Neuroscience, Selflessness, and Spiritual Experience

"It is a rare treat to see a neuroscientist collaborate with a humanities religious studies scholar at the depth evident in this marvelous book. No matter what happens to religion in a secularizing world, spiritual experiences of selflessness and transcendence are a basic part of the human condition. Fortunately for all of us, experts such as Johnstone and Cohen can help us make sense of them." -- Wesley J. Wildman, Ph.D., Boston University and the Center for Mind and Culture, author of Religious and Spiritual Experiences (Cambridge University Press).

 "Neuroscience, Selflessness, and Spiritual Experience: Explaining the Science of Transcendence is a far-reaching scientific collection on transcendent experiences. Incorporating insights from neuroscience, neuropsychology and faith traditions, this inspiring book offers thoughtful, engaging, and multidisciplinary perspectives on a fundamental aspect of human life such as spiritual transcendence". -- Cristiano Crescentini, PhD, Department of Languages, Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Italy

"This interesting book is a fine example of meaningful cooperation between the humanities and natural sciences. Contrary to many attempts to find dedicated religious modules of the brain, this sober and enlightening analysis focuses on the religious experiences of selflessness and transcendence, not as an explanatory magic bullet, but as an entranceway into the otherwise complex neural correlates of human experience in general." -- Armin W. Geertz, Prof. Emeritus, Study of Religion, Aarhus University

"The outstanding accomplishment of this wonderfully researched book is that it flows perfectly for believers, non-believers, neuroscientists and those with a general scientific curiosity. The authors are so adept at presenting findings that this book can be read in one sitting while equally serving as a reference book that one will turn to often. Brick  Johnstone and Daniel Cohen have put together a masterpiece of science as there is finally  an authoritative book on a topic that has proved elusive. This fast-paced and comprehensive book is a must have for any cognitive neuroscientist or any person interested in knowing what can be argued is the most interesting facet of brain research." -- Julian Paul Keenan, PhD, Director of the Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Professor of Biology, Professor of Psychology, Montclair State University

"Neuroscience, Selflessness, and Spiritual Experience is a rare and remarkable book that transcends disciplinary boundaries. It is a stunning accomplishment and I recommend it for anyone interested in religious experience. Johnstone and Cohen’s clear style and exceptional scholarship shine through on every page. It is one thing to advocate for collaboration between the sciences and humanities; it is quite another to produce a volume that not only builds the science-humanities bridge, but regularly traverses it. This type of work is precisely how the study of religion needs to move forward and it is clear that Johnstone and Cohen are well-positioned to lead the way." -- Richard Sosis, James Barnett Professor of Humanistic Anthropology, University of Connecticut

"Johnstone and Cohen’s book presents a neuropsychological model of spirituality and self-processing
by integrating numerous findings from multiple disciplines for a better understanding of the
relationship between spirituality and the self. It covers extensive research findings from conceptual,
social, cultural, and psychological perspectives." --  Heekyeong Park (2019) Neuroscience, Selflessness, and Spiritual Experience: Explaining the Science of Transcendence, The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, DOI: 10.1080/10508619.2019.1707613