The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why It Matters
In a culture in which science is believed to hold the answers to every question, spiritual realities like the soul are often ignored or ridiculed. We are told that neuroscience holds the key to explaining every aspect of human behavior. Yet Christian philosopher J. P. Moreland argues that Scripture, sound philosophical reasoning, and everyday experience all point to the reality of an immaterial soul. Countering the arguments of both naturalists and Christian scholars who embrace a material-only view of humanity, Moreland demonstrates why it is both biblical and reasonable to believe humans are essentially spiritual beings. He also describes the various components of the soul and how Christians can nurture their souls as disciples of Christ. Moreland shows that neuroscience and the soul are not competing explanations of human activity, but that both coexist and influence one another.
From the Back Cover
As we look to science for answers, spiritual realities are often dismissed.
Can science explain everything? Christian philosopher J. P. Moreland argues that Scripture, sound philosophical reasoning, and everyday experience all point to the reality of an immaterial soul.
Countering the arguments of both naturalists and scholars who embrace a material-only view of humanity, Moreland shows how neuroscience and the soul need not compete. Rather, they coexist and influence each other.
By demonstrating why it is both biblical and scientifically sound to regard humans as essentially spiritual beings, this penetrating volume illustrates the importance and means of nurturing one’s soul as a disciple of Christ.
Top Highlights
“First, the Bible seems to teach that consciousness and the soul are immaterial and we need to regard this teaching as genuine knowledge and not as faith commitments that we merely hope are true.” (source)
“Third, loss of belief in life after death is related to a commitment to the authority of science above theology, along with a conviction that belief in the soul is scientifically discredited.” (source)
“Therefore, and this is critical, strict physicalism cannot be established by showing that mental states and brain states are interdependent on, causally related, or constantly conjoined with each other in an embodied person. Physicalism needs identity to make its case, and if something is true, or possibly true of a mental substance, property, or event that is not true or possibly true of a physical substance, property, or event, then strict physicalism is false.” (source)
“If physicalism is true, then everything true of the brain (and its properties, states, and dispositions) is true of the mind (and its properties, states, and dispositions) and vice versa.2 If we can find one thing true, or even possibly true, of the mind and not of the brain, or vice versa, then dualism is established. Then the mind or its properties and states is not the brain or its properties and states.” (source)
“Throughout history, the vast majority of people, educated and uneducated alike, have been dualists (those who believe that the soul is an immaterial thing different from the body and brain), at least in the sense that they have taken a human to be the sort of thing that could enter life after death while his or her corpse was left behind.” (source)
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
J.P Moreland delves into the subject of our soul and Spiritual growth in this book...We are reminded that the Soul Is Crucial for Self Understanding and maturing in the ways of Jesus. Although I cannot say that I agree with everything said in this book, I like the fact that JP Moreland offers a pretty in depth study of the Soul and the importance of understanding it during our Christian walk...
Though relatively short in the number of pages this book is definitely not one for Casual reading, it is a pretty intense study book on The Soul..
A review by Michelle Kidwell on NetGalley, March 28, 2014
This book was deep. Wow! Most of the book, i needed someone to break it down for me, but overall, it made me realize how important it is to feed the soul. As a teacher, it made me embrace how vital it is to teach this to our disciples. We are hit hard everyday about what we should look like from the culture, but very little is poured into what we should be doing for our soul. This book is definitely a wake-up call for us in the arena of our souls. I know personally I am going to be a lot more focused on feeding my soul spiritually. Thank you for this reading.
Review by JT Thomason on Netgalley, March 13 2014
The Soul 'We Know It's Real & Why It Matters by JP Moreland addresses the topic of the human soul. The author attempts to answer the question of whether "the soul" is real. The topic is approached from both a scientific and Bible based viewpoint. The author uses the topics of dualism and physicalism, as an introductory chapter, in small amount of space these only serve to make the topic even more difficult to understand.
The intended audience for this text is unclear. The terms and manner in which the topic is explained do seem to point to this book being for a student of theology. I do believe students of religion or science would find this book both interesting and thought provoking. The average reader may feel bogged down with the vocabulary that the author uses.
Review by Janet Forney on Netgalley, February 10, 2014
Product Details
- Title : The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why It Matters
- Author: Moreland, J. P.
- Publisher: Moody Publishers
- Publication Date: 2014
- ISBN: 9780802489845