Introduction

In previous chapters I reviewed a considerable range of evidence concerning neural mediation of the sense of Self as well as neural and neurochemical mediation of religious experiences. It so happens that there is considerable overlap in the neuroanatomy of Self and of religious experience. Both rely heavily on limbic and right-sided anterior temporal and prefrontal networks. Now on the one hand, it should not be too surprising that Self and religious experience share the same neural networks, as it is the Self that experiences, and thus religious experience requires a Self for there to be religious experience at all.