[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.16,0:00:12.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is your brain on God.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.96,0:00:14.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.52,0:00:18.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a graduate student\Nhere at the University of Utah,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.72,0:00:22.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my team and I had the opportunity\Nto look inside the brains
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.28,0:00:26.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of believing Latter-day Saints,\Nalso known as Mormons,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.86,0:00:29.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they were praying,\Nreading scriptures
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.41,0:00:33.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and watching videos\Nof the religious leaders' teaching.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.95,0:00:39.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Being based in Salt Lake City, Utah,\NMormons are not in short supply.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.42,0:00:40.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.94,0:00:45.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We recruited through the Deseret News,\Nthe LDS Church-owned newspaper,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.74,0:00:48.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and invited devout members\Nof the religious community
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.45,0:00:51.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to participate in psychometric testing
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.58,0:00:54.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and functional magnetic\Nresonance imaging,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.60,0:00:56.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or fMRI.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.95,0:01:01.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fMRI is a wonderful scientific tool.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.67,0:01:06.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It allows us to measure tiny fluctuations\Nin oxygenated blood flow
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.60,0:01:09.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that correspond\Nto neural changes in activity.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.04,0:01:13.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While our participants were\Ninside of the scanner,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.98,0:01:16.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they had a button box\Nattached to their chest
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.75,0:01:20.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that they could press a button\Nand indicate to us in real-time
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.95,0:01:23.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they were feeling the Spirit.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.17,0:01:25.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a cultural phenomenon
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.99,0:01:28.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's a central, epistemological event
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.92,0:01:32.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,significant to the truth claims\Nof the Mormon religion.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.68,0:01:38.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we observed was\Nthat across all task conditions,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.28,0:01:41.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the three areas of the brain
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.21,0:01:44.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that consistently demonstrated\Nelevated activity
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.78,0:01:48.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were the frontal attention regions,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.38,0:01:51.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the medial prefrontal cortex
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.03,0:01:54.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the nucleus accumbens -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.98,0:01:56.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an area of the brain
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.44,0:02:00.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with an enriched supply\Nof the reward molecule, dopamine.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.39,0:02:06.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Far from just being a high tech blobology,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.64,0:02:11.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this Trinity of neural regions\Nsketches what we can reasonably label
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.56,0:02:15.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the neuro spiritual\Nsystem of Mormonism.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.12,0:02:21.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The implications are profound,\Nboth for culture and for the brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.87,0:02:25.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the first questions\Nthat comes to mind for me is,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.95,0:02:29.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Does this neuro spiritual\Nsystem from Mormonism
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.39,0:02:33.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,map into the brains of religious\Nindividuals from other faith traditions
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.42,0:02:37.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they are having\Npeak, ecstatic religious experiences?"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.92,0:02:41.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So many of the world's\Nspiritual traditions
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.88,0:02:46.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,report profound feelings of oneness\Nwith a transcendent source,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.42,0:02:51.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,often accompanied by an\Nincreased charitable disposition.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.65,0:02:56.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Could it be that these cultural variations
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.10,0:02:59.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are all being supported\Nby a common core of brain networks?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.16,0:03:05.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For the first time in the history\Nof contemplative philosophy
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.04,0:03:06.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the sciences of the mind,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.25,0:03:12.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can answer these questions empirically\Nby skillfully measuring brain activity
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.24,0:03:18.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with more temporal and spatial precision\Nthan we've ever been able to do
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.25,0:03:21.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even in the recent past of neuroscience.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.90,0:03:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is an exciting time\Nto be a brain researcher.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.43,0:03:28.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's talk about the word\N"God" for a moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.76,0:03:31.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a simple three-letter word in English,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.34,0:03:37.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yet this one word is so powerful,\Nlinguistically and psychologically,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.95,0:03:41.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it is used to invoke\Nmilitary courage,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.38,0:03:44.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to promote feelings of nationalism,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.61,0:03:48.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even to justify war and atrocity.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.25,0:03:55.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The hypothetical omission of this one word\Nby a president of the United States,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.36,0:03:59.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the failure to simply say\N"God bless America,"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.14,0:04:03.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would likely cause their public\Napproval ratings to plummet.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.18,0:04:07.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whatever your metaphysical beliefs are,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.37,0:04:13.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the literal fact is that the trajectories\Nof lives and nations
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.36,0:04:16.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,swing on the hinge\Nof this one word:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.07,0:04:18.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"God."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.22,0:04:24.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To think about God, either\Nthrough construction or negation,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.35,0:04:27.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have to deploy abstract reasoning.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.45,0:04:31.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The very principles\Nthat are intrinsically bound up
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.41,0:04:34.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in any conceivable definition\Nof the word "God"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.15,0:04:38.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,include elements\Nof mystery and unknowing.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.58,0:04:42.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These very types of abstract principles
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.59,0:04:47.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are precisely what land us\Nin the prefrontal cortex of the brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.04,0:04:51.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have to step back and think\Nabout this sometimes,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.02,0:04:54.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we have inside the bones of our head
