Religiosity may be seen as both a rational and an emotional phenomenon. Recent technological advances have allowed neuroscientists to relate emotional perception and expression to distinct neurological substrates. When these are rendered dysfunctional through a stroke or other brain injury or disease, the victim's religiosity may change in specific ways. These changes are detailed through case study material in this article. Factors involved in recovery are delineated and guidelines for pastoral care of these patient/parishioners are offered.
The author would like to thank Dr. Michael O'Boyle, cognitive neuroscientist at Iowa State University, for his helpful and instructive comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript.