This cross-disciplinary research project aims to investigate whether spiritual yearning in nonreligious individuals can be operationalized and measured through awe, by combining perspectives from theology and psychology. Our project employs science-engaged theology and cognitive science to build the bridge between religious studies approaches to awe and spirituality and current psychological understandings of awe experiences and nonreligion.
The feedback will be bidirectional, with cognitive scientists developing empirical research incorporating input from scholars of religion and providing feedback on the science-engaged reflections that the scholars of religion will produce, thus deepening understanding in both fields. The project aims to do so via a fellowship program, discussion seminars with science-engaged theological reflection on awe and normative implications, cognitive science workshops provide cross-training in the relevant cognitive sciences, empirical psychology studies investigating awe, spirituality, and meaning-making in nonreligious individuals, and a cross-disciplinary symposium with scholars of religion and cognitive scientists.
The ultimate goals are to broaden the understanding of spiritual yearning and awe beyond traditional religious contexts, both within religious studies and cognitive science, to increase capability and interest in cross-disciplinary engagement and collaboration between psychology and religious studies, and to generate (public) interest in and recognition of awe as a potential vehicle of spirituality for the nonreligious. The project will culminate in various outputs, including a special issue of a religious studies journal, two empirical psychology articles, open-access datasets and materials, academic conference presentations, a popular science article, and a book proposal on awe and spirituality of the nonreligious.
