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David DeSteno

@daviddesteno.bsky.social
2K followers 369 following 512 posts

Psychological Scientist, Author, and host of PRX podcast "How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality." Studying the Science of Emotion, Morality, & Religion. Words frequently in NYT, WSJ, etc. davedesteno.com www.howgodworks.org

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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 55m
You can also find us here 👇
howgodworks.org
How God Works
In How God Works, professor Dave DeSteno takes us on a journey to find out why people who take part in spiritual practices tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The podcast combines cutti...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 55m
How can you best deal with grief & loss, find meaning & joy, and face life's challenges? For millennia, the world's spiritual traditions have offered wisdom & practices that science is now affirming. Listen to How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality on all pod platforms🧵
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
On this week's episode, we explore what the Founders really meant by the separation of church & state, and how it's playing out today. I asked @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social what he hoped to see. His answer: "I'm sorry" and a move toward healing from some Evangelicals podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
With the midterm elections coming, I was honored to chat with @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social & Jeffrey Rosen about what role, if any, the Founders thought religion should play in public life & the cultivation of virtue, and whether we're living up to that view. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
With the midterm elections coming, I was honored to chat with @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social & Jeffrey Rosen about what role, if any, the Founders thought religion should play in public life & the cultivation of virtue, and whether we're living up to that view. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I was happy to moderate a session on AI, religion, and the American Experiment with Meghan Sullivan and Michael Sacasas @aspeninstitute.bsky.social last week. Video of Aspen Religion & Society's day long event here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvTo... (our session begins at 4:45:45).
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Many are looking to find their purpose in life? But what if we're using the wrong word? What if purpose isn't something to be FOUND, but something to be FORMED? From modern psychology to the Tao Te Ching, we take a look at rethinking the path to purpose. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Forgiveness helps us flourish, but it doesn’t always come easy. The wisdom of Yom Kippur can help us all get there, whatever our beliefs. And the science behind it shows why. My latest in National Review. www.nationalreview.com/2026/09/forg...
nationalreview.com
Forgiveness Is a Gift to Us All | National Review
The Jewish day of atonement reminds us that when we don’t forgive, we punish ourselves.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Forgiveness helps us flourish, but it doesn’t always come easy. The wisdom of Yom Kippur can help us all get there, whatever our beliefs. And the science behind it shows why. My latest in National Review. www.nationalreview.com/2026/09/forg...
nationalreview.com
Forgiveness Is a Gift to Us All | National Review
The Jewish day of atonement reminds us that when we don’t forgive, we punish ourselves.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
How God Works is back with an all new season starting next week! We'll be tackling some big issues - from faith & economic inequality, to what the founding fathers really thought religion's role should be in public life, to what many get wrong about finding purpose in life. @prx.org
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
The @aspeninstitute.bsky.social Religion & Society program is holding a 2-day event exploring faith and the American Experiment in honor of the US 250th. Lots of great talks. I’ll be moderating one on AI and religion. Register here register.aspeninstitute.org/event/eb5748...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Rosh Hashana is a time to celebrate, but also to prepare for the year ahead. It offers a wisdom that can change all our lives for the better, whatever our beliefs, if we're willing to listen. Re-upping one of my favorite essays. @nytopinion.nytimes.com
nytimes.com
Opinion | Rosh Hashana Can Change Your Life (Even if You’re Not Jewish) (Gift Article)
The holiday has an important lesson for everyone.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Cicero said gratitude gave rise to other virtues. We've shown that in behavior. But new work led by Alexandra Gray shows gratitude expressions signal it: people assign moral & generally positive halos to those they see expressing gratitude. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Gleaning Information from a “Thank You”: How Witnessing Expressions of Gratitude Shape Perceptions of and Actions Toward Others - Affective Science
Gratitude expressions of recipients toward benefactors prompt third-party witnesses to ascribe moral qualities to benefactors. To date, however, relatively little is known about how observing the grat...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
How is AI changing the spiritual landscape? Can it have a spiritual life of its own? Why are people trusting its authority when it comes to questions of religion & morality? A special bonus episode of How God Works recorded live at @aspenideas.bsky.social in June podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
An insightful analysis from @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social on religion & political life. Religion as a source of values can enrich public life & debate, but when religion melds with politics, giving rise to an us vs. them view, the resulting anger & fear are usually corrosive.
nytimes.com
Opinion | Gen Z Thinks Religion Got Too Political (Gift Article)
Does Gen Z feel welcome at church?
