Is consciousness a product of the brain or/and a divine act of God? Concise insights from neuroscience and Christian theology

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Authors

Pretorius, Mark

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AOSIS Open Journals

Abstract

Over several years now, notable research has been undertaken on consciousness from various disciplines in the natural sciences, especially in neuroscience and Christian theology. This paper will therefore attempt to add to the current literature in these areas by addressing briefly the following three main aspects, namely, (1) Presenting a succinct explanation of the various views of consciousness by select scholars. (2) Exploring briefly the question, ‘Is the emergence of consciousness a product of an evolved brain?’ (3) Concisely examining the question, ‘Is consciousness of God and spiritual experiences a divine act and/or a process of an evolved brain?’

Description

Mark Pretorius is part of the research project, ‘Theology of Nature’, directed by Prof. Dr Johan Buitendag (Dean, Faculty of Theology), Department Dogmatics and Christian Ethics, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Keywords

God, Consciousness, Christian theology, Neurosciences, Brain, God, Origins of consciousness, Spiritual experiences, Divine intervention

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Pretorius, M., 2016, ‘Is consciousness a product of the brain or/and a divine act of God? Concise insights from neuroscience and Christian theology’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 72(4), a3472. http://dx.DOI. org/ 10.4102/hts.v72i4.3472.