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How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality

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FilosofiaSociedade e cultura

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Latest episodes

  • Economic Inequality

    October 18, 2026 · 44 min

    Money may not buy happiness. But it turns out that the way it’s distributed can affect everything from happiness and a sense of meaning to physical health and mortality.  On this episode, we’ll explore the role economic inequality plays in…

  • One Nation... Under God?

    October 4, 2026 · 52 min

    The United States is a country founded on the separation of church and state. But what did the founders really mean by that? Should religion be banished from public life and policy debates? Or could it serve a purpose in the pursuit of…

  • Rethinking Purpose

    September 20, 2026 · 42 min

    These days, it seems like advice for how to “find your purpose” is everywhere. But what if purpose isn’t some hidden answer waiting to be found? And what if anxiously searching for our one true calling actually makes it harder to live with…

  • Season 11 Trailer

    September 13, 2026 · 3 min

    Join us for Season 11 of How God Works, starting next week!

  • HGW Presents: Oh God Now What

    August 23, 2026 · 45 min

    How God Works will be back with all new episodes in September. In the meantime, we're excited to feature an episode from our friends at Oh God Now What, hosted by Niala Boodhoo. * In the debut episode, "Voting Your Morals," host Niala…

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  • Bonus Episode: God, Code, and Consciousness (Aspen Ideas)

    August 2, 2026 · 46 min

    As humans increasingly turn to AI for moral guidance and answers to life’s biggest questions, the lines between technology and religion are blurring—even leading some in Silicon Valley to wonder if AI might have a spiritual life of its own…

  • Aliens and Spirituality (Encore Presentation)

    July 12, 2026 · 35 min

    Religion is often about powerful beings coming down from the skies and humans yearning to go up to join them. Does that mean we can swap aliens in for God? More and more people seem to think so. In fact, many spiritually-minded people are…

  • Searching for Signs

    June 21, 2026 · 45 min

    Throughout history, humans have searched for signs and symbols to help them navigate uncertainty. From ancient Chinese divination texts and Greek oracles to astrology, tarot cards, and modern occult practices, divination has appeared in…

  • Humor and Judaism: A Conversation with Robby Hoffman

    June 7, 2026 · 37 min

    According to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey, more American Jews cite having a sense of humor as important to their Jewish identity than things like keeping kosher and studying Torah.  Humor has long been associated with Jewish…

  • Rethinking Sin… Again

    May 24, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

    We’ve all done things we’re not proud of. But why do some people seem to struggle so much more than others when it comes to avoiding harmful behavior? And what does it mean for how we think about blame and accountability if the answer has…

  • Deus Ex Machina

    May 10, 2026 · 58 min

    We’ve always assumed that if there IS a God, that God made us. But what if it ends up being the other way around… and we’re already further along than we think? Artificial intelligence is now offering moral advice, generating new forms of…

  • Doubt (Part II)

    April 26, 2026 · 45 min

    Uncertainty about faith can be anxiety provoking and even cause people to leave religion altogether. But that's not the way it works in all traditions. In fact, some are exactly the opposite. In the second of a special two-part series…

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About the show

While religion and science often seem at odds, there’s one thing they can agree on: people who take part in spiritual practices tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The big question is: Why? In How God Works, professor Dave DeSteno takes us on a journey to find out how spirituality impacts our minds and bodies, as well as the world in which we live. He speaks to leading scientists and philosophers, religious thinkers, and thought leaders to explore what we can learn from the world’s faith traditions to help us meet some of life’s biggest challenges. Along the way, he’ll look at how we can adapt and use spiritual practices in our own lives, whatever our beliefs, including none at all. It’s by working across the boundaries that usually divide us – science versus religion, one faith versus another – that we’ll find new ways to make life better for everyone.