1: The Science of Spirituality (NPR)

"NPR reporter goes on Scientific Quest for God"
Barbara Bradley Hagerty (Religion Correspondent)

This week begins National Public Radio's investigation of "the science of spirituality" from an investigative radio journal perspective. Each day this week, Barbara Bradley Hagerty looks into the mystery of life. WQ follows her journey.

Listen Now [5 min 41 sec]

Read Excerpts

1. Isn't God A Trip?
2. Searching For The God Spot
3. What Turns People Into Spiritual Virtuosos?
4. Laughing Back To Health
5. Dying In A Brain Scanner, Sort Of

Weekend Edition Sunday, May 17, 2009 · The golden rule of journalism decrees that reporters take nothing on faith, back up every story with hard evidence, and question everything.

NPR's religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty kept that rule in mind when she decided to explore the science of spirituality. She was searching for answers to the questions: Is spiritual experience real or a delusion? What happens when we pray? And does consciousness depend on the brain, or can it operate when the brain doesn't.

Weekend Edition Sunday host Liane Hansen talks with Hagerty about her research and what she discovered while writing her new book, Fingerprints of God.