Much of the time, controversy and argument, when they exist, simply involve perception differences among brains. Because of differences between unique brains, discussions often escalate into foolish argument and meaningless controversy. Unfortunately, some believe that talking louder, faster, and longer, will induce the other brain to perceive the information being discussed in the same way. This phenomenon can be observed frequently in discussions related to politics and/or religion.
Although I have relied heavily on brain function research, a plethora of studies, and discussions with brain researchers and other experts, the summaries represent my own brain’s opinion. There will be some who do not agree with my opinions and perceptions. In those cases I suggest they study the research for themselves and come to their own conclusions.
My goal with these practical application summaries related to spirituality and religion is to stimulate thinking and observation, trigger increased awareness at an individual level, jumpstart applications for every day living, and provide options for behaviors.
Typically, conclusions from research studies are presented in the form of generalizations that apply to nearly 70% of the population (to the first standard deviation on either side of the mean). There are always exceptions based on individuality because the human brain develops uniquely. Consequently, no two brains are ever identical in structure, function, or perception; not even the brains of identical twins.
If some of your personal characteristics / behaviors don’t match a specific generalization, it doesn’t invalidate the research / studies. It does exemplify individual uniqueness. Avoid discounting first-impression mismatches too quickly. Perhaps you haven’t had the opportunity to hone a specific skill, or your personal past experiences have impacted you in unusual ways.
A decision to attend or not to attend religious services, or the regularity with which one does attend, can be developed through expectation and exposure. In adulthood, however, personal preference can be impacted by brain bent, especially related to whether one’s biochemical energy advantage falls in the left hemisphere or the right hemisphere.
Generally most religious services can fit into one of two broad styles, although there are exceptions. Even those exceptions can often be identified in terms of appeal to individuals with a preference for left-hemisphere activities or right-hemisphere activities.
Following are examples of two common styles of religious services.
Left Cerebral Hemisphere
If they choose to attend religious services, individuals with a brain bent in one of the two left-hemisphere divisions tend to gravitate toward traditional-style services
- They often select services that emphasize doing (instead of just being), obedience, following church dogma (e.g., the process of sanctification)
- They tend to prefer anthems, hymns, and classical music with organ or piano and choir, and more traditional stringed instruments and brass
- They may appreciate services that center the formal preaching of sermons on dogma or theology, or offer lecture-style readings and presentations
They may choose to attend this style of worship service in order to:
- Have an opportunity to be in charge or lead
- Achieve their religious or worship goals and think about how they need to behavior or what they need to do to “get it right”
- Worship something or someone outside of themselves (e.g., a Higher Power as they perceive one)
- Follow habitual schedules and what they have been taught is important within a structure of common beliefs and tenants
- Have class time during which members can participate in discussions
- Be part of a “team” that provides rules, regulations, structure, and clear expectations
- Dress up in appropriate attire and/or wear special choir or other robes and participate in rituals
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Right Cerebral Hemisphere
If they choose to attend religious services, individuals with a brain bent in one of the two right-hemisphere divisions tend to gravitate toward celebration-style services
- They often select services that emphasize just being (instead of always doing), trust, love, accepting the free gift of grace(e.g., the process of justification)
- They tend to prefer innovative music and the inclusion of nontraditional or more unusual instruments
- They may appreciate services that include drama, stories, religious dance, multimedia presentations, and that sometimes occur out of doors and/or with the presence of “pets” permitted; and where sermons are kept to a minimum in favor of short homilies interspersed with a variety of other types of presentations and activities
They may choose to attend this style of service in order to:
- Have an opportunity to build a support group and participate in making the service work for as many different brains as possible
- Nurture a sense of comfort and collegiality (and avoid isolation) as they socialize with others at services, potlucks, and special programs
- Experience unusual rituals or spontaneous activities that are less rigid and structured than those that appeal to the left hemisphere
- Experience a period of meditation in silence or with soft music playing
- Connect with something or someone outside of themselves (e.g., a Higher Power as they perceive one)
- Associate with those who are less rigid and structured in terms of rules, regulations, and specific expectations
- Come as “they are” in terms of wearing apparel
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Whole-Brained Services
Theoretically, it should be possible to craft a religious service style that contained components appealing to attendees—regardless of their innate preferences.
In actuality, this is difficult to do. Left-brainers wouldn’t be caught dead in a typical celebration-style service; right-brainers find it difficult to sustain attendance at a service that is typically traditional in style.
People have sometimes asked about brain
bent and the Four Gospels (as found in Scripture). My brain’s opinion is that each author had a different brain
bent. Consequently, an individual reader might find one of those Gospels more comfortable or familiar to his/her brain. If, in fact, each author wrote based on his brain
bent, it is possible that readers might relate more to a specific
gospel’s language if the readers had the same brain
bent as the author.
