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EPISODE · Jan 9, 2022 · 31 MIN

Pain: The Benefits of Suffering

from How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality · host PRX

Across the world, people accept pain in the name of God. Whether through painful public rituals or private sacrifices, suffering plays a role in many faiths. Join Dave and his guests anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas and psychologist Paul Bloom to see how extreme rituals improve the lives of both those who do them and those who watch them, as well as why milder forms of suffering may help people find meaning and growth. For more on Dimitris Xygalatas’s research, click here. Paul Bloom’s books, including The Sweet Spot, are listed here.

What this episode covers

Across the world, people accept pain in the name of God. Whether through painful public rituals or private sacrifices, suffering plays a role in many faiths. Join Dave and his guests anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas and psychologist Paul Bloom to see how extreme rituals improve the lives of both those who do them and those who watch them, as well as why milder forms of suffering may help people find meaning and growth. For more on Dimitris Xygalatas’s research, click here. Paul Bloom’s books, including The Sweet Spot, are listed here.

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Pain: The Benefits of Suffering

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality?

This episode is 31 minutes long.

When was this How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality episode published?

This episode was published on January 9, 2022.

What is this episode about?

Across the world, people accept pain in the name of God. Whether through painful public rituals or private sacrifices, suffering plays a role in many faiths. Join Dave and his guests anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas and psychologist Paul Bloom to...

Can I download this How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality episode?

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