We have already examined the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON) on this site, exposing its cult-like structure, authoritarian leadership, and troubling history.

We have also looked at Eckankar, a newer religious movement that teaches followers to chant the syllable Hu as a way of connecting with the divine. While these groups differ in theology, they share a common strategy: they use sound, repetition, and ritual to induce powerful inner experiences that feel like proof of spiritual truth.

It is important to take a deeper dive into the science and philosophy of chanting, prayer, and sound-based spirituality. By examining the neuroscience, psychology, sociology and philosophy behind these practices, we can understand why they feel so real, why they can be so dangerous, and how they are exploited by cults and high-demand groups.

The Sound of Ecstasy

Religious movements across the world have long relied on sound to generate powerful inner experiences. Whether it is the Hare Krishna mantra repeated endlessly by ISKCON devotees, the Hu chant of Eckankar followers, the rhythmic prayers of the Catholic rosary, the ecstatic remembrance of God in Sufi dhikr, or the fiery prayer circles of Pentecostal churches, sound is central to the way human beings seek transcendence.

Participants describe feelings of bliss, healing, and even union with the divine. Followers also describe feelings of euphoria, and transcendence. Yet when we examine these practices through the lenses of neuroscience, psychology, sociology, and philosophy, a different picture emerges. The euphoria is real, but it is not evidence of supernatural truth. It is evidence of how the human brain and body respond to rhythm, repetition, and belief.

Neuroscience shows that these sensations can be explained without invoking the supernatural.

What the Brain Does with Sound

From a neuroscientific perspective, chanting and prayer are powerful because they directly alter brain activity and chemistry.

In the case of Hare Krishna devotees, repeating the mantra daily produces measurable changes in the brain waves. In ISKCON, devotees chant the Hare Krishna mantra which is a 16-word Sanskrit prayer repeated thousands of times daily. The practice is said to purify the mind, awaken love for Krishna, and liberate the soul from the cycle of rebirth. Studies show increases in alpha and theta activity, which are associated with relaxation, trance, and dreamlike states. The repetition also stimulates the brain’s dopamine system, creating a sense of reward and motivation that devotees interpret as Krishna’s mercy.

For Eckankar practitioners, the Hu chant works differently but with similar results. In Eckankar, followers chant the syllable Hu, which they believe is the “sound of God.” This chanting is presented as a direct way to experience the divine, bypassing traditional religious structures. Chanting a single syllable for extended periods creates a strong auditory-motor feedback loop. The simplicity of the sound allows the brain to slip into a state of default mode network suppression, reducing self-referential thought. This produces the sensation of ego-dissolution, which followers interpret as direct contact with God.

The Catholic rosary engages the brain in yet another way. The tactile stimulation of beads combined with rhythmic vocal repetition activates sensorimotor pathways and calms the nervous system. This produces a meditative state similar to mindfulness practices, which explains why many Catholics describe the rosary as deeply soothing.

In Sufi dhikr, the chanting of God’s names is often accompanied by swaying or spinning. This not only stimulates auditory circuits but also the vestibular system, which governs balance. The resulting dizziness and altered perception of space contribute to feelings of ecstasy and transcendence.

Finally, Pentecostal prayer and glossolalia (speaking in tongues) show yet another neurological pattern. Neuroimaging studies reveal reduced activity in the frontal lobes, which normally regulate self-monitoring. This explains why practitioners feel as though the speech is not their own but the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Taken together, these examples show that chanting and prayer are neurochemical hacks. They reliably alter consciousness, producing bliss, calm, or ecstasy. But these sensations are the result of brain processes, not proof of divine intervention.

The Evolution of Rhythm and Ritual

From an anthropological and evolutionary perspective, chanting and prayer make sense as survival tools. Human beings are rhythmic creatures: our earliest experiences are shaped by the heartbeat of the mother, the cadence of footsteps, and the cycles of day and night. Anthropologists suggest that synchronized sound and movement — whether chanting, drumming, or dancing — helped early human groups bond together, coordinate actions, and build trust.

This evolutionary inheritance explains why chanting feels so natural and powerful. When people chant in unison, their breathing, heart rates, and even brain waves begin to synchronize. The result is a deep sense of safety and belonging, which in ancient times may have been essential for survival. Today, that same mechanism is harnessed in religious rituals, where it is interpreted as spiritual unity.

Why It Feels Like Truth

Psychologically, chanting and prayer function like self-hypnosis. The rhythm and repetition narrow attention, silence intrusive thoughts, and induce altered states of consciousness. This shift in awareness feels qualitatively different from ordinary waking life, which is why it is so often interpreted as something sacred or supernatural.