Note that this is, of course, conjecture. Some researchers think Luke is more associated with the Harmonizing division because ‘physicians during ancient times were Shamans.’ I’ve gone back and forth in terms of my brain’s opinion. Below you’ll find my brain’s current opinion (smile). Read the Gospels and come to your own conclusions.
I’ve also includes a guesstimate of potential brain
bent for several groups that were operational in Biblical times.
Prioritizing Division
- A physician is thought to have written the Gospel of Luke. He recorded facts after a thorough investigation, used a variety of medical terms rather than colloquial euphemisms, and traced Christ’s ancestry back to Adam.
- The Zealots – a fanatical sect with the goal of repelling Roman domination.
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Envisioning Division
- Mark wrote the Gospel according to Mark with innovation and dramatic vitality. He emphasized the unusual (e.g., miracles, signs, wonders), and presented Christ as a man of action.
- The Essenes – a monastic brotherhood that lived in seclusion and prepared the Dead-Sea Scrolls.
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Maintaining Division
- Matthew, a tax collector, is believed to have written the Gospel according to Matthew as a historical narrative. He reported several sermons in their entirety and presented Christ as a teacher of “how to do it right.”
- The Pharisees – in an effort to do things correctly, they emphasized strict observance of rites, oral traditions, and ceremonies.
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Harmonizing Division
- John, known as the beloved apostle, wrote of connection and faith in the Gospel according to John. He emphasized the coming of theComforter, and presented Christ as the Word.
- The Sadducees – a dislike of conflict led to compromise, which eventually resulted in the loss of hope and in a unique set of beliefs.
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According to author Joe Tannenbaum in his book,
Male and Female Realities, there are differences in the way each gender approaches or relates to spirituality and/or religion. Following are some examples.
Relating to the World
| Female Brains |
Male Brains |
| Can relate to the world via physical or intellectual modes but they can also relate directly through emotions and feelings without having to translate into either the physical or intellectual modes. If they speak directly from a feelings mode, the males may misread or misunderstand what the females are saying because, typically, males avoid venturing into the more nebulous realms of feelings.
While they can translate spiritual information into physical and intellectual modes, they can also respond through direct feeling states that are outside physical language and intellectual definition. They can experience a spiritual relationship with a Higher Power directly through emotions and feelings without having to translate it into either physical or intellectual modes.
When discussing spirituality or religion, are usually expected to respond from either a physical or intellectual mode, at least by their male counterparts. |
Tend to relate to the world primarily through a physical mode (e.g., objects that are perceived through the five senses) or an intellectual mode (e.g., thinking, imagining, attitudes, viewpoint, inventing).
Tend to translate spiritual information either into a physical mode (e.g., building cathedrals, creating statues or art work, designing flags or icons or other symbolic objects) or into an intellectual mode (e.g., dogma, rituals, philosophy, doctrine, rules, regulations).
Generally assume that females also speak from a physical or intellectual mode, as well, even when they are discussing topics involving spiritual or religious issues.
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Affiliating with Religion
Studies by Dr. Donald Joy of Asbury Theological Seminar showed that girls tend to be influenced more strongly by what they learn through attendance at religious services (e.g., Sunday School, Sabbath School) while boys were more influenced by what actually went on in the home, specifically the congruence between stated beliefs versus observed behaviors.
In terms of being drawn to affiliation with religion, Dr. Donald Joy reported that males were more likely to be drawn to religious affiliation through stories and parables processed in the right hemisphere. Males are more likely to fall asleep in church, especially when sermons are presented in a typical left-brained style. Females tended to be drawn to religious affiliation through doctrinal presentations processed in the left hemisphere. Thus, even though they may enjoy stories/parables, they may find left-brained sermons more tolerable.
Attendance at Religious Services
Females tend to attend religious services more regularly (e.g., two-thirds of the average church congregation in the U.S.A. are female). They are often more experience-oriented and more emotional in terms of their religious activities. They are more likely to attend church for the experience of worshiping with friends.
Females may find it more difficult to pursue activities recommended by religious leaders, such as specific reading quotas, even when these are purported to assist them in developing a relationship with a Higher Power.
Males typically attend religious services less regularly (e.g., special occasions, when in charge, to achieve a goal). Males are usually more goal-oriented in terms of religious activities. They can accomplish a goal by attending a service, or by reading a sacred/religious book. With their goal-completion orientation, however, males may lose sight of the importance of enjoying the experience of worship, or may fail to develop a spiritual connection with a Higher Power.
