Spirituality is often mistakenly tied to religion, often leaving individuals to feel that resiliency that is often associated with those who practice religion is unattainable for themselves. This article by Quartz actually proves the opposite as it explores the science behind spirituality. The article explores how the euphoric, emotional and transcendent experiences often tied to spirituality are in fact real and do not require a religion to unlock. The discovery of this new universal cognitive basis for spirituality is expected to help shape the way mental health treatment is performed. As we enter what is for many a holy month in their faith it is good to know that all of us are able to take part in spiritual growth. What types of activities, rituals do you practice to reduce stress (praying, meditating, etc) ? Have you ever tried a spiritual practice that is not native to your religion or culture? If so how was it? Do you think that science and religion / spirituality are diametrically opposed? Are there elements of spirituality that can never be proven, and does that make it hard for science to promote it as anything more then blind faith, or wishful thinking?

Along the same lines are there things about being human that are beyond science? Do we want to limit spirituality, and a search for meaning, to a cognitive exercise or a brain function?

That might seem a little too philosophical, but is critical to how we view the role of “mental health”, and the fact while we try to promote our field  as a hard science, we know more about string theory then we do about the mysteries of the mind / soul. Is there a danger in limiting all of that to a brain scan, a blip on a screen? As we move further into areas of artificial intelligence, I think these questions become even more urgent.