Across traditions, the same mechanisms are at work. A Hare Krishna devotee repeating the sixteen-word mantra thousands of times a day, an Eckankar practitioner chanting the syllable Hu, a Catholic reciting the rosary, a Sufi engaging in dhikr, or a Pentecostal speaking in tongues are all engaging in practices that focus the mind and change the way the brain processes experience. The calm, clarity, or ecstasy that follows is not random; it is the predictable outcome of repetition, rhythm, and immersion.

In these states, people also become more open to suggestion. When a religious leader or doctrine provides an explanation for the sensations — whether it is Krishna’s mercy, the presence of God, the comfort of Mary, or the voice of the Holy Spirit — followers are primed to accept the interpretation. The unusual inner state demands meaning, and the religious framework supplies it. What begins as a psychological effect of chanting is reinterpreted as proof of divine truth.

The power of these experiences lies in their universality. The brain responds in similar ways regardless of the theology attached to the practice. What differs is the story told around the experience. A Catholic may describe the peace of the rosary as Mary’s embrace, while a Sufi may describe the ecstasy of dhikr as union with God. A Pentecostal may feel that glossolalia is the Spirit speaking through them. The sensations are real, but the interpretations are cultural.

This is why chanting and prayer feel so convincing. They create genuine shifts in consciousness that are deeply moving and often life-changing. Yet the fact that the same psychological mechanisms appear across such diverse traditions shows that these states are not evidence of supernatural truth. They are evidence of how the human mind responds to repetition, rhythm, and belief.

The Social Power of Sound

If psychology explains why chanting feels so convincing to the individual, sociology shows why it becomes so powerful in groups. Chanting and prayer are not private practices; they are collective rituals. When voices rise together in unison, something larger than the sum of its parts emerges.

The act of repeating the same words or sounds with others creates a sense of unity and belonging. Individual identity begins to dissolve into the group, and participants often describe feeling as though they are part of a single body or spirit. This is not accidental. Sociologists have long noted that ritual synchrony — moving, speaking, or singing together — strengthens social bonds and increases loyalty to the group.

In healthy communities, this can be a source of comfort and solidarity. A Catholic parish praying the rosary together, or a Sufi circle chanting the names of God, can create a profound sense of connection and shared purpose. But in high-demand groups and cults, the same mechanism becomes a tool of control. When chanting is framed as proof of divine truth, the group experience reinforces not only faith but also obedience.

The social environment also magnifies the psychological effects. Surrounded by others chanting with passion and conviction, the individual feels their own experience validated. The group becomes an echo chamber of belief, where doubt is drowned out by the sound of collective devotion. This is why leaders of authoritarian movements so often rely on chanting, singing, or rhythmic prayer: it is a reliable way to bind followers together, suppress individuality, and channel loyalty toward the group’s authority.

In this way, chanting and prayer serve a dual function. They alter consciousness on the inside while reinforcing conformity on the outside. The result is a powerful feedback loop: the inner experience feels real, the group confirms its meaning, and the cycle of belief deepens.

The Philosophy of Sound and Spirit

Long before neuroscience could measure brain waves or psychology could describe altered states, human beings turned to philosophy and theology to explain the power of sound. Across cultures, sound has been imagined as a bridge between the human and the divine. In Hindu thought, the syllable Om is considered the primordial vibration from which the universe itself emerged. In ancient Greek philosophy, the idea of the “music of the spheres” suggested that the cosmos was ordered by hidden harmonies. In Christian mysticism, Gregorian chant was believed to lift the soul toward heaven, while in Sufi traditions, the remembrance of God through dhikr was seen as a direct path to the union with the divine.

What unites these traditions is the conviction that sound is not just a human creation but a cosmic principle. To chant, sing, or pray is to align oneself with a deeper order of reality. The experience of transcendence is interpreted as evidence that one has touched the eternal.

Modern philosophy, however, invites us to reconsider these claims. Thinkers influenced by phenomenology and existentialism argue that the meaning of chanting lies not in accessing a supernatural realm but in the way it structures human experience. The rhythm, repetition, and resonance of sound create a sense of presence, community, and significance. The feeling of touching the divine may be less about contacting another world and more about intensifying our experience of this one.

This does not make the experience any less profound. On the contrary, it highlights the creative power of human consciousness. Chanting and prayer reveal how deeply we are shaped by sound, rhythm, and ritual. They show that what feels like eternal truth may in fact be the mind’s interpretation of embodied practices.

Chanting also raises profound questions in the philosophy of mind. If someone feels union with God during prayer, that experience is undeniably real to them. The challenge is distinguishing between subjective truth (the lived experience) and objective truth (the cause of the experience).

