The Role of Neuroscience in Understanding Happiness and Spirituality

The Role of Neuroscience in Understanding Happiness and Spirituality

The concept of Spiritual Blue Diamonds as a unifying force that can bring people together in a shared sense of purpose and spirituality.

"The Spirituality of Happiness: The New Spirituality of the 21st Century" is a book that discusses the need for a new spirituality to meet the needs of the current era. The author, Denny J.A, argues that despite economic abundance, people are lacking personal meaning in their lives. He proposes the concept of 3P + 2S (Personal Relationships, Positivity, Passion, Small victories, and Spiritual Blue Diamonds) as a way for individuals to live a meaningful and happy existence. The book also explores the history of spirituality and the evolution of human consciousness from mythology to the narrative of revelation.

The concept of 3P + 2S is presented in the book as a guide to developing a new habit of spirituality within the Third Wave. It is a comprehensive scientific template for living a happy and meaningful life. The mnemonic formula stands for Personal Relationships, Positivity, Passion, Small victories, and Spiritual Blue Diamonds. These concepts are explained and summarized toward the end of the book. The author argues that all Homo sapiens, regardless of their social identity, can live a meaningful and happy existence to the extent that they apply the mindset and habits of 3P + 2S.

How has the evolution of human consciousness impacted spirituality throughout history?

The evolution of human consciousness has impacted spirituality throughout history in three waves. The first wave involved a mythological narrative, where all explanations concerning existential questions derived from a mythical perspective. The second wave involved the narrative of revelation, where the origin of life and the end of time were conveyed by prophets from the Almighty through the intercession of angels. The third wave, which is the newest wave of spirituality, was initiated 70 years ago and involves a philosophy that guides individuals to lead a happy and meaningful life on the basis of scientific research findings. This new spirituality is supported by empirical research, positive psychology, and neuroscience.

The new spirituality is a philosophy that guides individuals to lead a happy and meaningful life based on scientific research findings. It is not intended to replace any existing religions but rather to coexist with them and potentially strengthen them. The author divides the evolution of human consciousness into three waves of spirituality, with the new spirituality being the third wave based on empirical research and scientific discoveries.

Denny JA's take on the role of neuroscience in understanding happiness and spirituality

He emphasizes the role of neuroscience in understanding the connection between spirituality and happiness. The article mentions the existence of certain hormones in the brain, such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphin, which contribute to feelings of happiness, peace, and purpose in life. Additionally, the article discusses the presence of a "spiritual abode" in the brain, specifically the parietal cortex, which is associated with religiosity and contemplation of existential questions. The author suggests that the new era of spirituality is based on empirical research supported by positive psychology and neuroscience.

This new spirituality can address current societal issues such as climate change and social inequality by reminding us of our basic underlying unity: One Earth, One Homo Sapiens, One Spirituality. Denny argues that the three Spiritual Blue Diamonds: the Blue Diamond of Benevolence, the Blue Diamond of the Power of Giving, and the Blue Diamond of Oneness can serve as a unifying force that connects all human beings with each other, with their environment, and the mysteries of the universe. Denny also suggests that it is time for us to collectively develop a new all-inclusive narrative: One Earth. One species of Homo Sapiens. One Spirituality.

How do beliefs in religion and philosophy affect our happiness?

The book discusses that both religion and philosophy offer guidance on pursuing a happy existence, and this entails applying science appropriately through selective research. The new spirituality of the 21st century conveys guidance for living a happy and meaningful life, which has been repeatedly channeled by publicizing and applying research findings. According to research, the feeling of being connected with other people and united with the universe is crucial in determining one's level of happiness. Differences in religious background and disparate perceptions of God did not demonstrate any significance in determining one's level of happiness. All that mattered was a sense of feeling either connected (experiencing ONENESS) or isolated (experiencing alienation).

The increasing number of people who identify as non-affiliated with any religion is significant. According to Denny, the third largest "religious" group in the world based on research by the Pew Research Center is "Unaffiliated". This group represents a collection of many kinds of beliefs and has only one thing in common: they do not identify with any existing religion. The total number of non-affiliated people is 1.1 billion people or about 15 percent of the world's population. Some of them still believe in God but no longer through religion, while others only believe in humanism and similar ideologies.

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Archipelago Insight, 2023