Neuro-Relational Spirituality and
Religious Power Games
By Shaleen Kendrick
Omnipotent or amipotent? What dominates our imagination shapes our lives and character—what we worship, we ultimately become.
Guilty.
It’s a simple word that carries power. I was in the kitchen drinking coffee when my friend’s text flashed across my phone. My heart dropped as I read Oord’s message: “I received a five-page trial decision a few moments ago. I’m driving in the Idaho backcountry, so I’ve pulled over on the side of the road. The verdict: guilty on both counts. The discipline: removal of my credentials and my membership in the Church of the Nazarene.”
Guilty.
Disciplined.
Stripped of credentials.
Removed from membership in the Church community.
There are power games at play in Oord’s short text, sent from the backwoods of Idaho. A verdict? Guilty on two counts? Disciplined, stripped of credentials, and excommunicated from the community. One wonders, “What did Oord do?”
As an ordained minister and member of the Church of the Nazarene, a committee of Oord’s peers charged him with heresy. They put him on trial and required him to defend his Open and Relational ideas about God.
Why? Because Thomas Jay Oord, my friend, professor, and fellow theologian, dared to affirm and celebrate queer identities as part of God’s design and vast tapestry of creativity and beauty. Oord’s theological ethic of love led to a trial by a religious jury.
This moment—a window in time—offers a profound opportunity, if not an obligation, to reflect on the Neuro-Relational impacts of power games in communities like Oord’s.
The question is, What’s going on in Oord’s church, and why does it matter?
First, What is Neuro-Relational?
Our neurobiological functions and relational dynamics are fundamental and unique aspects of human nature. The simpler term “Neuro-Relational” is hyphenated to emphasize the inseparability of these dynamics. A Neuro-Relational lens looks at the interplay between our neurological mind, biological body, and innately relational spirit, succinctly phrased as “mind-body-spirit.”[1]
Interestingly, “Experience is biology.”[2] This means our experiences and environments profoundly shape our mind-body-spirit. Neuro-Relational Spirituality (NRS) is very curious about this phenomenon.
Neuro-Relational thinkers explore the symbiotic relationship between people and their environments. The aim is to better understand the implications and impact people and environments have on brain development, cognition, autonomic reactivity, social dynamics, emotions, regulation, spiritual perceptions, and overall well-being.
Neuro-Relational Spirituality is an integrative lens that uses neurobiological and relational science to underpin a holistic understanding of faith. NRS provides a way to evaluate and ensure that spiritual and religious doctrines, dogmas, and practices support and nurture mind-body-spirit. NRS aims to promote personal and collective well-being as integral components of one’s spirituality.
Neuro-Relational Spirituality is especially relevant in light of recent scientific research, which reveals a profound truth: we are biologically compelled to believe in something.[3] Given that we are biologically wired to believe, the critical questions become: What do we choose to believe in, and how does what we believe affect our mind-body-spirit?
Ralph Waldo Emerson captures the biology of belief, writing:
The gods we worship write their names on our faces, be sure of that. And we will worship something—have no doubt about that either… That which dominates our imagination, and our thoughts will determine our life and character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we are worshiping, for what we are worshiping, we are becoming.[4]
We will now explore how the objects of our worship, whether defined by omnipotence or amipotence, shape our mind-body-spirit.
Environments: Seeds and Soil
First, let’s talk about the “Parable of the Sower,” taught by the historical Jesus. The basic elements of the story are seeds falling on four different types of soil, but only one type—good soil—supports and nurtures the seed in ways that allow it to grow and bloom.
Growing up, I was taught in conventional Christian circles that the “seed” represents the “Word of God”—the Bible as interpreted by conventional Christianity—and the “soil” symbolizes my heart’s receptivity to their authoritative biblical interpretations.[5]
However, in Neuro-Relational Spirituality, this story is a metaphor for how environments influence and impact the development and growth of people. Neurobiological and Relational science explains how our environments shape our mind-body-spirit. A Neuro-Relational lens sees the seeds in the story as living organisms: The seed is me; the seed is you. The seed is our mind-body-spirit. The story illustrates how different environmental conditions—like different soil types—affect our development and ability to grow. Today’s science underpins Jesus’ ancient story. It demonstrates the need to cultivate environments (within and between) that support and nurture our mind-body-spirit. The moral of the story is: seeds in good soil––like humans in healthy environments––bloom into the fullest version of themselves. In Neuro-Relational Spirituality, this is what it means to flourish.