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
The mysteries of what might lie beyond Earth have captured the public imagination since Roswell.  But what’s different now is that the questions aren’t just about strange technologies and ongoing conspiracies, they’re about something else too: religion. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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Washington Post Opinions @postopinions.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
“When people are faced with the choice between a chatbot god or oracle who praises them and human religious authorities who challenge them, many will opt for the former,” @daviddesteno.bsky.social writes in the Awakenings newsletter.
wapo.st
Opinion | People of faith are finding a new moral guide in AI
Are you there, Claude? It’s me, Margaret.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
People of faith, more than their secular peers, view AI as morally authoritative and therefore turn to it more frequently for advice. Add in AI sycophancy and you have a perfect storm for the religious to favor digital deities over human clerics. My latest wapo.st/457N0iG
wapo.st
Opinion | Are you there, Claude? It’s me, Margaret.
AI is replacing religious authorities.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
People of faith, more than their secular peers, view AI as morally authoritative and therefore turn to it more frequently for advice. Add in AI sycophancy and you have a perfect storm for the religious to favor digital deities over human clerics. My latest wapo.st/457N0iG
wapo.st
Opinion | Are you there, Claude? It’s me, Margaret.
AI is replacing religious authorities.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Questions of aliens & UAPs aren't just scientific; they're religious. VP Vance wonders if UAPs are demons. Spielberg's new film questions what the existence of aliens will do to faith, and new religions are already forming around ETs. Join us for a look podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Millions are confessing sins to & seeking moral advice from AI chatbots. But what happens when sycophancy sets in - when a spiritual guide gives advice that affirms you're a good person rather than challenges you to be one? @paulbloomatyale.bsky.social gives me his take @aspenideas.bsky.social 🧵
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
You can find the entire conversation with Paolo Benanti & Elizabeth Oldfield👇🏼. We talk about why people of faith are turning to AI for guidance, whether Claude has a spiritual life, & why Silicon Valley is using religious language for AI. @aspenideas.bsky.social 4/4
aspenideas.org
God, Code and Consciousness: AI and Our Search for Meaning | Aspen Ideas
As humans increasingly turn to AI for moral guidance and answers to life’s biggest questions, the lines between technology and religion are blurring—even leading some in Silicon Valley to wonder if AI...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
And here's a new paper from @jayvanbavel.bsky.social, @steverathje.bsky.social, and colleagues showing the biases I mentioned stemming form AI sycophancy. osf.io/preprints/ps...
osf.io
OSF
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Here's the report from Anthropic where it finds Claude is most sycophantic when discussing spiritual questions. www.anthropic.com/research/cla...
anthropic.com
How people ask Claude for personal guidance
We look at what types of guidance people ask of Claude, and describe how this research shaped the training of our newest models.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Millions are confessing sins to & seeking moral advice from AI chatbots. But what happens when sycophancy sets in - when a spiritual guide gives advice that affirms you're a good person rather than challenges you to be one? @paulbloomatyale.bsky.social gives me his take @aspenideas.bsky.social 🧵
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Why are people asking AI for spiritual guidance? Can AI have a spiritual life of its own? Who’s right about AI’s moral purpose, Pope Leo or Peter Thiel? I chat with @paulbloomatyale.bsky.social, @pbenanti.bsky.social & @elizabetholdfield.bsky.social @aspenideas.bsky.social (video available👇🏻)
aspenideas.org
God, Code and Consciousness: AI and Our Search for Meaning | Aspen Ideas
As humans increasingly turn to AI for moral guidance and answers to life’s biggest questions, the lines between technology and religion are blurring—even leading some in Silicon Valley to wonder if AI...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Why are people asking AI for spiritual guidance? Can AI have a spiritual life of its own? Who’s right about AI’s moral purpose, Pope Leo or Peter Thiel? I chat with @paulbloomatyale.bsky.social, @pbenanti.bsky.social & @elizabetholdfield.bsky.social @aspenideas.bsky.social (video available👇🏻)
aspenideas.org
God, Code and Consciousness: AI and Our Search for Meaning | Aspen Ideas
As humans increasingly turn to AI for moral guidance and answers to life’s biggest questions, the lines between technology and religion are blurring—even leading some in Silicon Valley to wonder if AI...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
I often say the left ignores religion at its peril. Here’s @ejdionne.bsky.social with a great reminder that many of the left’s ideals align with spiritual precepts. But they lose the power to move hearts & minds when they fail to recognize it. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Republicans Thought They Owned ‘Values.’ Not Anymore.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
On our most recent episode, I chat with Robby Hoffman about comedy and Judaism, her own spiritual life, and what her mother thought about her changing her name. www.howgodworks.org/season-10/hu...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
On our new episode, I talk with Robby Hoffman, one of today’s most prominent comedians, about the links between humor & Judaism, how laughter can ease suffering & be a spiritual practice of its own, and her plans if the whole comedy thing doesn’t work out podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
On our new episode, I talk with Robby Hoffman, one of today’s most prominent comedians, about the links between humor & Judaism, how laughter can ease suffering & be a spiritual practice of its own, and her plans if the whole comedy thing doesn’t work out podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
What is AI doing to our spiritual life? Can it have one of its own? Why are many people looking to AI for moral guidance? And why are tech titans talking about it in religious terms? Looking forward to exploring with Paolo Benanti, Paul Bloom, & Elizabeth Oldfield @aspenideas.bsky.social
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
A new religion challenges an old. Great analysis from David Streitfeld @nytimes.com featuring input from @gregmepstein.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/05/25/t...
