Ten Percent Happier
November 15, 2021

#397. How to Benefit From Religion, Even as a Nonbeliever | David DeSteno

Dr. David DeSteno has embarked on a project he calls “religio-prospecting.” In other words, he has been looking at the scientific evidence that many ancient religious traditions can confer all sorts of benefits, whether you’re a believer or not. He points out that many secular people practice mindfulness, even if they’re not Buddhists. His question is - what’s the next mindfulness?

David DeSteno is a professor of psychology at Northeastern University, where he directs the Social Emotions Group, and the author of a new book called How God Works: The Science Behind the Benefits of Religion. This episode explores David’s desire to study the benefits of religious practice in a scientific way and the evidence behind such practices as: sitting shiva, gratitude, the Apache sunrise ceremony, and Japanese Shinto rituals around childbirth. 

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Where to find David DeSteno online: 

Website

The Social Emotions Lab

How God Works podcast, on Apple podcasts

Social Media:

Book Mentioned:

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