David DeSteno

Let me give you one great example. One of my favorite examples is things like grieving. When someone dies and we face loss, grief is a very difficult emotion for people to feel, and many people get stuck in it. The trick is to move through it without it becoming too intense or going on too long. One thing that religions do is we all come together to eulogize a person.

Let me give you one great example. One of my favorite examples is things like grieving. When someone dies and we face loss, grief is a very difficult emotion for people to feel, and many people get stuck in it. The trick is to move through it without it becoming too intense or going on too long. One thing that religions do is we all come together to eulogize a person.

And it seems normal, but if you think about it, it's kind of weird. Like if my wife just left me who I love or I lost a job that I love, I wouldn't want to spend time thinking about it and saying how great she was or the job was because it would make the pain even worse.

And it seems normal, but if you think about it, it's kind of weird. Like if my wife just left me who I love or I lost a job that I love, I wouldn't want to spend time thinking about it and saying how great she was or the job was because it would make the pain even worse.

And it seems normal, but if you think about it, it's kind of weird. Like if my wife just left me who I love or I lost a job that I love, I wouldn't want to spend time thinking about it and saying how great she was or the job was because it would make the pain even worse.

But what we know from recent psychological research is that actually focusing on the person you've lost and consolidating a positive memory of them is one of the best predictors of moving through grief. And all religions help us do this. The ritual of Shiva in Judaism incorporates lots of elements.

But what we know from recent psychological research is that actually focusing on the person you've lost and consolidating a positive memory of them is one of the best predictors of moving through grief. And all religions help us do this. The ritual of Shiva in Judaism incorporates lots of elements.

But what we know from recent psychological research is that actually focusing on the person you've lost and consolidating a positive memory of them is one of the best predictors of moving through grief. And all religions help us do this. The ritual of Shiva in Judaism incorporates lots of elements.

When someone dies, people come to your house for seven days in groups, and they say prayers together called minyans. Saying those prayers together creates that synchrony, and it increases feelings of empathy and connection. They cover mirrors in their houses. Why do they do this?

When someone dies, people come to your house for seven days in groups, and they say prayers together called minyans. Saying those prayers together creates that synchrony, and it increases feelings of empathy and connection. They cover mirrors in their houses. Why do they do this?

When someone dies, people come to your house for seven days in groups, and they say prayers together called minyans. Saying those prayers together creates that synchrony, and it increases feelings of empathy and connection. They cover mirrors in their houses. Why do they do this?

Well, one thing we know from scientific research is when you look in a mirror, whatever emotion you're feeling becomes intensified. And so if you're feeling grief and you look in a mirror, you're going to feel it even more. And so sure, there's a theological reason for this, but what it's really doing is a slight way to reduce the grief that people are feeling.

Well, one thing we know from scientific research is when you look in a mirror, whatever emotion you're feeling becomes intensified. And so if you're feeling grief and you look in a mirror, you're going to feel it even more. And so sure, there's a theological reason for this, but what it's really doing is a slight way to reduce the grief that people are feeling.

Well, one thing we know from scientific research is when you look in a mirror, whatever emotion you're feeling becomes intensified. And so if you're feeling grief and you look in a mirror, you're going to feel it even more. And so sure, there's a theological reason for this, but what it's really doing is a slight way to reduce the grief that people are feeling.

And so whether or not there has to be a God, we don't know. But what we do know is that there's a wisdom to these rituals that have been honed over time to work on our bodies physiologically and psychologically.

And so whether or not there has to be a God, we don't know. But what we do know is that there's a wisdom to these rituals that have been honed over time to work on our bodies physiologically and psychologically.

And so whether or not there has to be a God, we don't know. But what we do know is that there's a wisdom to these rituals that have been honed over time to work on our bodies physiologically and psychologically.

So there hasn't been an empirical test of that, as you said. What we do know from certain studies is that some of it, especially the things that affect you physiologically, you can garner the benefit. So for example, when people pray the rosary or when they meditate or when Hindus chant Kirtan, it slows down the breathing rate.

So there hasn't been an empirical test of that, as you said. What we do know from certain studies is that some of it, especially the things that affect you physiologically, you can garner the benefit. So for example, when people pray the rosary or when they meditate or when Hindus chant Kirtan, it slows down the breathing rate.

So there hasn't been an empirical test of that, as you said. What we do know from certain studies is that some of it, especially the things that affect you physiologically, you can garner the benefit. So for example, when people pray the rosary or when they meditate or when Hindus chant Kirtan, it slows down the breathing rate.