From Reason to Revelation: Scientists’ Experiences of the Transcendent

This article examines how scientists engage with and describe transcendent experiences, drawing on a diverse range of perspectives that includes the religious, the spiritual, and nones. Through a quantitative-qualitative analysis of interviews, the article identifies both the contents and modalities of such experiences, ranging from moments of awe in nature or scientific discovery to sensations of unity or deep meaning. It also considers how frequently these experiences are reported across different identity groups and investigates the contexts in which they emerge, whether within scientific practice, personal reflection, or encounters with the unknown. The findings reveal how the language of transcendence is articulated within the scientific community and how it navigates the boundaries between empirical enquiry and existential reflection.