What Is Andrew Newberg's Website and What Can Visitors Find There?
Updated
andrewnewberg.com is the official website of Dr. Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist and physician whose work centers on the relationship between brain function and mental states—especially religious and spiritual experiences. The site is a hub for his research, books, articles, media appearances, and courses. It is best suited for readers who want to understand his work on "neurotheology," find his publications, or locate his books and public talks.
Who Andrew Newberg Is
According to the site, Dr. Newberg is:
- Professor and Director of Research at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital.
- A physician at Jefferson University Hospital.
- Board certified in internal medicine and nuclear medicine.
- A pioneer in the neurological study of religious and spiritual experiences, a field known as "neurotheology."
His research involves taking brain scans of people during prayer, meditation, rituals, and trance states to better understand religious and spiritual practices and attitudes. The site frames his central question as: "What is the nature of reality and how do we understand it?"
What the Website Offers
The site is organized into several main sections, each serving a different purpose:
| Section | What you'll find |
|---|---|
| About | Background on Dr. Newberg, plus links to his CV, Jefferson University Hospitals page, Marcus Institute page, IMDb profile, lecture topics, and Wikipedia page |
| Research | Information on his scientific work |
| Books | His published books, including a "New Book" feature and an "All Books" listing |
| Articles | Journal articles and popular press writing |
| Journal Articles | Academic papers, some available as PDFs |
| Popular Press | Media coverage and commentary |
| In the News | Press and broadcast appearances |
| Podcasts | Audio interviews and discussions |
| Videos | Video content, including talks and interviews |
| Courses | Educational offerings |
| Contact | A way to reach him |
Featured Book: Sex, God, and the Brain
The site highlights Sex, God, and the Brain as the current featured title. The description poses a question central to his work: whether sexuality and spirituality—often seen as at odds—are actually deeply connected, and whether science can demonstrate that connection. A "Buy Now" link is present for this book.
Journal Articles and Academic Work
The Journal Articles section lists peer-reviewed papers, some with direct PDF links. Examples include:
- How God Changes Your Brain: An Introduction to Jewish Neurotheology — CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly
- The Language of Ineffability: Linguistic Analysis of Mystical Experiences — Psychology of Religion and Spirituality
- The Neurotheology Link: An Intersection Between Spirituality and Health — Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Popular Press and Media
The Popular Press and In the News sections collect coverage from outlets such as Scientific American, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Discovery News, along with video appearances like The Agenda with Steve Paikin on TVO. These are useful if you want a quicker, less technical entry point into his ideas.
Who This Site Is For
- Researchers and students looking for journal articles, PDFs, and citations.
- General readers curious about neurotheology, meditation, prayer, and brain function.
- Media and event organizers seeking his lecture topics, CV, or contact information.
- Readers of his books who want to explore related articles, videos, and podcasts.
Practical Notes
- Some journal articles are available as direct PDF downloads; others may require access through the original publisher.
- The site links out to external profiles (Wikipedia, IMDb, Jefferson University), so it functions partly as a central index rather than hosting everything itself.
- The "Buy Now" link for the featured book indicates a purchase option, but the site does not display pricing or payment details directly.
If you want to understand Newberg's core idea—that spiritual and religious experiences have measurable correlates in brain function—start with the About and Popular Press sections, then move to the Journal Articles for depth.