How God Works

David is working on a multifaceted project to explore ways religious rituals and practices can help people along the road of life. One part of this project will be his next book, How God Works, that will be published by Simon and Schuster in late 2021. He’s also working on a podcast and a collaboration with PopTech as part of their 2020 conference events. These conversations have now been released (see below).

David DeSteno and PopTech welcome you to explore a new way to think about the science behind spiritual practices and the ways in which they might boost wellbeing. Through their rituals, religions offer tools of sorts — spiritual technologies that have been debugged over the centuries — to help people deal with the challenges of life. It’s time for science to explore these practices to see when, how, and why they work, and whether they can be adapted to help people find joy and meaning, deal with grief and stress, and build a more compassionate and resilient society.

How God Works Series Introduction

David DeSteno and PopTech welcome you to explore a new way to think about the science behind spiritual practices.

What Science Can Learn From Religion

Sigal Samuel and David DeSteno discuss the tensions between science and religion, why studying rituals scientifically offers hope for fostering discovery and wellbeing, and cautions about separating practices from their original contexts.

Finding Peace, Compassion, and Strength in Troubled Times

Sharon Salzberg and David DeSteno discuss using mindfulness to find compassion, equanimity, and to foster justice in these trying times. 

Rituals Are for Doing: They Make Life Better

Rabbi Geoffrey Mitelman and David DeSteno discuss why we all should stop arguing about God and rather focus on how rituals can be used and adapted to help people find forgiveness, comfort, togetherness, and resilience in the face of love and loss.

Be A Better Ancestor

Ari Wallach and David DeSteno discuss how the tools of religion can help focus us more on the future (rather than on immediate gratification) and in so doing, help us combat long-term threats like climate change, depletion of natural resources, and rising income disparity.

Reflections on the Road Ahead

David DeSteno reflects on how the perspectives of our guests offer tools to help ensure that we emerge from 2020 stronger and ready to work toward a more resilient, just, and peaceful society.