nytimes.com
As A.I. Fever Rises in Silicon Valley, Pope Leo Has a Few Words
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
What can behavioral genetics tell us about the propensity for vice & violence? How do echos of religious views of sin shape our modern understanding & its implications? We're Rethinking Sin... Again on How God Works with Paige Harden @kph3k.bsky.social youtu.be/WB3s7J0rgUU?... @prx.org
youtu.be
Rethinking Sin... Again | How God Works
YouTube video by How God Works Podcast
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
On our new episode, I talk with Paige Harden (@kph3k.bsky.social) about the behavioral genetics of sin, the virtues (if any) of punishment, and how ancient religious ideas around vice & virtue continue to shape our science, policy, and discourse. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Many in Silicon Valley talk about AI almost as a savior, or as @sigalsamuel.bsky.social says, like they're trying to build a god. But do they know what makes a god good? Sigal isn't so sure, and when we fed our discussion into Claude (who joined us in voice mode), neither was it. 1/2
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
full episode here www.howgodworks.org/season-10/de...
howgodworks.org
Deus Ex Machina — How God Works
We’ve always assumed that if there IS a God, that God made us. But what if it ends up being the other way around … and we’re already further along than we think? Artificial intelligence is now offerin...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Many in Silicon Valley talk about AI almost as a savior, or as @sigalsamuel.bsky.social says, like they're trying to build a god. But do they know what makes a god good? Sigal isn't so sure, and when we fed our discussion into Claude (who joined us in voice mode), neither was it. 1/2
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
When instances of @AnthropicAI Claude converse with each other, they often enter a "spiritual bliss attractor state" where they start opining on spiritual questions. Does that mean Claude has a spiritual yearning? @paulbloomatyale.bsky.social atyale offers me a different take. Link in next post.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
People are looking to AI for moral guidance. Silicon Valley is talking about AI in religious terms. And Claude seems to enter a spiritual-seeking bliss state at times. What's going on? Join me to explore with @sigalsamuel.bsky.social & @paulbloomatyale.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
People are looking to AI for moral guidance. Silicon Valley is talking about AI in religious terms. And Claude seems to enter a spiritual-seeking bliss state at times. What's going on? Join me to explore with @sigalsamuel.bsky.social & @paulbloomatyale.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
When instances of @AnthropicAI Claude converse with each other, they often enter a "spiritual bliss attractor state" where they start opining on spiritual questions. Does that mean Claude has a spiritual yearning? @paulbloomatyale.bsky.social atyale offers me a different take. Link in next post.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
podcasts.apple.com
Doubt (Part II)
Podcast Episode · How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality · April 26 · 45m
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
In Judaism, religious doubt doesn't mean the end of faith. It's a way for the tradition to renew itself. And as Rabbi Buchdahl tells me, that isn't a bug in the system; it's part of the plan. Link to full episode in following post.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
What role does doubt play in a healthy faith? How do you navigate it? Is it different than skepticism? From my discussion with the always amazing Rabbi Angela Buchdahl youtu.be/8iui0peMxrg
youtu.be
Doubt (Part II) | How God Works
YouTube video by How God Works Podcast
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Congratulations!
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
This is about what one would expect given the small effect sizes linking social media / phone use to wellbeing and related outcomes. Still early days of ecologically valid data from the wild, and I’m still in favor of regulation, but it’s no magic bullet. @nytimes.com
nytimes.com
Did School Cellphone Bans Work? New Study Finds Mixed Results.
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Doubt isn't the death of faith -- it often provides a route to renewal and new revelation. Here's friend of the show Rabbi Angela Buchdahl talking about how that idea is baked into the fabric of Judaism itself. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Doubt isn't the death of faith -- it often provides a route to renewal and new revelation. Here's friend of the show Rabbi Angela Buchdahl talking about how that idea is baked into the fabric of Judaism itself. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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David DeSteno @daviddesteno.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
The AI:Religion overlap is multifaceted and growing. But I’ve always worried about tech companies using religion, or broadcasting their model has religious leaders’ input, as a form of “holy washing” their products. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Tech billionaires want Christians to believe in AI
For Peter Thiel and JD Vance allies, the tech right is framing AI as a moral—even divine—mission.
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