For many skeptics, the concept of spirituality is easily dismissed as mystical or irrational, often conflated with supernatural beliefs or religious dogma. I understand this perspective deeply because, at times in my own personal development, I struggled to reconcile my own profound spiritual experiences with a scientific view of the world. For a long period of my life, I viewed my spiritual impulses as a tendency toward delusion or wishful thinking—a quirk of neurology to be mitigated rather than embraced. I found that position deeply unsatisfying, however, and (like any skeptic might) I felt relentlessly compelled to explore its underpinnings.
It wasn’t until years later, through research in the field of psychology, that I came to see spirituality in a more expansive and scientifically informed light. I came to understand that while these inclinations may not always align with strict rationality, they represent an adaptive trait deeply embedded in our evolved neurophysiology. Spirituality, far from being an indulgent distraction or simple accident of wiring, plays a critical role in human well-being at both the personal and societal levels and has likely made tremendous contributions to our collective survival over many millennia.
By understanding spirituality as an evolved capacity for meaning-making, awe, and connection, we can reframe it as a practical and universal aspect of human psychology, relevant even to those who identify as deeply skeptical.
A Skeptic’s Dilemma: Why Dismiss Spirituality?
Skeptics often reject spirituality due to its historical ties to religion and its association with unverified metaphysical claims. From this perspective, spirituality is seen as irrational—an emotional crutch for those unwilling to face the cold, hard truths of reality.
This skepticism is valid when applied to dogmatic beliefs that resist scrutiny. However, dismissing spirituality wholesale overlooks its empirical basis and the ways it operates independently of supernatural frameworks. Spirituality is not about belief in the unknowable; it’s about engaging with universal human experiences, such as awe, purpose, and connection, all of which are well-documented in psychological and neurological research.
Even noted skeptics have recognized the value of these experiences. Sam Harris, in Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion (2014), argues that spirituality involves profound experiences of self-transcendence and insight that don’t require belief in the supernatural. He advocates for practices like meditation and mindfulness as ways to achieve clarity, compassion, and a sense of connection to something larger than oneself—all within a rational, scientific framework.
Similarly, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, while a vocal critic of religion, has acknowledged the deep sense of wonder and awe that arises from scientific discovery. In Unweaving the Rainbow (1998), Dawkins explores how science provides a profound sense of beauty and interconnectedness, evoking emotions often associated with spirituality. For Dawkins, these feelings are rooted in a naturalistic understanding of the universe, showing that one can experience awe and meaning without invoking the supernatural.
Carl Sagan, another prominent advocate for scientific inquiry, also recognized the importance of awe in human life. In Pale Blue Dot (1994), he reflects on the humility and perspective inspired by viewing Earth as a tiny speck in the vastness of space. For Sagan, these moments of cosmic awareness connect us to a broader sense of purpose and underscore the importance of treating each other—and our planet—with care and reverence.
These perspectives illustrate that spirituality, understood as an appreciation of awe, wonder, and connection, is not at odds with skepticism. Instead, it can be embraced as a universal human capacity, deeply compatible with rational inquiry. If you’ve ever had the slightly dizzying experiencing of tracking stellar and planetary objects through a small telescope by hand, you might be familiar with this visceral feeling of being part of a dynamic and constantly-moving universe, engaged in a vast cosmic dance that eludes our everyday perception.
The Science of Spirituality
Biological Foundations
Neuroscience reveals that spirituality is deeply embedded in the human brain. Studies have shown that activities such as meditation, prayer, and even moments of awe activate the default mode network (DMN), a brain system associated with self-referential thinking, introspection, and envisioning the future (Brewer et al., 2011).
Additionally, neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which regulate mood and reward, are released during spiritual practices, creating feelings of well-being and connection. This explains why practices like gratitude journaling or mindful meditation can have profound mental health benefits.
Evolutionary Adaptation
From an evolutionary perspective, spirituality has clear adaptive advantages. Early humans who developed a capacity for meaning-making and communal rituals were better equipped to navigate uncertainty and build social cohesion. By creating shared stories and practices, these groups fostered cooperation and resilience, traits critical for survival in unpredictable environments (Wilson, 2002).
