What Can Make You More Spiritual? Here Is What The Researchers Found
4pt 0in;">It is interesting to know that having sex is linked with spirituality and even belief in God. Oxytocin is a natural hormone produced by the human body, also known as “love hormone”. This hormone is released during sex, breastfeeding, and childbirth. It is found that this hormone is not only involved in behaviors like social bonding and selflessness but also inspires spirituality, especially in men.
Research conducted at Duke University, in North Carolina, reveals that sex can be an inspiration to a belief or it can increase belief, both in religion and God. Oxytocin is also available as medication in the market and is often used in women to induce labor.
But this study finds that, when oxytocin was administered to men, they showed a greater sense of spirituality and this feeling remained even a week later.
4pt 0in;">A social psychologist at the American University, Patty Van Capellen, claimed that divinity and meditation have a well-established link with well being and health. He further explained that they were interested in finding the biological factors that might have an effect on those religious experiences.
“Oxytocin is involved in boosting our bodies to support spirituality “To test this relationship, some men were administered oxytocin while others were given placebo. Those who were administered the “love hormone’’, were bound to state that spirituality was a significant part of their lives.
They additionally communicated a sentiment of solidarity with other individuals and living things. Oxytocin seems to boost positive emotions like hope, love, inspiration, gratitude, awe, and peace. But everyone did not show the same effects i.
e. individuals with gene CD38, involved in the regulation of its release in the brain, showed an intense response.
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Dr. Van Cappellen states that more research needs to be conducted in women as the behavior of oxytocin is different between genders. However, the effect oxytocin on women is still to be found.