1	Neuroscience and Theology: Connecting God, Soul and Cortex William M. Struthers, PhD Psychology Department Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
2	Passion and Reason Definitions Evangelical Christian Behavioral Neuroscientist What do they share? Search for Truth “What is truth?” Pontius Pilate (John 18:38)
3	Truth Translated Greek aletheia Truth as objective signifying "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Hebrew Truth tied to Faith `emeth `emuwn(ah) `omen Truth tied to Understanding biynah da`ath
4	Definitions Neuroscience any of the branches of science that deal with the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, or molecular biology of the nervous system, especially as related to behavior and learning. (Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology). Christian Theology the study of the nature of God and religious truth; rational inquiry into religious questions; a system or school of opinions concerning God and religious questions; is that discipline which strives to give a coherent statement of the doctrines of the Christian faith, based primarily upon Scriptures, placed in the context of culture in general, worded in a contemporary idiom, and related to issues of life. Worldview the fundamental set of assumptions that gives meaning to the world and one's thoughts. the set of assumptions one holds about the way things really work, about what things really are, and about the meaning behind why things are.
5	Worldviews Christian Worldview The system of doctrine, tradition and practice of those following the teachings of Jesus as given in the New Testament. Influenced by tradition/denomination. Scientism Philosophical doctrine that claims that science is the only source of truth, and that all of reality is described by science alone. Naturalism A metaphysical theory which holds that all phenomena can be explained mechanistically in terms of natural (as opposed to supernatural) causes and laws. It posits that the universe is a vast machine or organism, devoid of general purpose and indifferent to human needs and desires.
6	Major Issues Isolating Christians Christian ‘Zeal’ Social Concerns i.e. Abortion, Education Authority of Scripture Validity of Scripture Reticence to accept some changes as beneficial to Christian Faith
7	‘Religifying’ Science Attempt to make our science fit our religious beliefs/scripture Creationism Creation Science Intelligent Design St. Augustine “Usually, even a non-Christian knows something about the earth, the heavens, and the other elements of the world, about the motion and orbit of the stars and even their size and relative positions, about the predictable eclipses of the sun and moon, the cycles of the years and the seasons, about the kinds of animals, shrubs, stones and so forth, and this knowledge he holds as to being certain from reason and experience. Now, it is a disgraceful and dangerous thing for an infidel to hear a Christian, presumably giving the meaning of Holy Scripture, talking nonsense on these topics; and we should take all means to prevent such an embarrassing situation, in which people show up vast ignorance in a Christian and laugh it to scorn. The shame is not so much that an ignorant individual is derided, but that people outside the household of faith think our sacred writers held such opinions, and, to the great loss of those whose salvation we toil, the writers of our Scripture are criticized and rejected as unlearned men.” (emphasis mine)
8	‘Scientifying’ Religion Scientism Radical acceptance of the scientism as worldview Naturalism Acceptance of only the natural world; it is the ends. Denial of anything ‘spiritual’ Religion and belief are functions of the brain Cognitive Dissonance Problems with teleology and ethics
9	Teleology Teleology (Greek telos, "end"; logos, "discourse"), in philosophy, the science or doctrine that attempts to explain the universe in terms of ends or final causes. Teleology is based on the proposition that the universe has design and purpose. In Christian theology, teleology represents a basic argument for the existence of God, in that the order and efficiency of the natural world seem not to be accidental. If the world design is intelligent, an ultimate Designer must exist. Teleologists oppose mechanistic interpretations of the universe that rely solely on organic development or natural causation.
10	Frameworks Non-Overlapping Magisteria (NOMA, Gould) Science and Theology work in two separate realms: the natural world and the world of ethics Triumphalism Scripture (and theology) ‘trumps’ Science Sola Scriptura Scientism Science ‘trumps’ theology (and Scripture) Complementarism Eventually science and theology will agree Value-Added Theology supplements science (add-on) Integration Theology informs the underlying assumptions of scientific theories Cartography Science and theology are two methods of mapping reality Rejects the duality of NOMA and Value-Added approaches Emphasis on holism (Neither a Science of Religion nor a Theology of Science)
11	Wesleyan Quadrilateral
12	Cartographing a Wesleyan Pentagon
13	Lopsided Variants
14	Epistemology and Ontology Worldviews allow us to maintain various epistemologies as well as ontologies Pluralism, not Postmodernism Any side of the Wesleyan Pentagon may influence the other. Ontology of Nature (dualism or monism) The ‘Spiritual-ness’ of nature Eucharist, Baptism, the body as a temple We must be willing to live, at times, in a state of Paradox. Limits of Knowledge Faith in the Unity of Truth
15	Neuroscience Informing Theology Concept of ‘Soul’ Soulishness I am a soul (psychosomatic unity; Hebrew - nephesh) Imago Dei Relatedness to God Dualism Dual nature of body and spirit (Greek – psuche) Descartes Ensoulment Developmental process of soulishness Genetics and Predispositions Doctrine of Sin The ‘Flesh’
16	Theology Informing Neuroscience Moral Nature of Man Moral Reasoning Flawed logic is ‘hard-wired’ Symbolic Abilities Language Abstraction Top-Down Processes The ‘Life of the Mind’ Positive and Affective Psychology Caution against radical reductionism and determinism
17	Is there a Christian Neuroscience? Science is Christian Basic Assumptions Historical Evidence Values Creation and Order Science is not a branch of Theology Approaches are different Importance of Teleology Vary with respect to methodology and (at times) ontology
18	So What is a Christian Neuroscientist to Do? Clarity of Framework Evangelism Limits of Apologetics Identify bad logic Know your audience
19	Reasons (& Responses) for Not Being a Christian
20	Conclusions God, Soul, and Cortex connect in the worldview of the Believer. No worldview or methodology has the market cornered on truth. The Christian Faith will outlive any tension between itself and Science. A balanced cartography and worldview will lead to a more complete understanding of the universe and closer to Alethia and Emeth. Arthur Holmes “All truth is God’s truth.” Pope John Paul II “Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.” Kate Douglas Wiggin “You can never prove God, you can only find him…” Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.