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.61,0:04:56.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an electrical piece of meat
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.21,0:04:58.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.26,0:05:03.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's generating abstract ideas\Nabout divine nature.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.79,0:05:10.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The nucleus accumbens is located\Na little bit lower in the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.88,0:05:12.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a region called the subcortex.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.78,0:05:17.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The subcortex is more ancient\Nthan the prefrontal cortex
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.45,0:05:21.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in terms of the evolutionary\Ntime spans for its development.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.06,0:05:25.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The nucleus accumbens\Nis the brains' pleasure center.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.06,0:05:30.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It helps positively reinforce\Nenvironments and behaviors
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.64,0:05:32.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are rewarding to you
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.03,0:05:34.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that are beneficial to you.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.00,0:05:38.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have to smile when I think\Nabout how in the New Testament,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.61,0:05:41.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when Jesus describes heavenly rewards,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.78,0:05:47.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are illuminating the biological\Nembodiment of these ancient metaphors.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.29,0:05:53.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When our study participants were\Ninstructed to think about a savior,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.39,0:05:57.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about being with their\Nfamilies for eternity,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.00,0:06:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in short, when they were thinking\Nabout their heavenly rewards
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.18,0:06:03.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they imagined them,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.82,0:06:07.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the brains and their\Nbodies physically respond.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.80,0:06:13.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A classic hymn in the religious\Nmovement of Joseph Smith
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.40,0:06:16.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,describes the Spirit of God\Nlike a fire burning.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.42,0:06:19.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you haven't ever felt it before,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.36,0:06:21.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's actually a wonderful warm glow.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.92,0:06:24.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It makes you want to do good and be good.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.85,0:06:27.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It may be the emotion
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.08,0:06:31.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that moral psychologist \NJonathan Hite refers to as elevation.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.78,0:06:36.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The frontal attention regions
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.45,0:06:39.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are probably acting in concert\Nwith the nucleus accumbens
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.87,0:06:44.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to amplify the phenomenal\Ncontent of this religious experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.03,0:06:48.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This so is an area where we will\Ncontinue to do extended research
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.75,0:06:52.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to better understand\Nthe dynamics of this neural system
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.80,0:06:55.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as it interacts with religious psychology.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.17,0:07:03.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In addition to the biology that supports\Necstatic religious experience,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.23,0:07:04.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we were also curious
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.47,0:07:08.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about how social behavior\Nis influenced by the brain on God.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.21,0:07:14.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One possibility that we considered\Nis that perhaps our study participants
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.58,0:07:18.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would demonstrate\Nan in-group authority bias
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.36,0:07:19.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they were asked to compare
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.77,0:07:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the teachings of their\Nown religious leaders
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.60,0:07:25.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the teachings\Nfrom other faith traditions.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.29,0:07:28.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We designed a spiritual quotation's task
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.24,0:07:32.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which participants were presented\Nwith a spiritual teaching,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.02,0:07:34.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and next to it,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.37,0:07:36.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a picture of the person\Nwho made the statement.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.51,0:07:40.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were then asked to rate\Nhow meaningful the teaching was
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.50,0:07:46.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also how strongly they felt\Nthe Spirit in response to that teaching.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.72,0:07:50.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sources for these teachings
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.63,0:07:53.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were either from an in-group\Nreligious authority figure,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.93,0:07:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the case of our study, \Nthose included two Mormon apostles,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.76,0:08:00.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Diederich Dorf and Jeffrey Holland,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.66,0:08:03.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the president of the LDS Church\Nat the time of the study,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.36,0:08:04.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thomas Monson.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.33,0:08:07.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The out-group religious figures
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.87,0:08:13.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,included Pope Francis,\NDesmond Tutu and Billy Graham,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.49,0:08:16.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,three non-Mormon Christian leaders.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.29,0:08:19.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because this was an experiment though,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.84,0:08:22.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we threw in a little bit of a twist.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.44,0:08:26.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It turns out that none of the teachings\Nwere from their attributed sources.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.82,0:08:27.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.05,0:08:33.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We collected quotations\Nfrom the writings of C.S. Lewis.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.85,0:08:36.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Cheers)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.06,0:08:45.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's sometimes referred to\Nin Mormonism as a 13th apostle.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.53,0:08:50.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We randomized these teachings\Nacross all of the trials.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.64,0:08:53.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we asked the participants\Nto rank how meaningful they were,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.82,0:08:55.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how strongly they felt the Spirit,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.88,0:08:58.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what we saw was so beautiful
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.77,0:09:01.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the point of view\Nof cognitive science.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.57,0:09:07.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Believing Mormons consistently\Nranked the teachings of their own leaders
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.60,0:09:11.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as more meaningful\Nand as more spiritually evocative
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.45,0:09:13.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the teachings\Nof out-group authority figures
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.19,0:09:17.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even though in reality,\Nthey were all from the same source.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.02,0:09:21.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To further explore the way
