Spiritual Bypassing vs. Biological Reductionism: Why Both Miss the Point of Healing
When we’re hurting, people often rush to explain our pain away. Sometimes it might sound like:
“It’s just your brain chemistry. You need to rebalance your serotonin.”
Other times it might sound like:
“Raise your vibration and stay positive.”
At first glance, these two statements seem like they come from completely different worlds - one rooted in science, the other in spirituality. But really, they’re two sides of the same coin. Both are ways of bypassing the raw, human truth of our experience.
And to be clear: I’m not saying either perspective is inherently “wrong.” Science has given us incredible insights into how our bodies and brains function, and spiritual practices can offer deep comfort and meaning. The issue isn’t the tools themselves - it’s what happens when we overcorrect and cling to only one explanation. When we reduce everything to biology, or skip over everything with spirituality, we end up bypassing the full complexity of being human. Healing requires holding both without erasing our lived experience.
What Is Biological Reductionism?
Biological reductionism happens when every emotional or psychological struggle is boiled down to biology: neurotransmitters, genetics, hormones, brain scans. While biology absolutely plays a role, this lens often ignores the meaning of our emotions, the impact of grief, and the reality of living in a complex world.
It reduces us to machines that just need a tune-up, rather than human beings who are grieving, growing, and making sense of life.
What Is Spiritual Bypassing?
Spiritual bypassing happens when we use spiritual language or practices to avoid discomfort:
“Everything happens for a reason.”
“Just focus on love and light.”
“Don’t lower your vibration.”
Instead of sitting with anger, sadness, or grief, bypassing asks us to jump over them - to skip straight to transcendence. It may look positive, but it can leave us feeling unseen and silenced.
Why They’re the Same Side of the Coin
Both reductionism and bypassing share a common thread: disconnection.
Reductionism disconnects us from meaning and story.
Bypassing disconnects us from grounded reality.
Both over-simplify human experience in the name of control. And both can leave us feeling invalidated, as though our very real pain is a problem to be fixed instead of a truth to be honored.
Finding a Different Way
What if instead of reducing or bypassing, we allowed for nuance - for complexity?
Our biology matters and our emotions hold wisdom.
Our spiritual practices can comfort us and we need space for grief.
Healing isn’t about fixing or skipping - it’s about integrating.
When we stop looking for one single explanation and start holding multiple truths, we begin to create space for true healing.
Where in your own life have you felt dismissed? What would it feel like to honor both your body and your story?
