A critique of “Neurotheology” and an examination of spatial perception in mystical experience

A critique of d'Aquili and Newberg's neurotheology examines its modular view of mental processes and its claims about language, deafferentation, and autonomic and limbic arousal in mystical experience. Neurotheology asserts that a spatial perception of "unified undifferentiated oneness" reveals Absolute Unitary Being (AUB). Comparing this with Buddhist and Vedantic texts yields a phenomenological and neuropsychological description of a distinct mystical spatial perception across three traditions. The analysis concludes that neurotheology is overinclusive in equating all mystical experiences with AUB.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The "neurotheology" developed by d'Aquili and Newberg is critiqued, beginning with its modular conception of mental process and its understanding of the contribution of language, deafferentation, and autonomic and limbic arousal in mystical experience.Neurotheology makes claims about ultimate reality and the neuropsychological means of its realization.A spatial perception that conveys the sense of "unified undifferentiated oneness" reveals Absolute Unitary Being (AUB).The neurotheology of AUB is analyzed and compared with texts from the Buddhist and Vedantic traditions, leading to the phenomenological description and neuropsychological interpretation of a distinctly mystical form of spatial perception represented in three religious traditions.The conclusion illustrates neurotheology's overinclusiveness in equating all mystical experiences with AUB.