The Expansion of Consciousness during Mystical Experiences: The Example of Moses
What happens in the brain during meditation? Neuroscientists such as Andrew Newberg, who studies religious experiences on the neural level, may provide an answer. He calls the devolution, which is similar to all mystical experiences in different faiths, self-transcendent experience (STE); in a furth...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/1003 |
| _version_ | 1827648106223632384 |
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| author | Mona Jahangiri |
| author_facet | Mona Jahangiri |
| author_sort | Mona Jahangiri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | What happens in the brain during meditation? Neuroscientists such as Andrew Newberg, who studies religious experiences on the neural level, may provide an answer. He calls the devolution, which is similar to all mystical experiences in different faiths, self-transcendent experience (STE); in a further instance, he also calls it the feeling of Absolute Unitary Being (AUB). A more detailed consideration of related issues is done by examining the human expansion of consciousness in Islamic mysticism based on an event depicted in the Qurʾān, namely Mosesʾ desire to talk to or see God, his subsequent unconsciousness due to the awe of God, and his subsequent attainment of a new consciousness. The following paper will have a brief look at the case of Moses and aims to investigate the states of consciousness during such experiences. Here, an attempt will be made to trace and prove a connection between neuroscience and the mystical state of the feeling of union with God. In doing so, particular attention will be paid to the state of the encounter between Moses and God. From a neuropsychological point of view, the question will be investigated whether the special spiritual experiences such as those of Moses can be measured, and within this framework, different consciousness models will be presented. Can Newberg’s STE or AUB theory be regarded equally with the <i>fanā</i><i>ʾ</i> state? Finally, which kind of psychological experience is applicable to Moses will be examined. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:31:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c96e4fe620c4a5cbd2fe354d1c5ae7b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:31:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c96e4fe620c4a5cbd2fe354d1c5ae7b2023-11-24T02:18:23ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-10-011310100310.3390/rel13101003The Expansion of Consciousness during Mystical Experiences: The Example of MosesMona Jahangiri0Faculty of Philosophy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80539 Munich, GermanyWhat happens in the brain during meditation? Neuroscientists such as Andrew Newberg, who studies religious experiences on the neural level, may provide an answer. He calls the devolution, which is similar to all mystical experiences in different faiths, self-transcendent experience (STE); in a further instance, he also calls it the feeling of Absolute Unitary Being (AUB). A more detailed consideration of related issues is done by examining the human expansion of consciousness in Islamic mysticism based on an event depicted in the Qurʾān, namely Mosesʾ desire to talk to or see God, his subsequent unconsciousness due to the awe of God, and his subsequent attainment of a new consciousness. The following paper will have a brief look at the case of Moses and aims to investigate the states of consciousness during such experiences. Here, an attempt will be made to trace and prove a connection between neuroscience and the mystical state of the feeling of union with God. In doing so, particular attention will be paid to the state of the encounter between Moses and God. From a neuropsychological point of view, the question will be investigated whether the special spiritual experiences such as those of Moses can be measured, and within this framework, different consciousness models will be presented. Can Newberg’s STE or AUB theory be regarded equally with the <i>fanā</i><i>ʾ</i> state? Finally, which kind of psychological experience is applicable to Moses will be examined.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/1003consciousnessAUBreligious experienceMoses |
| spellingShingle | Mona Jahangiri The Expansion of Consciousness during Mystical Experiences: The Example of Moses Religions consciousness AUB religious experience Moses |
| title | The Expansion of Consciousness during Mystical Experiences: The Example of Moses |
| title_full | The Expansion of Consciousness during Mystical Experiences: The Example of Moses |
| title_fullStr | The Expansion of Consciousness during Mystical Experiences: The Example of Moses |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Expansion of Consciousness during Mystical Experiences: The Example of Moses |
| title_short | The Expansion of Consciousness during Mystical Experiences: The Example of Moses |
| title_sort | expansion of consciousness during mystical experiences the example of moses |
| topic | consciousness AUB religious experience Moses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/1003 |
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