SPIRITUALITY

Thorsten Schmitt

Director, CIRAS Center for Spirituality

The CIRAS Center for Spirituality explores the foundations of consciousness, human interconnectedness, and ethical responsibility. Its aim is to establish spirituality as a knowledge-driven field of research that contributes to individual development as much as to global collaboration. Our interdisciplinary approach combines empirical methods from cognitive science, ethics, technology, and social research with an open, dogma-free perspective on human consciousness.

---

VISION for Spirituality

The CIRAS Institute regards spirituality as a scientifically accessible dimension of human consciousness. Our focus lies in analyzing how spiritual experiences—whether through religions, meditation, or contemplative practice—relate to neural, psychological, and possibly quantum-physical processes. The aim is to understand spirituality as a resource for health, knowledge, and global understanding (see Newberg, Neurotheology, 2018).

Overview

Neuroscience has shown that meditation, prayer, and spiritual practices bring measurable brain changes: increased prefrontal activity, enhanced connectivity in the Default Mode Network, and elevated gamma-wave oscillations (Lutz et al., PNAS, 2004). Richard Davidson demonstrated that long-term meditation strengthens neuroplasticity and emotional regulation (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2015). Joe Dispenza popularizes the idea that focused thought can rewire biochemical brain patterns (You Are the Placebo, 2014). In parallel, the Orch-OR hypothesis by Penrose and Hameroff (Physics of Life Reviews, 2014) raises the question whether quantum processes play a role in consciousness.

Danger

The risk lies in blurring the lines between rigorous science and speculative claims. Concepts such as “quantum healing” or miracle promises without evidence undermine credibility (Pigliucci, Nonsense on Stilts, 2010). CIRAS therefore insists on separating evidence-based research from esotericism or dogma.

Opportunity

Opportunities arise from interdisciplinary integration: neuroscience, psychology, quantum physics, and religious studies. Spirituality can be examined as a human universal while respecting cultural diversity. Religions, in this perspective, are not barriers but cultural languages of spirituality, capable of fostering mutual understanding rather than division.

Critical Issues

Key questions remain:

• What neural mechanisms underlie spiritual experiences, and how can they be measured reproducibly?
• Which quantum-mechanical models are relevant for consciousness, and where does speculation begin?
• How can spiritual experiences be scientifically compared without ignoring cultural diversity?
• What role do religions play as mediators of spiritual practices and values in a global context?

World Impacts

A deeper scientific understanding of spirituality could significantly impact global health, stress reduction, and disease prevention (Davidson & Kaszniak, 2015). Moreover, it could strengthen peace research: empirical evidence suggests that mindfulness, compassion, and shared spiritual practices foster empathy and reduce aggression. Thus, spirituality and religions can serve as instruments for intercultural dialogue and conflict prevention—not as sources of violence but as resources for reconciliation.

Deep Impact

If spirituality becomes an established scientific field, our concept of humanity may change profoundly. Consciousness would be seen as more than a byproduct of biology, but as a research object in its own right. This shift entails philosophical and ethical implications and practical applications: religions could act as cultural interpreters of universal spiritual experiences, while spirituality itself may become a resource for global peace research, resilience, and collective healing.

Conclusion

The CIRAS Institute adopts a critical, interdisciplinary, and forward-looking approach. For us, spirituality is not dogma but a scientific challenge. By integrating neuroscience, quantum theory, and interreligious dialogue, we seek to move spirituality from subjective belief into the sphere of empirical research and global understanding.

---