Whatever Happened to the Soul?: Scientific and Theological Portraits of Human Nature

by Warren Shelburne Brown, H. Newton Malony, Nancey Murphy

Overview

Winner of Prize for Outstanding Book in Theology and the Natural SciencesAs science crafts increasingly detailed accounts of human nature, what has become of the soul?This collaborative project strives for greater consonance between contemporary science and Christian faith. Outstanding scholars in biology, genetics, neuroscience, cognitive science, philosophy, theology, biblical studies, and ethics join here to offer contemporary accounts of human nature consistent with Christian teaching. Their central theme is a nondualistic account of the human person that does not consider the "soul" an entity separable from the body; scientific statements about the physical nature of human beings are about exactly the same entity as are theological statements concerning the spiritual nature of human beings.

For all those interested in fundamental questions of human identity posed by the present context, this volume will provide a fascinating and authoritative resource.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800631413
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	11/04/1998
Series:	Theology and the Sciences
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Warren Shelburne Brown is Professor of Psychology at the Graduate School of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is also the Director of the Lee Travis Research Institute.

His educational studies began in San Diego where he graduated with a B.A. from Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego. He then went on to receive his MA from the University of Southern California in 1968. In 1971 he received his PhD from the University of Southern California in Experimental Psychology.

Warren has contributed to over 70 scholarly articles to peer-reviewed scientific journals such as Neuropsychologia, Psychophysiology, Neurobiology of Aging, Biological Psychiatry, Developmental Neuropsychology, and Science, and co-authored over 120 presentations at scientific meetings. Books published: Whatever Happened to the Soul: Scientific and Theological Portraits of Human Nature(edited with Nancey Murphy and Newton Malony;Fortress Press, 1998); Understanding Wisdom: Sources, Science, and Society (Edited volume; Templeton Press, 2001).

Warren is a very active person who involves himself with many organizations. He is active in UCLA Brain Research Institute, American Psychological Association: Fellow of Division 40 and of Division 6 Psychophysiological Research, International Neuropsychological Society, New York Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Scientific Affiliation.

H. Newton Malony is Senior Professor of Psychology Emeritus, at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Nancey Murphy is Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 —Human Nature: Historical, Scientific, and Religious Issues — Nancy Murphy

The Purpose of This Book

Ancient Philosophy

Early Christian Sources

Early Modern Science

Philosophy of Mind

Recent Science

Developments in Theology and Biblical Studies

Where Do We Stand?

Chapter 2 — Human Nature: One Evolutionist's View — Francisco J. Ayala

"In the Image of God"

Humankind's Biological Origins

An Evolutionary Account of Ethics

The Road Traversed

Chapter 3 — A Genetic View of Human Nature — V. Elving Anderson

The Importance of a Genetic view

The Formation of a Genetic View

Pathways from Genes to Behaviors

Genes and Cognitive Abilitites

Genes and Personality

Implications of this Genetic View

Chapter 4 — Brain, Mind, and Behavior — Malcolm Jeeves

The Decade of the Brain

Gaining Perspective

The Contemporary Scene

The Tightening of the Brain-Mind Behavior Links

What Does It All Imply?

Conclusions

Chapter 5 — Cognitive Contributions to Soul — Warren S. Brown

The Concept of Soul

Human Cognition, Personal Relatedness, and an Emergent Soul

Critical Cognitive Capacities for Personal Relatedness

Conclusion

Chapter 6 — Nonreductive Physicalism: Philosophical Issues — Nancy Murphy

Issues for Reflection

Physicalism and Reductionism

Empirical WSupport for Nonreductive Physicalism

A Nonreductive-Physicalist Account of Religious Experiences

Conclusion