Neuroscience, Psychology, and Religion

Illusions, Delusions, and Realities about Human Nature

Malcolm Jeeves and Warren S. Brown

Narrated by Robert E. Dobbs

Available from Audible

Book published by Templeton Press

Malcolm Jeeves and Warren S. Brown provide an overview of the relationship between neuroscience, psychology, and religion that is academically sophisticated, yet accessible to the general reader.

The authors introduce key terms; thoroughly chart the histories of both neuroscience and psychology, with a particular focus on how these disciplines have interfaced religion through the ages; and explore contemporary approaches to both fields, reviewing how current science/religion controversies are playing out today. Throughout, they cover issues like consciousness, morality, concepts of the soul, and theories of mind. Their examination of topics like brain imaging research, evolutionary psychology, and primate studies show how recent advances in these areas can blend harmoniously with religious belief, since they offer much to our understanding of humanity's place in the world. Jeeves and Brown conclude their comprehensive and inclusive survey by providing an interdisciplinary model for shaping the ongoing dialogue.

Sure to be of interest to both academics and curious intellectuals, Neuroscience, Psychology, and Religion addresses important age-old questions and demonstrates how modern scientific techniques can provide a much more nuanced range of potential answers to those questions.

Malcolm Jeeves is emeritus professor at the University of St. Andrews School of Psychology, Scotland. He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1992 for his services to science and psychology. He is a leading experimental neurophysiologist, former chairman of the International Neuropsychological Symposium, and the author of several books dealing with the integration of science and faith.

Warren S. Brown is professor of psychology and director of the Lee Travis Research Institute at the Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary. He is research neuropsychologist/neuroscientist interested in the impact of congenital brain malformations and has coauthored over 80 peer reviewed scientific articles. He is also author or editor of Whatever Happened to the Soul, edited with Nancey Murphy and H. Newton Malony and Did My Neurons Make Me Do It?, with Nancey Murphy.

REVIEWS:

“The authors successfully weave together empirical research findings with philosophical and theological discussions to provide a clear and lucid account of this developing area of study.... Overall, this is an excellent book. I would fully recommend it to psychologists and psychiatrists and anyone with an interest in this area.”

—British Journal of Psychiatry

“Finally a book that will make you breathe more freely if you are interested in an objective and realistic concept of science and religion. It is very well written and pleasurable to read. Malcolm Jeeves and Warren S. Brown have amply accomplished their aim to “present a more holistic and complex view of the brain and human nature.” Thinking from the standpoint of non-reductive physicalism or dual-aspect monism, they set a firm base for everyone interested in the science-religion dialogue.”

—ESSSAT News

“Neuroscience, Psychology, and Religion: Illusions. Delusions, and Realities about Human Nature will be of primary interest to generalist psychologists with minimal knowledge in neuroscience or the psychology of religion, or to persons with backgrounds in religious studies with an interest in understanding basic neurological issues in this area.... Neuroscience, Psychology, and Religion can serve as a very good primer to understand historical perspectives regarding the dualistic nature of humankind, as well as current issues in the neuroscientific study of spirituality.”

—PsycCRITIQUES

“In Neuroscience, Psychology, and Religion, they attempt to sort out the human, and in particular the religious, implications of recent discoveries. They provide a readable overview of the history of their field and of what has been learned so far about the structure and functioning of the human brain. ”

—First Things

“This unusual book is a collaboration between two neuropsychologists who are also Christians. They give an overview of various aspects of the field, including science and religion, how the soul became the mind, the mind-brain relationship, evolutionary psychology and the neuroscience of religious experience. All these concepts are clearly explained. ”

—The Scientific and Medical Network