Individuals may approach meditation or prayer (a form of meditation) or contemplation differently based on brain bent. Their their position on the Extroversion-Ambiversion-Introversion Continuum will likely impact this as well. Studies have shown that individuals often engage in meditation, prayer, or contemplation regardless of any affiliation with established religion.
Remember that medication, contemplation, or prayers can increase brain and heart health. That’s because studies have shown the heart beats more slower during breath exhalation. Therefore, paying attention to your breathing and extended exhalations, breathing out slowly, can slow your heart rate and calm your body. It has also been shown as a way to reduce anxiety.
These following examples include Extroversion and Introversion (Ambiversion would fall somewhere between the two extremes).
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Prioritizing Division
Left Frontal Lobe
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Envisioning Division
Right Frontal Lobe
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Individuals with a brain bent in this division:
- May gravitate toward formal, directive, liturgical, meditative prayers
- Extroverts: May meditate, pray, or contemplate for the purpose of demonstrating to others how it is to be done or because they often like to be in charge
- Introverts: May engage in meditative, prayerful, or contemplative activities (e.g., research on prayer, archeology research, read quota of selected religious writings, meditate on an element of theology or doctrine) and may avoid any connection with public prayers
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Individuals with a brain bent in division:
- May gravitate toward unusual, spontaneous, non-tradition, and/or symbolic meditative prayers
- Extroverts: May meditate, pray, or contemplate with religious writings as metaphor (e.g., Bible, Koran, may take a pilgrimage with a guru
- Introverts: May engage in meditative, prayerful, or contemplative activities (e.g., walk by the ocean, meditate in nature, hike in the mountains, ponder ideas or philosophies)
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Maintaining Division
Left Posterior Lobes
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Harmonizing Division
Right Posterior Lobes
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Individuals with a brain bent in this division:
- May gravitate toward conservative, established, ritual, traditional, or memorized meditative prayers
- Extroverts: May meditate, pray, or contemplate according to scheduled, habitual routines often following specific guidelines (e.g., prayer wheels, prayer beads, memorized prayers, sung or chanted prayers)
- Introverts: May engage in meditative, prayerful, or contemplative activities (e.g., silence, walking alone in a garden or on a roof-top, copying written prayers, reciting prayers, reciting memorized scripture or holy writings as prayer, cloister prayers)
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Individuals with a brain bent in this division:
- May gravitate toward informal, conversational meditative prayers, and prayer songs that are played instrumentally or sung
- Extroverts: May meditate, pray, or contemplate in sharing situations (e.g., coffee hour, reading/prayer group) that includes expression of emotions, singing, touch, and intense spiritual experiences
- Introverts: May engage in closet meditative, prayerful, or contemplative activities (e.g., alone, religious orders, walking, gardening), and study how others expressed and lived a prayer life
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Individuals may approach meditation or prayer (a form of meditation) very differently based on brain bent and on their position on the Extraversion-Ambiversion-Introversion Continuum. Studies have shown that individuals often engage in meditation/prayers regardless of any affiliation with established religion.
These following examples include Extraversion and Introversion (Ambiversion would fall somewhere between the two extremes).
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Left Frontal Lobe
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Right Frontal Lobe
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Individuals with a lead in this cerebral mode or division:
- May gravitate toward formal, directive, liturgical, meditative prayers
- Extraverts: May meditate/pray for the purpose of demonstrating to others how it is to be done or because they often like to be in charge
- Introverts: May engage in meditative/prayerful activities (e.g., research on prayer, archeology research, read quota of selected religious writings, meditate on an element of theology or doctrine) and may avoid any connection with public prayers
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Individuals with a lead in this cerebral mode or division:
- May gravitate toward unusual, spontaneous, non-tradition, and/or symbolic meditative prayers
- Extraverts: May meditate/pray with religious writings as metaphor (e.g., Bible, Koran, may take a pilgrimage with a guru
- Introverts: May engage in meditative/prayerful activities (e.g., walk by the ocean, meditate in nature, hike in the mountains, ponder ideas or philosophies)
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Left Posterior Lobes
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Right Posterior Lobes
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Individuals with a lead in this cerebral mode or division:
- May gravitate toward conservative, established, ritual, traditional, or memorized meditative prayers
- Extraverts: May meditate/pray according to scheduled, habitual routines often following specific guidelines (e.g., prayer wheels, prayer beads, memorized prayers, sung or chanted prayers)
- Introverts: May engage in meditative/prayerful activities (e.g., silence, walking alone in a garden or on a roof-top, copying written prayers, reciting prayers, reciting memorized scripture or holy writings as prayer, cloister prayers)
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Individuals with a lead in this cerebral mode or division:
- May gravitate toward informal, conversational meditative prayers, and prayer songs that are played instrumentally or sung
- Extraverts: May meditate/pray in sharing situations (e.g., coffee hour, reading/prayer group) that includes expression of emotions, singing, touch, and intense spiritual experiences
- Introverts: May engage in closet meditative/prayerful activities (e.g., alone, religious orders, walking, gardening), and study how others expressed and lived a prayer life
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Many religious and/or spiritual groups include the concept of spiritual gifts (so called) in their tradition. Some spiritual gifts are outlined in the Holy Bible (1st Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1st Peter 4), while others are included in specific writings espoused or recognized by various religious and/or spiritual groups.
