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Minds, Brains, Souls and Gods: a conversation on faith, psychology and neuroscience

• Do I have a soul?
• How free am I?
• What makes me uniquely human?
• Does my brain have a "God spot"?

The field of psychology, as especially neuropsychology, can be daunting for Christian students trying to find their way. In the face of surprising new research and radical new theories, it is tempting to limit the integration of Christianity and psychology to relatively "safe" topics that one can easily differentiate from matters of faith. Highly esteemed professor of psychology Malcolm Jeeves insists on addressing the difficult questions head-on.

In this hypothetical correspondence with a student, Jeeves argues that we must avoid false choices in the relation between Scripture and science. Christians need not choose between a "God of the gaps" that competes with science, a "neurotheology" that bases our understanding of God on the latest scientific theory, or a scientific reductionism that claims to have explained God away as a mere function of the brain. Students encountering the brave new world of neuroscience need not view such research as a threat to the faith. With the wisdom of a seasoned scholar, Jeeves offers guidance to those seeking to integrate Christianity and psychology.

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