Origins

Abstract

Abstract Where do spiritual experiences come from? There is, of course, a theological/philosophical level as well as a more practical level to this question. But as shown time and again in the preceding chapters of this book, the Jamesian approach of setting aside theological questions can be taken so as to instead focus on scientifically tractable subjects, such as the conditions that seem to make these experiences occur. This chapter describes how scientific research has established a number of circumstances, dispositions, mindsets, rituals, practices, psychoactive substances (such as psychedelics), and, perhaps in the near future, other neurotechnologies that make spiritual experiences more likely to occur.