Spirituality also supports psychological resilience. The ability to find meaning in adversity—a hallmark of spirituality—helps individuals recover from trauma and maintain hope in the face of hardship. This capacity likely provided an evolutionary edge, enabling early humans to endure challenges and persevere.
Awe and Its Role in Human Evolution
One of the most profound expressions of spirituality is the experience of awe—a state of wonder and reverence evoked by something vast or sublime. Awe isn’t just an emotional reaction; it’s a transformative experience that expands our perspective and strengthens our sense of connection to the world.
Psychologist Dacher Keltner defines awe as “the emotion we experience when we encounter vast mysteries that we don’t understand” (Keltner, 2023). His research shows that awe diminishes self-centered thinking, fosters altruism, and enhances prosocial behavior. These effects, in turn, build stronger, more cooperative communities—a critical factor in human survival and flourishing (Piff et al., 2015).
When I reflect on my own experiences of awe, I recognize how deeply they shaped my understanding of spirituality. Standing on a mountaintop or staring into the night sky, I’ve felt that smallness and expansiveness that Keltner describes. These moments transcend the boundaries of intellect or emotion; they connect us to something larger and help us find our place in it.
Addressing Skeptical Arguments
“Spirituality Is Just Woo-Woo.”
This common critique stems from the assumption that spirituality necessarily involves unscientific beliefs. However, reframing spirituality as a natural human trait rather than a supernatural construct addresses this objection. Spirituality, as understood here, doesn’t require belief in the metaphysical—it’s about experiencing and cultivating innate psychological states like awe, gratitude, and purpose, all of which have empirical support in psychological and neurological studies.
“Spirituality Is Redundant in a Secular World.”
Another argument is that modern science and rationality render spirituality unnecessary. While science provides tools to understand the universe, it doesn’t address the subjective experiences that give life meaning. Spirituality complements science by helping us navigate existential questions and emotional landscapes that facts alone cannot resolve.
“Spiritual Practices Are Just Placebos.”
Some skeptics argue that spirituality is merely placebo-driven, implying its benefits are illusory or trivial. This mischaracterizes the placebo effect itself. Placebos represent real, measurable effects—such as pain reduction or stress relief—that arise from belief or expectation. The placebo effect is an 18th-century term that describes a situation in which the thing being tested for cannot be demonstrated to have caused the change. It doesn’t mean we know what caused it and should not be automatically taken as evidence for a specific cause. Sometimes, however, the cause is spiritually psychological in nature. Spiritual practices engage the mind’s natural capacity to influence well-being. Whether through awe, mindfulness, or gratitude, these practices cultivate states that have tangible physiological and psychological benefits.
Takeaways
Far from being a relic of superstition, spirituality is an evolved aspect of human psychology that continues to serve us today. Recognized even by skeptics like Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Carl Sagan, spirituality is not about belief in the supernatural but about engaging with deeply human experiences of awe, meaning, and connection. Any complete scientific theory of human experience must include an understanding of the adaptive and beneficial experience of subjective spirituality.
My own journey, interweaving skepticism and spiritual experience, has taught me that spirituality is not something to be dismissed or mitigated—it’s an integral part of what makes us human. By understanding spirituality through the lens of science and evolution, we can move beyond mere acceptance or denial to appreciate its role in shaping not just individual lives but the survival and flourishing of our species.
References
Brewer, J. A., Worhunsky, P. D., Gray, J. R., Tang, Y.-Y., Weber, J., & Kober, H. (2011). Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(50), 20254–20259. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1112029108
Dawkins, R. (1998). Unweaving the rainbow: Science, delusion, and the appetite for wonder. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Harris, S. (2014). Waking up: A guide to spirituality without religion. Simon & Schuster.
Keltner, D. (2023). Awe: The new science of everyday wonder and how it can transform your life. Penguin Random House.
Piff, P. K., Dietze, P., Feinberg, M., Stancato, D. M., & Keltner, D. (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(6), 883–899. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000018
Sagan, C. (1994). Pale blue dot: A vision of the human future in space. Random House.
Wilson, D. S. (2002). Darwin’s cathedral: Evolution, religion, and the nature of society. University of Chicago Press.
