Original Research - Special Collection: SASRF Creation - Consciousness and Christology

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

Mark Pretorius
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 72, No 4 | a3472 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i4.3472 | © 2016 Mark Pretorius | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 09 May 2016 | Published: 11 November 2016

About the author(s)

Mark Pretorius, Department of Dogmatics and Christian Ethics, Faculty of Theology, South Africa

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?’

Keywords

Consciousness; evolution; neuroscience; theology; spirituality; physiology; cognitive

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1. Examining the function of neurobiology in Christian spiritual experiences and practice
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doi: 10.4102/hts.v76i1.6182