Episodes

  • #41 – A Cambridge-Trained Neuroscientist’s Perspective: Dr Sharon Dirckx Discusses our Minds, our Brains, and Have We Lost Our Minds?

    #41 – A Cambridge-Trained Neuroscientist’s Perspective: Dr Sharon Dirckx Discusses our Minds, our Brains, and Have We Lost Our Minds?
    May 15 2025
    In this episode we continue our series discussing Stan’s recent book Have We Lost Our Minds?, exploring the book’s themes with neuroscientist and apologist Sharon Dirckx, Ph.D.In this episode, we discuss: In what ways do we talk about the brain doing what persons do?How did Sharon’s experience in brain imaging research help her conclude that we are more than just our brains?What is the role of honest and open dialogue in finding truth in this and all other important areas?How does acknowledging the first-person perspective as a way of knowing change the conversation about mind-brain relations?Are there studies in neuroscience that suggest a soul?What are the most compelling objections to holistic dualism from the neuroscientific perspective?How could thinking Christians respond to these objections?Resources mentioned during our conversation:Sharon Dirckx, Am I Just My Brain?Find out more about Dr. Sharon Dirckx’s work on her website and through the Oxford Centre for Christian ApologeticsFind out more about Have We Lost Our Minds? Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website. A printable group discussion guide can be found here.Thinking Christianly Episode #21: A Case Study in Thinking Christianly and Making a Difference: Edmund HusserlThinking Christianly Episode #22: The Importance of Legacy: More Lessons from the Life of Edmund HusserlPremier Unbelievable?: Iain McGilchrist & Sharon Dirckx • Brain science, consciousness & GodMichael Egnor and Denyse O’Leary, The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the SoulAdditional Resources: Sharon Dirckx, "Christ Renews our Minds, not Our Brains", Christianity Today, August 18, 2025
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    43 mins
  • #40 – “The Unity of the Soul and Body”: Chapter 6 of Have We Lost Our Minds?

    #40 – “The Unity of the Soul and Body”: Chapter 6 of Have We Lost Our Minds?
    Apr 15 2025
    In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 6 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. In this episode, we discuss: What is the nature of the relationship between the body and soul?Do ears hear? How can we understand the way souls and bodies interact?What are the key differences between the various kinds of dualism?What is traducianism, and how is it different from creationism?What are some of the implications of holistic dualism in how we understand health?How should we understand the context of the conversations about the relationship of the body and the soul?What can Christian thinkers do to engage this topic well?Why do theologically trained scholars tend to have a difficult time with substance dualism? Resources mentioned during our conversation:Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.Thinking Christianly Episode #7: What is the Soul, and Why Should We Care? (Part 1)Thinking Christianly Episode #8: What is the Soul, and Why Should We Care? (Part 2)P. Moreland, Finding Quiet: My Struggle of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought PeaceLesslie Newbigin, Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel in Western Culture
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    37 mins
  • #39 – “The True Nature of the Soul”: Chapter 5 of Have We Lost Our Minds?

    #39 – “The True Nature of the Soul”: Chapter 5 of Have We Lost Our Minds?
    Mar 15 2025
    In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 5 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. We discuss:What is an “individuated human nature,” and why is each of these words important?Natures have capacities; the ability to manifest a capacity is a faculty. What kinds of faculties do humans have?What makes human consciousness unique?How can asking “What is it like?” questions help engage people in conversation about the soul?How do our human faculties interact?How do studies on near-death (or after-death!) experiences help us understand the nature of the soul?What does it mean to be a substance that has properties? Resources and Citations:Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.The Lausanne Movement’sThe Seoul Statement, Preamble to Section IV: “The Human Person: The Image of God Created and Restored”Thinking Christianly Episode #7: What is a Soul and Why Should We Care? (Part 1)Thinking Christianly Episode #8: What is a Soul and Why Should We Care? (Part 2)John Burke, Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits YouGary Habermas & J.P. Moreland, Beyond Death: Exploring the Evidence for Immortality Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy
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    41 mins
  • #38 – “Neurotheology’s Wrong Conclusion About What We Are”: Chapter 4 of Have We Lost Our Minds?

