OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – FIRST-PROOF, 03/29/12, NEWGEN CHAPTER Consciousness, Spirituality, and 37 Postmaterialist Science: An Empirical and Experiential Approach Gary E. Schwartz Abstract Consciousness and spirituality are inherently experiential processes. The defi nition of “spirituality” ranges from (1) personal opinions regarding the meaning of life and being part of something greater, through (2) experiences of transcendental states and oneness, to (3) beliefs regarding the existence of spirit, life after death, reincarnation, angels and guides, and some sort of omnipresent infi nite intelligence and power. Academic psychology has typically taken a materialistic view toward consciousness and spirituality; both are interpreted as neurobiological processes shaped by genetics and developmental and cultural factors. However, as reviewed in this chapter, contemporary consciousness research provides emerging proof-of-concept evidence suggesting that (1) mind is separate from brain, (2) spirit and soul are comparable to energy and information that persist in the vacuum of space, (3) people can receive intuitive information that is accurate and useful in their individual and collective lives, and (4) physical and psychological health can be fostered by active loving spiritual processes. The evidence points toward the emergence of a postmaterialist paradigm in psychology and science in general. Key Words: consciousness, spirituality, materialism, postmaterialism, the mind–brain relationship, the Big Five, parapsychology, survival of consciousness, continuity of consciousness, spirit, soul, infor- mation, energy, intuition, energy healing, spiritual healing, angels, guides, infi nite intelligence, God When Kepler found his long-cherished belief did not agree with the most precise observation, he accepted the uncomfortable fact. He preferred the hard truth to his dearest illusions; that is the heart of science. —Carl Sagan Do not bite my fi nger; look where I am pointing. —Warren McCulloch Introduction in consciousness and spirituality and to integrate Th e broad title of this chapter—“Consciousness, them with real-life experiences. Spirituality, and Postmaterialist Science: An Consciousness is inherently an experiential pro- Empirical and Experiential Approach”—was sug- cess (Tart, 2009); it is only witnessed directly by the gested by the editors. It provides a unique oppor- person having the experiences. Th e same applies to tunity for the author and readers to explore the spirituality (Walsh, 2000). Whether we defi ne “spir- relationship between empirical research and theory ituality” as (1) a set of personal opinions about the 581 339_LisaMiller_CH37.indd9_LisaMiller_CH37.indd 558181 33/29/2012/29/2012 110:01:360:01:36 PPMM OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – FIRST-PROOF, 03/29/12, NEWGEN meaning of life and/or as being part of something theoretical question of the potential existence of greater, (2) experiences of transcendence and/or “spirit” and “soul” is examined in light of parallels feeling a sense of oneness with everything, or (3) involving energy and information. beliefs about the actual existence of a greater spir- Th e chapter then examines the possibility that itual reality, including spirits, life after death, rein- people can intuitively receive information from carnation, angels and guides, and/or some sort of “spirit” that is potentially accurate as well as use- omnipresent and omnipotent intelligence, they all ful in real-life situations. Research is reviewed involve conscious processes. on medical intuition, and examples are provided Th e scope of this chapter, as proposed by the involving the author and his research staff that title, invites us to examine contemporary con- illustrate how “spirit-assisted” intuition can be sciousness research as it relates to spirituality and practiced in daily life. postmaterialist science, from both an empirical and Th e relationship of spirituality to health is exam- experiential point of view. It turns out that research ined next from the theoretical possibility of “spirit- on the cutting edge of consciousness science points assisted” healing. Exemplary proof-of-concept strongly to the possibility that (3) some sort of research and observations are reviewed that illustrate larger spiritual reality actually exists (Schwartz, how psychology and medicine are being potentially 2011; Tart, 2009). In light of this possibility, the expanded and advanced in this area. emerging proof-of-concept research has profound Finally, the chapter looks to the future and con- potential implications for the fi eld of psychology siders some of the profound implications for psy- as a whole. It also has signifi cant potential impli- chology and society that stem from the possibility