Dr. David DeSteno

So because the U.S.

is a Christian country, I think most of us, when we think of religion, tend to think of it in terms of Christianity, where belief, where the creed is really important.

In most of the world...

Religion is more about what you do than what you believe, right?

It's what are the rituals?

How do they infuse your daily life?

And that's why, you know, as I said, there are many Jews who are atheists.

There are many Hindus I know who are atheists, yet they engage in the practices and they get the benefits from them.

So I think those two are separable.

There are also people who believe in God yet don't go to any services and don't practice at all.

They say, oh, yeah, I believe in God, but I don't engage in this.

And when you look at the health benefits for those people, they're not there.

You have to be actively engaged in the practices.

So I think those two can be separated.

In terms of...

So remember I was telling you about the motor synchrony stuff.

There is, and how it makes you feel more compassion toward other people.

There is work that shows that when you do motor synchrony on its own versus motor synchrony in prayer.

And so these are studies where people were just listening to music and dancing together or moving together versus where they were chanting together or

chants that are meaningful to them and their faith and that set forth principles of the faith.