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.38,0:09:24.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that social behavior is influenced\Nby the brain on God,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.95,0:09:28.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we had our participants\Ncomplete this task twice:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.45,0:09:30.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,once at the beginning\Nof their study session,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.94,0:09:34.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a second time, following\Na 30-minute period of prayer,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.91,0:09:37.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of scripture study\Nand of religious devotion.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.05,0:09:41.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This now is the\Naudience-participation moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.87,0:09:43.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's always fun to see
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.32,0:09:48.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what people guess the effects of feeling\Nthe Spirit are on social judgments.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.38,0:09:50.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, option number one
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.80,0:09:54.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that after a 30-minute period\Nof prayer and scripture study
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.12,0:09:58.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that our participants became more biased\Nagainst out-group authority figures.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.69,0:10:02.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Option two is that they became\Nless biased and more generous.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.35,0:10:08.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And option three is that we saw no changes\Nin the behavior that we were observing.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.48,0:10:11.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now I want everybody to be really brave.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.40,0:10:12.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.55,0:10:15.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who thinks that option number one
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.92,0:10:17.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was what we saw?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.47,0:10:19.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.51,0:10:25.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who thinks that option number two,\Na decrease in the bias, is what we saw?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.82,0:10:28.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who thinks that option number three,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.59,0:10:32.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,held case that there was no change\Nin the behavior we observed?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.41,0:10:34.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And how about option four,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.78,0:10:38.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is that you're too nervous to\Nmake a guess about religion publicly?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.50,0:10:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.27,0:10:48.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we saw is that after a 30-minute\Nperiod of personal spiritual practice,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.41,0:10:53.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our study participants became\Nmore generous to the out-group.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.51,0:10:56.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They arranged their teachings\Nas more meaningful
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.95,0:11:00.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and reported to feel the Spirit\Nmore strongly from them
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.44,0:11:03.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than they had at the beginning\Nof the study session.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.91,0:11:06.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are several possible mechanisms
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.23,0:11:08.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that could be driving\Nthe behaviors that we observe.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.91,0:11:10.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's very likely, for example,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.70,0:11:13.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that principals from the psychology\Nof attachment theory
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.05,0:11:17.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are participating in this authority bias.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.53,0:11:22.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are also elements of classical\Nconditioning that might be at play here.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.50,0:11:25.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Biologically speaking,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.44,0:11:27.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when dopamine is released\Nthrough the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.91,0:11:31.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it may be driving an increase\Nin social openness.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.78,0:11:35.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As is most often the case in science,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.45,0:11:38.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the full story likely requires\Na complex map
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.08,0:11:41.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with multiple layers of explanation.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.91,0:11:46.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Religion, in my mind,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.45,0:11:49.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shows a lot of similar\Nfeatures with sex.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.01,0:11:53.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The majority of adults do it,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.58,0:11:57.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they say that it brings meaning\Nand pleasure into their lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.62,0:12:01.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in spite of strident advocates\Nfor abstinence only,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.48,0:12:04.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people are going to do it.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.14,0:12:05.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.74,0:12:09.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No matter how many people say,\N"Never be sexual,"
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.29,0:12:11.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,humans will be sexual.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.84,0:12:14.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No matter how many people say,\N"Never be religious,"
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.29,0:12:17.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,humans will be religious.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.09,0:12:22.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are behaviors that spring\Nfrom deep evolutionary needs.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.03,0:12:26.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I advocate is not for science\Nto focus its editorializing
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.94,0:12:30.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the eradication of religious behavior,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.17,0:12:32.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but rather, like safe sex,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.99,0:12:39.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on evidence-based best practices for\Nhow we can do religion safely and well.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.97,0:12:42.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Cheers) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.99,0:12:54.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine a renewed partnership\Nbetween the seminary and the academy
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.87,0:12:58.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to articulate intelligent safe theology.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.23,0:13:01.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It could do a lot of good\Nin a world that needs it.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.84,0:13:07.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We live in an exciting day\Nof rapidly accelerating discovery.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.70,0:13:13.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What that means is the formation\Nof radically disruptive ideas.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.17,0:13:19.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Interdisciplinary and convergent work\Nare exponentially driving the pace
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.06,0:13:22.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of our expanded self-understanding.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.99,0:13:25.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The hope that I would like\Nto convey to you
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.43,0:13:28.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that by launching into a new era
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.13,0:13:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of religious studies that incorporate\Nthe best tools of our scientific methods,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.30,0:13:37.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we may win the capacity to further\Nenlighten our respective cultures
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.85,0:13:42.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to refine our religious traditions\Nin ways that make them more worthy
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.83,0:13:46.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the divine nature\Nthat they claim to represent.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.99,0:13:49.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is your brain on God.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.53,0:13:52.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Any questions?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.46,0:13:54.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.58,0:14:00.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.