The Spiritual Dimensions of Healing Rituals in Ancient Mesopotamia.
Amar Annus
Journal of Religion and Health October 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-019-00964-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Humans Spiritual therapies Ceremonial behavior Physician-patient relations History, ancient Spiritual experiences Ancient mesopotamia Decentring mechanism Healing incantations Incubation rituals |
| Key points | Argues that the formal structure of the Marduk-Ea incantation, used in Mesopotamian exorcistic healing for almost 3,000 years, enabled religious and spiritual experiences in both healer and patient, generating a positive psychosocial context that facilitated placebo effects, and that this structure stimulates prefrontal cortex mechanisms promoting executive functions and placebo responsiveness. |
Abstract
The spell formula called the Marduk-Ea incantation from ancient Mesopotamia is unique in history of medicine due to its documented use of almost 3000 years. The incantation was recited in exorcistic healing rituals. The formal structure of the spell is studied from the point of view of neuroscience of doctor-patient relationship and in the context of the decentring mechanism of religious experiences. The incantation structure is also analysed for decentring phenomenology in dreams. The structure of this incantation enables religious and spiritual experiences to occur both to healer and patient. These experiences generated a positive psychosocial context and facilitated placebo effects. The incantation structure is bound to stimulate brain mechanisms in prefrontal cortex that promote both executive functions and placebo responsiveness.