Why does Lisa Miller say service is the strongest spiritual practice?

Asked by a listener how to build spiritual community without a church, Lisa Miller said her brain research found service to be the practice that most strengthens spiritual awareness. She describes service as strengthening the cortex in regions tied to spiritual perception and opening the heart. Her advice for secular seekers is to build community around serving others.

• Kate Bowler makes a related point earlier in the episode: joy is socially contagious and is often triggered by service.

▸In their words

“It is service. Service is prayer in action.” Lisa Miller · at 1:28:29 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Hidden Brain (2026-10-05). Read the whole episode summary →

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