Neuroscience and Human Identity; Are We More Than Just Our Brains?

#neuroscience, #consciousness #artificalintelligence #laniertheologicallibrary
What exactly are human beings? Are we advanced apes? Are we machines? Are we souls confined to a body?

Questions of core human identity are central to many contemporary discussions. One often expressed view is that human beings are their brains. Our behaviours, choices, personalities, even religious beliefs are dictated by the chemical and electrical activity in our neurons.

Is this true? Or is there more to us than simply matter? If God is real, does that change how we think about this topic? In this lecture we will address these questions and others, drawing upon clinical neuroscience, philosophy and theology as we think about who we really are.

Dr. Sharon Dirckx is a senior tutor at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA) and an RZIM apologist. Originally from a scientific background, she has a PhD in brain imaging from the University of Cambridge and has held research positions at the University of Oxford, UK, and the Medical College of Wisconsin, US.

Sharon is an OCCA alumna having completed the OCCA program in 2005 during its founding year. She is invited to speak and lecture in a variety of contexts across the UK, including the 2014 Veritas Forum at the University of Oxford.

Sharon has appeared on Justin Brierley’s program “Unbelievable?” on Premier Christian Radio, and several BBC programs including Songs of Praise, Radio 2 Good Morning Sunday, and Radio 4 Beyond Belief. Her topics of interest focus on science, theology, “mind and soul,” and the problem of evil, and she speaks and lectures throughout the UK, as well as in Europe and North America.

Her first book, Why?: Looking at God, Evil and Personal Suffering (2013), won the prize for best book at the 2014 Speaking Volumes UK Christian Book Awards (presented by Pam Rhodes). Why? interweaves the stories of people who have suffered, with a practical look at some “why?” questions on suffering. Sharon’s latest book, Am I Just My Brain? (2019), examines questions of human identity from the perspectives of neuroscience, philosophy, and theology.

Sharon lives in Oxford with her husband and two young children.

Books by Dr. Dirckx:

[estefanamanrique]

Your talk is a very interesting one. I am happy to hear that science, philosophy and mystical beliefs can be part of the same speach... Very interesting! However, I have a strange question in mind for a long time... What "attaches" (bind together) the soul or the mind to the body?" We cannot transfer our mind/soul into another body... As well, "Why some physical parts of our body let our soul detach or go away from the physical body and make the body die?" Big one... I'd like to know if there is a theory on that... Thank you and cheers

[carlpeterson]

Great talk. I would love to hear her and academics like her talking about the mind/ brain and our other faculties. I think Christians could do well having some clear thinking about human faculties (Body/ soul (mind, emotions, will)) It can help us understand how to use the Bible more holistically in our lives to live a more Godlike life. How can our body and soul become more like Christ? How do we know and live a virtuous life? The class would be interesting. I think just knowing the Biblical words is a starting point but not the end. But we must think first about what the words probably mean in the Bible (Body, soul, mind etc.) I will have to try and see if that class is online somewhere.

Small point. I do not think God forgets our sin. No ontologically forgets. But that forgetting is a separating of the man from his sin so completely that it is like forgetting our sin. But God knows forever that we sin and still gives us grace and mercy through Christ.

[BocaVidakovic]

Our brains are simply of unknown origin and maker. Brain is so advanced that we cant understand it at all. Not close. Somebody or something who make us keep all that in secret from us for reason. But if we are just watery grey mush and after we die we just stop to exist why i making so much effort every day, every minute to survive so caled life knowin i will one day just cease to exist? What is then point of surviving every secon for so many years? Or death is just a name people invented? What if after death is start of our true shape and true purpose? One way to find out, wait your last moment and you will get answers for sure or simply lost your mind what makes you, and fall in endless non aware oblivion ...

[JohnBdog]

No thanks. I'll reserve my brain power, such that I have, to enjoy learning and interacting in the knowledge that life is short.