This summary reflects input from conversations with a variety of individuals.
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Prioritizing Division
Left Frontal Lobe
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Envisioning Division
Right Frontal Lobe
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Individuals with a brain bent in this division may exhibit one or more of these spiritual gifts from a position of innate ability:
- Knowledge (relating to functions directed by this division)
- Wisdom of King Solomon*
- Distinguishing among spirits
- Preaching (e.g., apostles), evangelizing)
- Proselytizing
- Leading and directing
- Contributing (raising money)
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Individuals with a brain bent in this division may exhibit one or more of these spiritual gifts from a position of innate ability:
- Knowledge (relating to functions directed by this division)
- Prophesying (e.g., prophets), teaching
- Faith (through perceived patterns)
- Healing (through hope, inspiration)
- Leading charismatically
- Innovation (e.g., a new song, poem, reading)
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| Maintaining Division
Left Posterior Lobes |
Harmonizing Division
Right Posterior
Lobes |
Individuals with a brain bent in this division may exhibit one or more of these spiritual gifts from a position of innate ability:
- Knowledge (relating to functions directed by this division)
- Administrating, managing
- Ministering (e.g., clerics)
- Interpreting of tongues
- Preparing for works of service to others including preparation and carrying out of rituals
- Serving and producing
- Teaching
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Individuals with a brain bent in this division may exhibit one or more of these spiritual gifts from a position of innate ability:
- Knowledge (relating to functions directed by this division)
- Encouraging, showing mercy, or empathizing
- Faith (through feeling “in the spirit”)
- Healing (laying on of hands)
- Working miracles, speaking in tongues, religious drama or dance
- Hospitality
- Pastoral care
- Teaching
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It is also recognized that some clerics teach that a spiritual gift may be “bestowed” upon an individual because of a need in a specific situation regardless of the individual’s innate giftedness.
* Some have theorized that each cerebral division houses its own wisdom potential, which can increase with maturity, skill development, and overall integration of brain function (e.g., intuitive flashes of wisdom that is often associated with functions of the Envisioning Division). This is believed to differ from “King Solomon’s wisdom,” so called, which is typically associated with functions of the Prioritizing Division with it’s inductive-deductive reasoning style.
In general, mainline corporate religious worship styles can be categorized into one or two broad groupings: services that emphasize and appeal to functions of the left hemisphere, and those that emphasize and appeal to functions of the right hemisphere.
Within those broad groupings there can be infinite variety in terms of emphasis, permitted behaviors, perceived rewards / punishments, and interpretation of theology and church dogma.
Note: it is readily acknowledged that many individuals prefer a personal and private worship style and do not attend corporate religious services. Personal and private styles may be as unique as the individuals involved. They may lean toward the type of activities represented by one or the other of typical corporate styles.
Following is a brief comparison of some characteristics of two broad groups of corporate religious worship styles.
Left Cerebral Hemisphere
- Emphasize traditional-style services
- Emphasize sanctification (doing, obeying, following church dogma)
- Prefer anthems, hymns, and classical-style music, are often open to choirs, and may like to stick with time-honored instruments (e.g., piano, organ)
- Services center around class discussions and preaching of sermons or presentations of homilies
- May meet to be in charge and lead, achieve religious-worship goals, feel safe through following habitual schedules or rituals, offer needed services in a dependable manner
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Right Cerebral Hemisphere
- Emphasize celebration-style services
- Emphasize justification (being, trusting, accepting free gift of grace)
- Prefer innovative music and a variety of instruments, and are often very open to nontraditional or unusual instruments (e.g., percussion, keyboards, synthesizers, uncommon stringed instruments, tambourines)
- Services may include drama, stories, religious dance, and multimedia
- May meet to connect with friends (e.g., collegiality, potlucks), please others, hone a relationship with a Higher Power, help others through service, use their talents (e.g., music, teaching)
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