Faith as a practice, not a belief: rituals, fasting and daily meditation
September 28, 2026 · 22 min read
Arthur Brooks, Andrew Newberg, Narendra Modi and Tal Wilkenfeld describe spirituality as something you do, through rituals, fasting and daily meditation, rather than only something you believe. This makes spiritual benefits accessible through concrete habits anyone can try.
The rules, numbers and steps worth keeping in front of you.
- Brooks's order for faith: practice first, then belief, then, occasionally, feeling.
- Brooks goes to Mass daily even when he feels nothing; relationships last through practice, not feelings.
- Huberman: calling it a practice puts the focus on process, which makes you keep going.
- Newberg: repetition forms neural connections, as with learning piano or a sport.
- Newberg: an intense retreat left brains more sensitive to dopamine and serotonin.
- Newberg: the data point to less stress, anxiety and depression, whatever the practice.
- Practice is open to anyone, religious or not; small experiences sit on the same continuum as mystical ones.
- Modi: fasting is devotion and self-discipline; he prepares for days and has done it for 50 to 55 years.
- Modi: meditation is freeing yourself from distraction and being present.
- Wilkenfeld: meditate daily, and for 20 minutes with your team before a show, phones down.
- Brooks: keep the first hour, last hour and meals device-free.
- Newberg: when stuck, find a new ritual; write down your goal and try practices that fit.
- No guarantees or quick fixes; one size does not fit all.
- Talk to a doctor before extended fasting, especially with a condition or on medication.
This is the short form. The full insight has every expert's reasoning, their own words and the sources.