Mind-Body-Spirit Implications
Neuro-Theology studies how beliefs shape our inner and social environments and subsequently influence brain function and behavior. [6] Research shows that religious or spiritual beliefs can alter our brains, highlighting our brain’s capacity to adapt to environments crafted by these beliefs. This leads to an intriguing question: If believing in God changes our brain, the question is: How?[7]
Our imagination and thoughts create our environments internally and externally. So, what happens when our imagination and thoughts are dominated by a God who exerts all power and control over others and circumstances—i.e., an omnipotent God?[8]
In a word: Authoritarianism.
Religious belief systems cultivate authoritarian environments and power dynamics by attributing omnipotence to divine authority. Research suggests that the personality we attribute to God (i.e., what we believe God is like) is closely linked to neural patterns that correspond with our emotions and behaviors.[9] For instance, individuals who embrace an authoritarian God hold the belief that humans are liable to God’s wrath.[10] This God will dole out punishment to those who display unfaithfulness or engage in unrighteous behavior.[11] An authoritarian deity is seen to have absolute power and control over global affairs and individuals[12]—i.e., an authoritarian God is omnipotent.
Understanding that our beliefs about God shape who we become underscores why what we believe matters. For example, research reveals that individuals who hold authoritarian beliefs about God often view the Bible from a strict fundamentalist perspective which regards all texts as literally true, ‘and hence interpret them according to their own understanding. Such a hermeneutic advocates for governing our nation based on these interpretations of Christian values.[13] Research shows such people tend to endorse policies such as the death penalty, higher military spending, increased government authority in counterterrorism efforts, and advocate for Christian prayer in public schools.[14] Moreover, envisioning an authoritarian God activates the limbic areas of the brain, generating fear and anger.[15]
Authoritarianism in religious contexts often emerges as a strict adherence to an omnipotent God, resulting in the exercise of power over others. This was clearly demonstrated by Oord’s peers in the Church of the Nazarene. While this approach may preserve order and control, it comes with Neuro-Relational costs. When people imitate the traits of an omnipotent God, the resulting authoritarian environments impact our mind-body-spirit:
Mind:
• Cognitive Impairments: Constant stress undercuts cognitive functions like memory and problem-solving by affecting the brain’s prefrontal cortex. The pressure to conform reduces the brain’s efficiency, hindering higher-order cognitive processes.
• Stunted Neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself in response to experiences. Authoritarian power dynamics stifle neuroplasticity by cultivating environments of fear and conformity, limiting the brain’s ability to adapt, learn, and innovate.
Body:
• Neurobiological Impact: Induced stress by limiting autonomy and enforcing compliance. Chronic stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and elevates cortisol levels, leading to anxiety, depression, and impaired mental health.
• Emotional Dysregulation: Authoritarian spaces suppress emotional expression, impairing emotional regulation. This leads to long-term emotional health issues such as mood disorders and promotes emotional detachment.
Spirit:
• Relational Impairments: Authoritarianism creates relationships based on hierarchy and control rather than mutuality and shared power. This erodes agency, trust, and cooperation, leading to superficial and transactional interactions. It undermines communal support and spiritual growth.
Things that make you go “Hmmmm?”
Conversely, what happens when our imagination is dominated by thoughts about a God who is nurturant?[16] A God whose nature is defined by love. What happens in our mind-body-spirit when we believe God is amipotent?
Tom writes, “Amipotence presumes that we best understand God in general and divine power in particular if we give love pride of place…Love comes first.”[17] In amipotence, love is defined as “acting intentionally in relational response to God and others to promote overall well-being.”[18]
When power is exercised as “power-with others” instead of “power-over others,” it creates environments that support and nurture mind-body-spirit. This Open and Relational approach embodies persuasive, non-controlling power—the highest form of power—which shapes our mind-body-spirit in adaptive ways:
Mind:
• Improved Cognitive Functioning: Environments that value participation and autonomy boost cognitive functions, enhancing complex problem-solving skills, adaptive thinking, and overall intellectual capacity through empowered decision-making.
• Increased Neuroplasticity: Shared power nurtures an environment where new ideas are encouraged, stimulating neuroplasticity and enhancing cognitive flexibility, which supports personal and spiritual growth.
Body:
• Reduced Stress: Shared power dynamics reduce stress by promoting personal agency and inclusivity, lowering stress hormone production, and improving mental and physical health outcomes.
