Studies in Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality

Transcription

1 Studies in Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality Volume 4 Series Editors Harald Walach, European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany Stefan Schmidt, University Medical Center, Freiburg and European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany Editorial Board Jonathon Schooler University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA Mario Beauregard University of Arizone, Tucson, USA Robert Forman The Forge Institute, USA B. Alan Wallace Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies, CA, USA

2 More information about this series at

3 Harald Walach Secular Spirituality The Next Step Towards Enlightenment

4 Harald Walach European University Viadrina Frankfurt, Germany ISSN ISSN (electronic) ISBN ISBN (ebook) DOI / Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London Library of Congress Control Number: Translation from the German language edition: Spiritualität. Warum wir die Aufklärung weiterführen müssen by Harald Walach, Drachen Verlag All rights reserved Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher s location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (

5 Contents 1 Introduction... 1 References Clarifications and Presuppositions Experience Spirituality Spiritual Experience Religious Experience Religion Religiosity Faith Doctrine, Dogma God Spiritual Practice, Meditation/Contemplation, Prayer References The Historical Framework: Enlightenment, Science, and the Difficulties with the Notion of God The Development of the Natural Sciences and the Notion of Experience Roger Bacon Hugh of Balma and the Development of Inner Piety and Private Mysticism Inner Experience in Theology: Thomas Aquinas and Meister Eckhart Inner Experience in the Beginning of Modern Psychology Dogma, Doctrine and Experience Doctrine, Enlightenment, Science Scientism References v

6 vi Contents 4 Spirituality, Taboo, and Opportunity for Science The Question of the Reality of Consciousness Idealism Materialism Dualism Complementarity The Question of Epistemology: Inner Experience as an Access Route to Reality Again: Franz Brentano The Question of Ontology: Inner Experience of Reality References Secular, Non-dogmatic Spirituality The Importance of Consciousness and Different States of Consciousness Collective Culture or Lack of Culture of Consciousness Neurobiology and Physiology of Concentration and Relaxation Psychoneuroimmunology and the Physiology of Stress Stress, Workload Demand and Exertion Neurobiology and the Physiology of Regeneration Recuperation, Relaxation, Concentration and Collection Spiritual Practice Daily Psychological Hygiene Neurobiology of Meditation and a Selection of Empirical Findings Theoretical Considerations Psychology of Meditation and of Spiritual Practice Phases References Distortions, Dangers, Further Considerations Nazism and Spirituality Esotericism Rationalism, Enlightenment Light, and a Broader View of Rationality Potential Dangers Narcissism References

7 Contents vii 7 Getting on with Enlightenment: The Necessity of a Secular Non-dogmatic Spirituality The Crisis of Meaning and the Danger of Fundamentalism Thinking in Isolated Entities and the Climate and Energy Crisis The Threat to Peace and the Peace Between Religions The Problem of Misery and Poverty and the Distribution of Goods The Production of Knowledge That Is Subservient to Life and the Problem of Guiding the Scientific Process The Importance of Values and the Problem of a Lack of Commitment The Problem of Division and the Unity of the World Dogmatic Abstinence in Order To Serve Life References Index