David DeSteno

When the breathing rate slows down, it's a signal to the brain that the world around you is safe, it reduces anxiety, it calms people down. So things like that, I think you can get the benefit without belief. Or things like, you know, sitting Shiva, people come together and maybe they sing together but not saying Jewish prayers. You would get similar benefits.

When the breathing rate slows down, it's a signal to the brain that the world around you is safe, it reduces anxiety, it calms people down. So things like that, I think you can get the benefit without belief. Or things like, you know, sitting Shiva, people come together and maybe they sing together but not saying Jewish prayers. You would get similar benefits.

When the breathing rate slows down, it's a signal to the brain that the world around you is safe, it reduces anxiety, it calms people down. So things like that, I think you can get the benefit without belief. Or things like, you know, sitting Shiva, people come together and maybe they sing together but not saying Jewish prayers. You would get similar benefits.

But in some areas, belief certainly does matter. People who have a greater belief tend to have less stress and less anxiety in life, especially around issues of death. So I think there is clearly some benefit that can come without belief, but in each case, we kind of have to examine the phenomenon we're talking about. And I don't want to diminish belief. Belief certainly plays a role.

But in some areas, belief certainly does matter. People who have a greater belief tend to have less stress and less anxiety in life, especially around issues of death. So I think there is clearly some benefit that can come without belief, but in each case, we kind of have to examine the phenomenon we're talking about. And I don't want to diminish belief. Belief certainly plays a role.

But in some areas, belief certainly does matter. People who have a greater belief tend to have less stress and less anxiety in life, especially around issues of death. So I think there is clearly some benefit that can come without belief, but in each case, we kind of have to examine the phenomenon we're talking about. And I don't want to diminish belief. Belief certainly plays a role.

But there are some benefits that can be extracted from these rituals in respectful ways where belief isn't necessary.

But there are some benefits that can be extracted from these rituals in respectful ways where belief isn't necessary.

But there are some benefits that can be extracted from these rituals in respectful ways where belief isn't necessary.

For a lot of people, and we're seeing this in our society right now, people are leaving traditional religions in droves, I think, because they don't agree with the policies of them, or there have certainly been institutional failings in the Catholic churches and others. But most of the people who are leaving religion... aren't becoming atheists.

For a lot of people, and we're seeing this in our society right now, people are leaving traditional religions in droves, I think, because they don't agree with the policies of them, or there have certainly been institutional failings in the Catholic churches and others. But most of the people who are leaving religion... aren't becoming atheists.

For a lot of people, and we're seeing this in our society right now, people are leaving traditional religions in droves, I think, because they don't agree with the policies of them, or there have certainly been institutional failings in the Catholic churches and others. But most of the people who are leaving religion... aren't becoming atheists.

They are checking the box that is spiritual, but not religious. That is, they're looking for that element in life, that connection to something greater, those benefits that spirituality brings, but they're trying to find a new way of doing it. And often in midlife, there is an uptick for people. Often when people turn in around 50, 55,

They are checking the box that is spiritual, but not religious. That is, they're looking for that element in life, that connection to something greater, those benefits that spirituality brings, but they're trying to find a new way of doing it. And often in midlife, there is an uptick for people. Often when people turn in around 50, 55,

They are checking the box that is spiritual, but not religious. That is, they're looking for that element in life, that connection to something greater, those benefits that spirituality brings, but they're trying to find a new way of doing it. And often in midlife, there is an uptick for people. Often when people turn in around 50, 55,

Actually, if you look at people taking up meditation, the people who are doing it most rapidly are people in that age bracket. I think it's because you're at that stage in life where you're not at the end, but you can see the end, and it feels a little more real, and you're getting a little older, and you're trying to reevaluate. And some people do convert at that time.

Actually, if you look at people taking up meditation, the people who are doing it most rapidly are people in that age bracket. I think it's because you're at that stage in life where you're not at the end, but you can see the end, and it feels a little more real, and you're getting a little older, and you're trying to reevaluate. And some people do convert at that time.

Actually, if you look at people taking up meditation, the people who are doing it most rapidly are people in that age bracket. I think it's because you're at that stage in life where you're not at the end, but you can see the end, and it feels a little more real, and you're getting a little older, and you're trying to reevaluate. And some people do convert at that time.

So I think there is a spiritual hunger for people. It's trying to find the thing that fits your needs, right?

So I think there is a spiritual hunger for people. It's trying to find the thing that fits your needs, right?