cations and applications to virtually all aspects of that this emerging vision of consciousness and human life. Th is chapter integrates state-of-the-art spirituality is valid. Th e implications range from proof-of-concept research and theory on conscious- experimental designs, through alternative interpre- ness and postmaterialist science as it relates to the tations of psychological and neuroscience data, to existence of a greater spiritual reality, with examples new postmaterialist applications in technology and of real life applications. education. Th e concept of “self-science” is explored Th e chapter focuses on “proof-of-concept” as an emerging paradigm for integrating contem- research primarily because much of the research is in porary consciousness and spirituality research and its early stages. Given the nature of the topic—that fostering “evidence-based spirituality” in daily life. is, the possible existence of a greater spiritual reality and its relationship to consciousness—the research Materialism and the Mind-Brain Problem is inherently controversial, at least as viewed by Mainstream psychology, neuroscience, and sci- conventional psychology, neuroscience, and main- ence in general typically adopt a materialistic view stream science in general. However, the collection of nature and the universe. Materialism is the belief of proof-of-concept research fi ndings, when consid- that (1) what is real is physical matter, that (2) only ered as a whole, not only demonstrate the feasibility matter exists, and that (3) everything that happens of conducting large-scale systematic research in this in nature and the universe can be understood and area, but it illustrates the promise of this research for explained in materialistic terms (Tart, 2009). In increasing our understanding of human nature (and psychology this belief is expressed in terms of the nature in general) as well as evolving our behavior relationship of mind and brain; consciousness is as a species. assumed to be a by-product or “epiphenomenon” of Th e chapter begins with the fundament “mind- brain function (e.g., an emergent property of neural brain” problem—is consciousness a by-product of networks). Note that a materialistic interpretation brain function, or is it separate from the brain? It of the mind–brain relationship precludes the pos- illustrates how mainstream theory in electronics sibility that a greater spiritual/nonmaterial reality and electrical engineering, combined with state-of- could, in principle, exist. the-art empirical research addressing the survival of Th ere is no question that adopting a materialistic consciousness (SOC) after death hypothesis, point perspective helped science historically break away to the serious possibility that consciousness as a pro- from the constraints and biases (including censor- cess is ultimately separate from the brain. Included is a ship) of various religious institutions. Moreover, discussion of the challenge of determining whether scientifi c methods based upon materialistic philoso- consciousness has intention, and whether evidence phy have been highly successful in not only increas- of intention is observed in afterlife research. Th e ing our understanding of nature and the universe 582 Consciousness, Spirituality, and Postmaterialist Science 339_LisaMiller_CH37.indd9_LisaMiller_CH37.indd 558282 33/29/2012/29/2012 110:01:360:01:36 PPMM OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – FIRST-PROOF, 03/29/12, NEWGEN but also in obtaining greater control and freedom Th e logic is as follows: If the brain is solely respon- through advances in technology. It is understandable sible for the existence of consciousness, then when how materialism became the cardinal assumption in the brain dies, consciousness should die. Th ere are mainstream science. no ifs, ands, or buts to the logic; this is an essential, Not surprisingly, when the assumption of mate- even absolute, prediction of materialism. It follows rialism is questioned today, it typically evokes that if empirical SOC research documented that confusion and criticism, if not consternation, by consciousness continued after physical death, the conventional scientists. Th e history of materialism materialistic interpretation would be resoundingly is comprehensively reviewed, and seriously chal- refuted. lenged, in Tart’s (2009) visionary and controver- Before we review contemporary SOC research, sial book Th e End of Materialism. A distinguished it is helpful to examine how psychology and neu- researcher at the frontiers of consciousness science, roscience routinely come to the conclusion that Tart reviews what he calls the “Big Five” areas of consciousness is created by the brain, followed by “anomalous” consciousness research—often labeled the compelling logic that clearly explains