meaning, proposing that it's not a singular entity but a multifaceted concept encompassing purpose, significance, and mattering. He challenges readers to re-evaluate their values and find meaning in their lives through self-reflection and engagement with the world. The book provides a blend of philosophical insights and scientific research, offering a comprehensive approach to navigating the meaning crisis.

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Resonance

A Sociology of Our Relationship to the World

Hartmut Rosa

In this book, Hartmut Rosa argues that the acceleration of modern life has not led to greater happiness or contentment. Instead, he proposes that the quality of human life should be measured by our 'resonance' with the world. Rosa applies his theory of resonance across various domains of human activity, including family, politics, work, sports, religion, and art. He contends that modern society's crises, such as environmental, democratic, and psychological crises, can be understood through the lens of resonance and our distorted relationship to the world. The book emphasizes the importance of forming meaningful, unpredictable, and uncontrollable connections with the world, highlighting the concept of alterity and the need to embrace the world's mystery and elusiveness.

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Lord of Light

Roger Zelazny

Roger Zelazny's "Lord of Light" is a science fantasy novel that reimagines Hindu mythology in a futuristic setting. The story follows a group of immortal beings who have colonized a planet and established a society based on their interpretations of ancient scriptures. The novel explores themes of power, religion, and the nature of immortality. Zelazny's writing style is characterized by its wit, intelligence, and philosophical depth. The book is considered a significant work in the science fantasy genre, appreciated for its imaginative world-building and exploration of complex themes.

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The third man factor

Surviving the Impossible

John Geiger

The Third Man Factor explores the phenomenon where individuals under extreme duress, such as adventurers, explorers, and survivors of traumatic events, report sensing an unseen presence that offers hope, protection, and guidance. This book, based on six years of physiological, psychological, and historical research, includes compelling stories from survivors like Ron DiFrancesco, Ernest Shackleton, and Jerry Linenger. It delves into the explanations for this phenomenon, ranging from hallucination to divine intervention, and presents recent neurological research findings.

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Solaris

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Solaris, written by Stanisław Lem, follows psychologist Kris Kelvin as he arrives at a research station above the planet Solaris. The planet is covered by a living ocean that has the ability to create physical manifestations of the scientists' repressed memories. Kelvin's arrival is prompted by a cryptic message from his former mentor, Gibarian, and he finds the station in disarray. The ocean's responses to human experiments lead to the materialization of 'visitors,' including Kelvin's deceased lover, Rheya. The novel explores themes of human limitations, the impossibility of mutual communication with alien intelligence, and the psychological impacts on the scientists. It is a thoughtful and philosophical work that challenges the conventional science fiction narratives of alien contact and communication.

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A history of the world in 10 1/2 chapters

Julian Barnes

A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters is a grandly ambitious and inventive work of fiction by Julian Barnes. The book consists of 13 short stories that span across various periods of human history, from the voyage of Noah's Ark to a sneak preview of heaven. It includes tales of a cruise ship hijacked by terrorists, woodworms tried for blasphemy in medieval France, and an astronaut searching for the remains of Noah's Ark. The stories explore the relationship between fact and fabulation, history and love, and are linked by recurring themes and characters, such as the woodworms who serve as a metaphor for decay and the erosion of historical understanding.

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The Art of Memoir

Mary Karr

In 'The Art of Memoir', Mary Karr synthesizes her expertise as a professor, writer, and spiritual seeker to provide a comprehensive guide on the art and mechanics of memoir writing. The book is anchored by excerpts from her favorite memoirs and anecdotes from fellow writers, offering practical advice on truthfulness, voice, and the structure of memoirs. Karr emphasizes the importance of honesty, the democratic nature of memoir writing, and the cathartic power of reflecting on the past. She critiques several influential memoirs, including works by Richard Wright, Vladimir Nabokov, and Maya Angelou, and provides valuable tips for aspiring memoirists on how to stage their stories effectively.

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Uncontrollability of the World

James Wagner

Hartmut Rosa

In this book, Hartmut Rosa argues that modern society's relentless pursuit of control and predictability has led to a distorted relationship with the world. Rosa posits that the most profound connections arise from embracing the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of life, which he terms 'resonance'. He examines how this concept affects various aspects of human life, including family, work, politics, and religion, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and preserving the inherent uncontrollability of the world.

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Presence

Amy Cuddy

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Plato's Republic

Plato

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The worm at the core

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The Worm at the Core, co-authored by Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, and Tom Pyszczynski, delves into the profound impact of death anxiety on human actions. Drawing from extensive research, it reveals how the fear of mortality shapes our pursuit of self-esteem and cultural values, and offers insights into leading more meaningful lives. The book builds upon terror management theory, which posits that humans cope with death awareness by seeking significance and stability through cultural and personal beliefs.

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John Vervaeke, PhD is a philosopher and cognitive scientist. He is an associate professor and award-winning lecturer at the University of Toronto, teaching in the Department of Psychology. His work and research is far-ranging, including topics such as human intelligence, rationality, wisdom, and AI.