What About the Soul?: Neuroscience and Christian Anthropology

Everyone knows about the rocky relationship between science and theology brought about by the revolutionary proposals of Copernicus and Darwin. Fewer people know about an equally revolutionary scientific innovation that is currently under way among neurobiologists. This revolution in brain research has completely rewritten our understanding of who we are. It poses fundamental challenges to traditional Christian theology. According to the scientific worldview that now dominates, it is no longer necessary to speak of a soul or spirit as distinct from the functions of the brain. Nor is it possible from the scientific point of view to biologically distinguish humans from animals. How then, are we to answer the fundamental theological question? Who am I? What am I doing here? Why do I do what I do? In more classical theological terms, what does it mean to be saved? How am I responsible for my behavior? What is the meaning of resurrection? What happens when I die? Contributors: Bill T. Arnold, D. Gareth Jones, Joel B. Green, Patrick D. Miller, Charles E. Gutenson, Stuart L. Palmer, William Hasker, Michael Rynkiewich, Virginia T. Holeman, Lawson G. Stone, Malcolm Jeeves.

Everyone knows about the rocky relationship between science and theology brought about by the revolutionary proposals of Copernicus and Darwin. Fewer people know about an equally revolutionary scientific innovation that is currently under way among neurobiologists. This revolution in brain research has completely rewritten our understanding of who we are. It poses fundamental challenges to traditional Christian theology. According to the scientific worldview that now dominates, it is no longer necessary to speak of a soul or spirit as distinct from the functions of the brain. Nor is it possible from the scientific point of view to biologically distinguish humans from animals. How then, are we to answer the fundamental theological question? Who am I? What am I doing here? Why do I do what I do? In more classical theological terms, what does it mean to be saved? How am I responsible for my behavior? What is the meaning of resurrection? What happens when I die? Contributors: Bill T. Arnold, D. Gareth Jones, Joel B. Green, Patrick D. Miller, Charles E. Gutenson, Stuart L. Palmer, William Hasker, Michael Rynkiewich, Virginia T. Holeman, Lawson G. Stone, Malcolm Jeeves.

Joel B. Green is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary with an expertise in Luke-Acts, Jesus and the Gospels, 1 Peter, James, New Testament Ethics, and Theological and Biblical Hermeneutics. A prolific author, Dr. Green has written or edited more than 25 books, including "Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation" (Eerdmans) and "The Theology of the Gospel of Luke" (Cambridge University Press). His commentary on "The Gospel of Luke" (Eerdmans) and "Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels" (InterVarsity Press) each received book awards from "Christianity Today." His most recent publications include "1 Peter" in the Two Horizons New Testament Commentary series (Eerdmans) and "Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture" (Abingdon). He has also written scores of articles and chapters-some for the academic world, others for the general church. He is the General Editor of the "Wesley Study Bible."