By reframing sound-based spirituality in philosophical terms, we can appreciate both its beauty and its danger. The beauty lies in its ability to connect people, to create meaning, and to evoke awe. The danger lies in how easily these experiences can be claimed by authoritarian leaders as proof of their doctrines. Philosophy reminds us that the sensations are real, but the conclusions drawn from them are not inevitable.

The Power of Expectation

Another layer is the placebo effect. When people believe that chanting will bring peace, healing, or divine contact, their brains often deliver those sensations. Neuroscience shows that expectation itself can trigger dopamine release, reduce pain, and heighten emotional response.

This means that chanting is not just about rhythm and repetition — it is also about belief and anticipation. A devotee who expects to feel Krishna’s mercy, or a Pentecostal who expects to feel the Holy Spirit, is primed to interpret ordinary psychological effects as extraordinary. The placebo effect amplifies the experience, making it feel even more convincing.

The Ethics of Sound and Power

While chanting can be beautiful and healing, it also raises ethical questions. In healthy contexts, it fosters mindfulness, solidarity, and joy. In authoritarian groups, the same techniques become tools of manipulation. Leaders can frame predictable psychological effects as proof of their divine authority, using them to demand loyalty and suppress dissent.

The ethical issue is not the practice itself but the power dynamics around it. When chanting is freely chosen, it can be a source of empowerment. When it is imposed, or when its effects are misrepresented as supernatural evidence, it becomes a form of coercion and control.

Beyond Religion: Secular Soundscapes

Finally, it is important to note that chanting is not confined to religion. Sports crowds chanting in stadiums, soldiers marching in cadence, or even fans singing together at concerts all produce the same psychological and social effects. The rush of unity, loss of individuality, the surge of emotion — these are not inherently religious, but deeply human.

By comparing sacred and secular chanting, we see that the power of sound lies not in divine intervention but in our shared biology and psychology. Religion gives these experiences a sacred frame, but the underlying mechanisms are universal.

Conclusion: The Sound and The Story

From the Hare Krishna mantra to the Eckankar Hu, from the Catholic rosary to Sufi dhikr and Pentecostal glossolalia, human beings have long turned to sound, rhythm, and repetition to touch what feels like the divine. These practices reliably produce bliss, calm, ecstasy, and transcendence — experiences so powerful that they are often taken as proof of spiritual truth.

But when we examine them through the lenses of anthropology,  neuroscience, psychology, sociology, philosophy, a different picture emerges. The sensations are real, but their causes are natural. Anthropology and evolutionary biology explains why rhythm and synchrony are so deeply wired in us. Neuroscience shows that chanting alters brain waves and chemistry. Psychology reveals how repetition narrows attention and increases suggestibility. Sociology demonstrates how group chanting dissolves individuality and strengthens loyalty. Philosophy reminds us that the meaning of these states is not discovered but constructed, shaped by culture and belief. Also the placebo effect shows how expectations amplifies the experience. Even outside religion — in stadiums, concerts, and military drills — the same mechanisms are at work.

Taken together, these insights show that chanting and prayer are not evidence of supernatural power but of human biology, psychology, and culture. They are neurochemical hacks that reliably alter consciousness, producing sensations that feel profound but are not proof of divine intervention.

This does not mean the experiences are meaningless. On the contrary, they reveal the extraordinary ways the human mind and body respond to sound and ritual. They can foster healing, solidarity, and awe. But they also carry danger. Authoritarian leaders and high-demand groups exploit these predictable effects, framing them as divine validation of their authority. What begins as a universal human capacity for altered states becomes a tool of control.

The lesson is clear: the euphoria is real, but the interpretation is not inevitable. Chanting and prayer show us the power of the human brain, not the hand of the gods. By understanding the science and philosophy behind these practices, we can reclaim them for empowerment, mindfulness, and community — while guarding against those who would use them to manipulate and enslave.

By Beth Gibbons (Queen of Karma)

Beth Gibbons, known publicly as Queen of Karma, is a whistleblower and anti-MLM advocate who shares her personal experiences of being manipulated and financially harmed by multi-level marketing schemes. She writes and speaks candidly about the emotional and psychological toll these so-called “business opportunities” take on vulnerable individuals, especially women. Beth positions herself as a survivor-turned-activist, exposing MLMs as commercial cults and highlighting the cult-like tactics used to recruit, control, and silence members.

She has contributed blogs and participated in video interviews under the name Queen of Karma, often blending personal storytelling with direct confrontation of scammy business models. Her work aligns closely with scam awareness efforts, and she’s part of a growing community of voices pushing back against MLM exploitation, gaslighting, and financial abuse.