Preparing for the Cartesian Storms
The trouble is, due to the rise of psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral genetics, scope for the soul--quintessential Mindstuff--is being greatly circumscribed if not eliminated from educated discourse altogether. That is, the doctrine of the "ghost in the machine," a pejorative way of describing the idea that you have a "soul" inhabiting or interacting with your body/brain, is growing increasingly untenable in the age of neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral genetics. We are living in what I call the post-Cartesian situation. Living in the aftermath of the demise of dualism.
And yet, theologians and contemporary Christians still refer the the "soul" and "spirit" as if nothing is amiss. As a Christian psychologist I live with this tension on a daily basis. This tension has forced me to think about theological categories and systems in a post-Cartesian fashion. The implications are huge and, for many, disturbing. Yet, I see no other option for us. We cannot go back and neuroscience will continue its reductionistic advance. In short, you think the Faith vs. Evolution debates are hot? Wait until the Christian community broadly wakes up to the post-Cartesian crisis! Johnny will not only learn that he is descended from primates in the classroom. He'll also learn in biology that he has no soul. Speaking of the soul will be like speaking of Santa Claus. How are Mom and Dad and the Preacher going to react to that?Ah, yes, that is a difficulty, and apparently it's already at our doorstep. Beck, a psychology prof at Abilene Christian University, is at work on solutions. We'll need to pay attention!
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