Principles of Neurotheology  . By Andrew B.Newberg . Burlington : Ashgate , 2010 . x + 276 pages. $16.99 (paper) .

Throughout the years, scientists and theologians have written about the relationship between religion and science that relied on a methodological approach that was primarily speculative in nature. Within the last 10 years, due to advancements made in brain imaging techniques, scientists are now able to formulate empirical hypotheses regarding what is happening in the brain during a religious experience. Andrew B. Newberg, M.D., Director of Research in Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital, Philadelphia, is one of the first scientists to conduct extensive research on the topic of neuroscience and religious experience. Newberg's commitment to exploring the integration of neuroscience and religion began more than a decade ago evidenced in The Mystical Mind (1999), which he co‐authored with the late Eugene d’Aquili. Since then, Newberg co‐authored three additional books: Why God Won't Go Away (2001), Why We Believe What We Believe (2006), and How God Changes Your Brain (2009).

In his recent book, Principles of Neurotheology, Newberg has penned a monumental work in the field of neurotheology. Neurotheology, a term first coined by James Ashbrook, has since been borrowed by scholars in science and religion to describe research pertaining to the integration of neuroscience and religion and/or spiritual experiences. Since Ashbrook's article first appeared in 1984, many scholars have made important contributions to the field of neurotheology but none has articulated a clear set of principles to direct this relatively new field. This apparent lack of direction is what prompted Newberg to write a book that would lay a foundation on which neurotheological research could be constructed. In this light, neurotheology could be shown to be a legitimate academic discipline that is mutually beneficial to the scientific and religious communities.

Principles of Neurotheology is an intellectually ambitious book about a set of foundational principles suggested by Newberg to help guide the field of neurotheology that is grounded in empirical research and couched in an ideology that encourages multidisciplinary research. It is a challenge for a scholar to retain a comprehensive knowledge of his or her area of expertise let alone master two as hundreds of neuroscientific and religious articles are produced weekly. Nevertheless, it is clear that Newberg has indeed become an expert in two seemingly polar fields. One cannot espouse a set of principles and definitions addressing the multidisciplinary issues that comprise the field of neurotheology without having an intimate understanding of the breadth of scholarship that is fundamentally significant to each field. In terms of the degree to which a book ignites a paradigm shift within the scientific and religious communities, Newberg's Principles of Neurotheology is as significant as Alfred North Whitehead's Process and Reality. It is an essential read for anyone interested in gaining an in‐depth knowledge of the controversial yet promising field of neurotheology. It provides a foundation for those interested in advancing the relationship between the brain and religious experience, and allows a starting point for those who may be hesitant to explore ways in which neuroscience and religion can co‐evolve.