Mysticism, Sufism, and Neurotheology: Bridging Spirituality and Modern Science
Muhamad Atamimi
Jurnal Iman dan Spiritualitas November 24, 2025 DOI: 10.15575/jis.v5i4.48225 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Spirituality Sufism Spiritual development Spiritual practice Constructive Revelation Religious experience Epistemology Bridging networking Islam Religious philosophy Praxis Soul |
| Key findings | Sufi practices are associated with specific neurological activities, including prefrontal cortex activation, increased theta waves, and decreased default mode network activity. |
Abstract
This article examines the integration of mysticism, spirituality, Sufism, and neurotheology as a means to bridge the spiritual and biological dimensions of human religious experience. Mysticism is interpreted as the pinnacle of transrational religious experience, while spirituality is viewed as a progressive development of ethical and inner consciousness. Sufism, as the mystical path of Islam, offers a structured and practical framework of spiritual ascent through concepts such as maqamat (stations), ahwal (states), dhikr (remembrance), and fana’ (ego dissolution). This study employs a qualitative approach, utilising a literature review and philosophical-interpretive content analysis, to examine classical Sufi texts and contemporary neuroscientific research. The findings suggest that Sufi practices are associated with specific neurological activities, including activation of the prefrontal cortex, increased theta waves, and decreased activity in the default mode network. The integration of Sufism and neurotheology supports the development of transdisciplinary models in spiritual education and psychological therapy, while maintaining epistemological boundaries and the depth of spiritual meaning. This article contributes to the interdisciplinary discourse of religious studies, opening up space for a constructive dialogue between revelation and science.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative and Quantitative Features of Music Reported to Support Peak Mystical Experiences during Psychedelic Therapy Sessions Individuals with extensive experience administering psilocybin or psilocybin-containing... | 2017 | Survey and qualitative/quantitative analysis | n = 10 |
| Common Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns | 2011 | Mixed-methods study | n = 139 |
| Do Drugs Have Religious Import? A 40-Year Retrospective | 2004 | Interview | |
| Narratives of the mystical among users of psychedelics Psychedelic drug users | 2021 | Qualitative study | n = 50 |
| Auras in mysticism and synaesthesia: a comparison. Synaesthetes who experience colors in response to human faces and figures | 2012 | Qualitative study | n = 4 |