Spirit:
• Social-Emotional Well-being: Environments built on shared power promote emotional regulation. These environments allow for open emotional expression, enhancing social-emotional intelligence and resilience within the community.
• Strengthened Relationships: Authentically valuing each person’s contribution deepens relational connections, nurturing a genuine sense of belonging and mutual support. This is essential for a flourishing spiritual community.
The contrast between believing in an omnipotent or amipotent God lies in their vastly different Neuro-Relational impacts. Omnipotence replicates the stress and suppression inherent in authoritarianism, while amipotence nurtures healthy neurobiological-relational functions, offering a reparative alternative.
Just as different soil types determine seeds’ growth, different environments determine how people develop. With this in mind, let’s revisit Oord’s situation. Do you suppose the leaders of the Church of the Nazarene imagine God as omnipotent or amipotent? Can we see why the difference matters?
The Choice is Yours
Neuro-Relational Spirituality advocates a shift toward amipotence because it supports and nurtures mind-body-spirit in ways an authoritarian God and community cannot.
An amipotent God deeply cares about how the mind-body-spirit of individuals and communities is shaped. An amipotent God lures us to cultivate environments where we can flourish mentally, physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Recognizing that we are biologically driven to believe in something, which kind of God will you choose to worship: The omnipotent or the amipotent? Remember, “that which dominates our imagination, and our thoughts will determine our life and character…for what we are worshiping we are becoming.”[19]
Bio: Shaleen Kendrick is a theologian and the creator of Neuro-Relational Spirituality (NRS), which integrates neurobiology and relational science to underpin a holistic understanding of spirituality. She is completing a Th.D. in Open and Relational Theology, exploring the symbiotic interplay between people, environments, and beliefs. As a trainer and consultant, she leverages the Neuro-Relational Leadership Model™ to dynamically facilitate professional development, creating cultures where people can flourish. www.nrlmodel.com
OORD’S DRABBLE* RESPONSE
Shaleen Kendrick applies amipotence to her expertise in neuro-relational spirituality, illustrating her ideas in light of my experiences as a queer-affirming theologian. She argues that a holistic view of mind-body-soul is essential for understanding the pain authoritarian systems often cause. Religions that embrace authoritarianism frequently justify themselves by appealing to an omnipotent God. An amipotent God, by contrast, challenges such structures. Amipotence aligns more naturally with neuro-relational models of health and wholeness, because it nurtures the integration of mind-body-spirit in ways omnipotence cannot. If we are biologically inclined to believe in God, choosing an uncontrolling God of love promotes well-being.
For more on Oord’s view of Jesus and divine relationality, see this article.
* A drabble is an essay exactly 100 words in length.
[1]. In Neuro-Relational Spirituality “Mind-body-spirit” is synonymous with “Neurobiological-Relational processes” and is written with hyphens, not commas. The hyphen signifies that these aspects are not isolated but deeply linked, continuously influencing and shaping one another. This interconnectedness reflects a holistic understanding of human experience, where mental, physical, relational, and spiritual dimensions are inseparable and work together as a unified whole.
[2]. Daniel J. Siegel, The Developing Mind: How Relationships and The Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are, Third edition (New York London: The Guilford Press, 2020), 40.
[3]. Andrew B. Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman, Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth, 1st Free Press trade pbk. ed (New York: Free Press, 2006).
[4]. Gates of Prayer: The New Union Prayer Book, Weekdays, Sabbaths and Festivals. Services and Prayers for Synagogue and Home (New York: Central conference of American Rabbis, 1975), 240.
[5]. Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Second edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Academic, 2020).
[6]. Andrew B Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman, How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist, 2009, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=740508.
[7]. Ibid., 106–14.
[8]. Thomas Jay Oord, The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence (Grasmere, Idaho: SacraSage Press, 2023), 6.
[9]. Newberg and Waldman, How God Changes Your Brain, 107–8.
[10]. Grudem, Systematic Theology, 1555.
[11]. Newberg and Waldman, How God Changes Your Brain, 107–8.
[12]. Ibid., 107.
[13]. Ibid., 108, 110.
[14]. Ibid., 110.
[15]. Ibid.
[16]. John Sanders, Embracing Prodigals: Overcoming Authoritative Religion by Embodying Jesus’ Nurturing Grace (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2020).
[17]. Oord, The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence, 125.
[18]. Ibid., 126.
[19]. Gates of Prayer, 240.