The Rabbi's Brain

Mystics, Moderns, and the Science of Jewish Thinking

By: Andrew Newberg, David Halpern

Narrated by: John Lescault

The topic of neurotheology has garnered increasing attention in the academic, religious, scientific, and popular worlds. But there have been no attempts to explore more specifically how Jewish religious thought and experience may intersect with neurotheology. The Rabbi's Brain engages this groundbreaking area.

Topics included relate to a neurotheological approach to the foundational beliefs that arise from the Torah and associated scriptures, Jewish learning, an exploration of the different elements of Judaism (i.e., reform, conservative, and orthodox), an exploration of specifically Jewish practices (i.e., davening, Sabbath, kosher), and a review of Jewish mysticism. The Rabbi's Brain engages these topics in an easy-to-understand style and integrates the scientific, religious, philosophical, and theological aspects of the emerging field of neurotheology.

By reviewing the concepts in a stepwise, simple yet thorough discussion, listeners, regardless of their background, will be able to understand the complexities and breadth of neurotheology from the Jewish perspective. More broadly, issues will include a review of the neurosciences and neuroscientific techniques; religious and spiritual experiences; theological development and analysis; liturgy and ritual; epistemology, philosophy, and ethics; and social implications, all from the Jewish perspective.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Andrew Newberg and David Halpern (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Hebrew words mispronounced

Otherwise an interesting read.

Perhaps when you hire someone to read a book that has words and names foreign to him or her, have someone who knows the language listen before launching, to make sure they pronounce correctly.

Bears some consideration.

I have not been convinced of the validity of the new Neurotheology. This book urges me to give it some further thought; as being a Kohanim seems to place a sign on my back saying 'If you have a problem, I have six hours to give you.' Removing the self-aggrandizement from the argument would be more scientific. Unfortunately, that would require a test batch of Kohanim that were oblivious to their background. Finally, while Kohanim is indeed passed paternally, if there were any intervening Gentile mother, you are disqualified. I do not think they have yet found even a Cohen with 100% DNA; 5000 years is a long time to remain pure.

Gets a lot better at the end

Most of the material is well documented and the approach the the theme is rigorous. Practical examples are well chosen and analogies with religious text are helpful. Worth listening on casual premises.