    #38 – “Neurotheology’s Wrong Conclusion About What We Are”: Chapter 4 of Have We Lost Our Minds?
    Feb 11 2025
    In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 4 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. We discuss:Why neurotheologians are mistaken about our true nature.Why it isn’t possible to reduce mental properties to physical events.How we should understand our unity through time.How the modal argument helps us understand identity.Why non-reductive physicalism or “emergence” is of no help to the physicalist position.What a “brute fact” is.What did Dallas Willard meant when he talked about the nature of the body.Thoughts on human flourishing and why it matters. Resources and Citations:Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.P. Moreland, “Substance Dualism and the Unity of Consciousness”: The Blackwell Companion to Substance DualismGary W. Moon, Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher, and Christ FollowerThinking Christianly Episode #6: What is Human Flourishing and How Do We Achieve it?
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    Less than 1 minute
  • #37 – J.P.’s Return and Reflections on His Foreword to Have We Lost Our Minds?

    #37 – J.P.’s Return and Reflections on His Foreword to Have We Lost Our Minds?
    Dec 16 2024
    J.P. rejoins the podcast! In this episode, he shares good news about his health and reflects on why he was eager to write the Foreword to Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. We discuss: J.P.’s health journey over the last few months How Christians have contributed to the secularization of culture The importance of the conversation about what it means to be human Why the arguments in Stan’s book have personal meaning for J.P. The importance of responsible scholarship, especially as Christians The crucial difference between acknowledging a “soul” and acknowledging a “substantial soul” Resources and Citations: Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds? Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website. A printable group discussion guide can be found here. Brandon Rickabaugh and J.P. Moreland, The Substance of Consciousness: A Comprehensive Defense of Contemporary Substance Dualism. Stan Wallace, “Continuing the Conversation: Clarifying the Central Ideas of Have We Lost Our Minds?” The Lausanne Movement’sThe Seoul Statement, Preamble to Section IV: “The Human Person: The Image of God Created and Restored”
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    Less than 1 minute
  • #36 – “Neurotheology’s Wrong Assumption About our Mental Life”: Chapter 3 of Have We Lost Our Minds?

    #36 – “Neurotheology’s Wrong Assumption About our Mental Life”: Chapter 3 of Have We Lost Our Minds?
    Nov 15 2024
    In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 3 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing.In this episode, we discuss:What do neurotheologians get wrong about identity?How can understanding identity help us understand neural events and mental events?What properties belong to the mind that do not belong to the brain?What are the key differences between reductive and non-reductive physicalism?Does the physicalist anthropology make a difference in how we view human persons? Resources and Citations:Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.
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    28 mins
  • #35 – “The Bible and the Soul”: Chapter 2 of Have We Lost Our Minds?

    #35 – “The Bible and the Soul”: Chapter 2 of Have We Lost Our Minds?
    Oct 21 2024
    In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 2 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing.In this episode, we discuss:What are the key passages related to the topic of Biblical anthropology?What is the difference between an ontological unity and a functional unity of body and soul?What witness does church history give to this topic?Where did “neurotheology” go wrong in explaining the nature of the human person?What is our soul doing when it is no longer united with the body?Resources and Citations:John W. Cooper, Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology and the Monism-Dualism DebateJohn Burke, Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits YouFind out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.
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    17 mins
  • #34 – “Neuroscience, Neurotheology, and the Soul”: Chapter 1 of Have We Lost Our Minds?

    #34 – “Neuroscience, Neurotheology, and the Soul”: Chapter 1 of Have We Lost Our Minds?
    Sep 16 2024
    In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 1 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. In this episode, we discuss: Why is it critical that Christians acknowledge well-done science? What are some implications of the assertion that the brain is fundamentally what we are? The difference between Dallas Willard’s “VIM” model and Jim Wilder’s version. Tips for listeners who want to be more aware of places where they have absorbed Physicalist assumptions. What can we know about what we are? Where does that information come from? Resources and Citations: Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds? Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website. A printable group discussion guide can be found here.
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    22 mins