The Physical Nature of Christian Life
Author | : Warren S. Brown |
Publisher | : Cambridge University Press |
Total Pages | : 191 |
Release | : 2012-06-11 |
ISBN-10 | : 9781139510295 |
ISBN-13 | : 1139510290 |
Rating | : 4/5 (290 Downloads) |
Download or read book The Physical Nature of Christian Life written by Warren S. Brown and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-06-11 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores the implications of recent insights in modern neuroscience for the church's view of spiritual formation. Science suggests that functions of the brain and body in collaboration with social experience, rather than a disembodied soul, provide physical basis for the mental capacities, interpersonal relations, and religious experiences of human beings. The realization that human beings are wholly physical, but with unique mental, relational and spiritual capacities, challenges traditional views of Christian life as defined by the care of souls, a view that leads to inwardness and individuality. Psychology and neuroscience suggest the importance of developmental openness, attachment, imitation and stories as tools in spiritual formation. Accordingly, the idea that care of embodied persons should be fundamentally social and communal sets new priorities for encouraging spiritual growth and building congregations.