How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality

Faith has always been a strong force in human history – but in modern times, it may feel antiquated to have it. This is an episode of the How to Be a Better Human podcast in which Dave talks about his research exploring questions of faith, his findings, and why we shouldn’t leave spiritual wisdom behind, even in the age of science. Hosted by comedian Chris Duffy, How to Be a Better Human features conversations that uncover sharp insights and give clear takeaways on how you can improve your life.  From your work to your home and your head to your heart, How to Be a Better Human looks in unexpected places for new ways to improve and show up for one another.If you liked this episode, you can find How to Be a Better Human wherever you get your podcasts

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy. But all too often, the darker, colder days of winter, and even the stress of preparing for the holidays themselves, can lead people to feel something else: rushed, stressed, lonely, or even hopeless. How can you make sure this year is bright? Science shows that there's a wisdom to parts of traditional winter celebrations – a wisdom that's been honed over centuries to help us all find light, joy, and connection during the darkest and coldest time of the year. Join Dave as he chats with Laurie Santos about how to unpack the psychological secrets of celebrations from Christmas, to Hanukkah, to Yule, and more. They’ll also discuss how we can put that wisdom into practice, whatever our beliefs, to make this season a happier and healthier one for all.Laurie Santos hosts the podcast The Happiness Lab and is a Professor of Psychology at Yale, where she teaches the most popular class in the university’s history. Learn more about her work at her website. 

Nicholas Kristof, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, dives into the power of hope during challenging times, sharing how he maintains optimism while covering tragic global events. Roshi Joan Halifax, an ecologist and founder of the Upaya Zen Center, discusses the Buddhist concept of 'wise hope' and its role in fostering compassion and resilience. They explore personal stories of understanding amidst conflict and highlight how community and empathy can help us navigate despair, making a case for hope as a choice we can all embrace.

Lots of religions embrace the idea of hell – a place of eternal punishment for wrong doers. But where did that idea come from? How has it changed through time? And how does a belief in it (or not) affect us while we’re alive? We’ll talk with Bart Ehrman about the history of beliefs in hell from ancient Mesopotamia through modern Christianity. And with Shadi Hamid about why he thinks it can be a good thing for people to believe in hell, and how that belief shapes our political and social lives.  Bart Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the author of Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife and Journeys to Heaven and Hell: Tours of the Afterlife in the Early Christian Tradition. Find out more about Bart’s work, including his many other writings about the New Testament and early Christianity, at his website.Shadi Hamid is a columnist at The Washington Post, a research professor of Islamic studies at Fuller Seminary, and the author, most recently, of The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea.

People have been having Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) all over the world for as long as we can look back into history. And the strange thing is… these experiences seem to have a lot in common. Why? Is it a look into the afterlife? Is it just our neurons firing in weird ways as the brain dies? We’ll talk to psychiatrist Bruce Greyson, one of the world’s leading experts on Near-Death Experiences, about the research that led him to rethink his understanding of the nature of life, death, and the continuity of consciousness. We’ll explore the science behind how these experiences can provide comfort, heal past trauma, and even create transcendent experiences that help us make as much sense of our lives as of impending death. And we’ll also consider the bigger question of what NDEs suggest, if anything, about our understanding of reality. Bruce Greyson, M.D. is the author of “After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life and Beyond.” Find out more about his book, and his over 45 years of experience researching NDEs, on his website. Here are links to the recordings of people you heard talking about their NDEs throughout the episode: Sharon Stone, Dr. Mary Neal, Renee Pasarow, Cherie Aimee, Jayne Smith.Here’s a video of Dr. Gregory Shushan talking about his research on NDEs in ancient religions. 

There’s no question we’re living in difficult times that lead many of us to adopt a cynical outlook. But while cynicism might feel smart, science shows it’s corrosive not only to our own wellbeing, but to society as a whole. We’ll talk to Stanford Professor of Psychology Jamil Zaki about the surprising benefits that a willingness to trust in the goodness of others can offer, and how to build this skill in a wise way through habits of mind and action.We’ll also speak with political writer Peter Wehner about how cynicism leads to the political division and discord so prominent in politics today, and how religion, when practiced in its best form, can help overcome it.Jamil Zaki is the author of the new book Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness, and the author of The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured Word. Find out more about his work on his website.   Peter Wehner is a contributing writer for The New York Times and The Atlantic who served in three Republican administrations. He is the author of The Death of Politics: How to Heal Our Frayed Republic After Trump and City of Man: Religion and Politics in a New Era.  

We spend a lot of time on How God Works talking about how spirituality can offer tools to become better versions of ourselves.  And while learning to be happier, healthier and more resilient are all positive things to strive for, they can also lead us down a different path - an obsession with productivity and self-optimization… which can lead to a culture of trying to grind or life-hack our way through everything.But what if the secret to success lies in doing less, not more? On this episode, we’ll explore the Chinese concept of wu wei, effortless action. We'll talk to Edward Slingerland about how modern cognitive science has proven many early Chinese thinkers right, why wu wei is still relevant today, and how learning how not to try can help us forge a different path toward the good life.Edward Slingerland is a professor of religion at the University of British Columbia and the author of Trying Not To Try: Ancient China, Modern Science and the Power of Spontaneity. Find out more about his work, and his other books, on his website.Other texts we’ve discussed during this episode include: -Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi-Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, by Immanuel Kant-The Analects or Sayings of Confucius, attributed to Confucius-The Tao Te Ching or Laozi, attributed to Laozi-The Mencius, attributed to Mencius

Daniel Pink, best-selling author of "The Power of Regret," discusses how regret shapes our decisions and can lead to personal growth. Sharon Salzberg, a renowned Buddhist teacher, shares insights on mindfulness and self-compassion as tools for moving beyond regret. Together, they explore regret's dual nature—how it can teach us valuable lessons while also being painful. They emphasize the importance of acknowledging our feelings and offer practical techniques, including a guided meditation, to help listeners embrace new beginnings.

Elizabeth Oldfield, an author and host of The Sacred podcast, reinterprets Christianity's seven deadly sins as tools for self-reflection rather than shame. She discusses how these concepts can enhance personal growth and foster connections in a modern context. Exploring the relevance of wrath and contempt, she highlights the importance of empathy and compassion across diverse groups. The conversation includes the challenges of distraction and materialism, emphasizing gratitude and ethical living as pathways to genuine fulfillment.

Join us for Season 7 of How God Works, starting next week!