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The Mind of God: Neuroscience, Faith, and a Search for the Soul
For fans of Deepak Chopra, Rudy Tanzi, and Andrew Newberg. A renowned behavioral neurologist provides insights to some of the most curious spiritual questions we all face.
Is there a God?
It's a question billions of people have asked since the dawn of time. You would think by now we'd have a satisfactory, universal answer. No such luck...Or maybe we do and we just need to look in the right place. For Dr. Jay Lombard that place is the brain, and more importantly the mind, that center of awareness and consciousness that creates reality.
In The Mind of God, Dr. Lombard employs case studies from his own behavioral neurology practice to explore the spiritual conundrums that we all ask ourselves: What is the nature of God? Does my life have purpose? What's the meaning of our existence? Are we free? What happens to us when we die?
For Lombard, these metaphysical questions are a jumping-off point for exploring the brain in search of the seat of the soul. It is neuroscience, the author contends, and how we and our brains interpret what's going on around us that can lead us to a deeper and more fulfilling faith.
Mixing his personal experiences in the medical field (including compelling cases such as the male patient who really thought he was pregnant and a woman who literally scared herself to death) along with his own visionary insight into spiritual experience, Lombard has much to tell us about the nature and power of belief--and what we can do to focus our beliefs in a positive direction.
If you want to find more meaning in your life or are searching for a deeper understanding of why we believe what we believe, then this book can lead to an exciting transformation in the way you see and understand the world around you. With cutting-edge research and provocative case studies, renowned behavioral neurologist provides insights to some of the most curious spiritual questions of mortality.
Is there a God?
It's a question billions of people have asked since the dawn of time. You would think by now we'd have a satisfactory, universal answer. No such luck...Or maybe we do and we just need to look in the right place. For Dr. Jay Lombard that place is the brain, and more importantly the mind, that center of awareness and consciousness that creates reality.
In The Mind of God, Dr. Lombard employs case studies from his own behavioral neurology practice to explore the spiritual conundrums that we all ask ourselves: What is the nature of God? Does my life have purpose? What's the meaning of our existence? Are we free? What happens to us when we die?
For Lombard, these metaphysical questions are a jumping-off point for exploring the brain in search of the seat of the soul. It is neuroscience, the author contends, and how we and our brains interpret what's going on around us that can lead us to a deeper and more fulfilling faith.
Mixing his personal experiences in the medical field (including compelling cases such as the male patient who really thought he was pregnant and a woman who literally scared herself to death) along with his own visionary insight into spiritual experience, Lombard has much to tell us about the nature and power of belief--and what we can do to focus our beliefs in a positive direction.
If you want to find more meaning in your life or are searching for a deeper understanding of why we believe what we believe, then this book can lead to an exciting transformation in the way you see and understand the world around you. With cutting-edge research and provocative case studies, renowned behavioral neurologist provides insights to some of the most curious spiritual questions of mortality.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published June 13, 2017
137 people are currently reading
1216 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this book.
Easy, quick read.
Written from a neurosurgeon's perspective. Many sections of the book deal with the physiology of the brain.
The author makes the argument that faith and science are compatible.
If this subject matter interests you, this book will, too.
Easy, quick read.
Written from a neurosurgeon's perspective. Many sections of the book deal with the physiology of the brain.
The author makes the argument that faith and science are compatible.
If this subject matter interests you, this book will, too.
April 26, 2021
good concept (the idea that science inherently supports faith), poor execution. i get the trickiness of making sure anyone can read and understand various science topics (compounded with trying to justify/explain the existence of faith to non-believing readers), but so many things felt too watered down to actually pique my interest or care.
October 13, 2017
Why would a behavioral neurologist choose to address issues beyond empirical measurement such as The Mind of God: Neuroscience, Faith, and a Search for the Soul? In this case, Dr. Jay Lombard wanted to use the benefits of his personal observations through years of residency and study compared with the results of studies which have been interpreted both for and against faith. The basic thesis undergirding the book is that human beings, their brains/minds, and even the universe itself is made for connectivity.
So, from the beginning, Lombard argues for connectivity and meaning. For example, “Active faith entails seeing beyond our differences and embracing the truth of connectivity: that our actions impact others.” (p. 11) He asserts an illustration about a charitable act, “By offering you the cup of cool water, I am engaging in empathy and goodwill toward others. I am connecting to another person in a way that goes beyond what many believe is our strict evolutionary nature to dominate, reproduce, and survive as one of the fittest of our species.” (p. 11) Again, he points toward his consistent argument: “The need for faith is so deeply embedded in our biology that even if we don’t identify it, its absence will let itself be known regardless. I learned this lesson early on in my training, but it wasn’t taught in any textbook.” (p. 13)
One powerful suggestion from the neurological perspective was to consider “cradling bias.” This is the assertion that “…the strong universal tendency to hold infants so their gaze directs to the left side of our face (the right hemisphere’s visual field), suggests that emotional qualities such as love, nurturing, and empathy are primarily mediated by the force of the right hemispheric brain. The right hemisphere is so important to the maintenance of our relationships that its impairment may even result in an absolute rejection of oneself, as we often see in patients with the condition of hemineglect.” (pp. 35-36)
One terrific section of the book deals with a neurological perspective on epistemology. “Neuroscience reminds us that when we see an image of the external world, what we are really seeing is only our brain’s own particular reconstruction of light that has traversed through our retina and been projected onto the visual cortex. There is an almost infinite gap between the structure of our brains and the universe beyond us, between the ‘what is’ and what we believe to be reality….Our capacity to ‘believe’ requires us to employ extrapolation, a version of inductive logic in which we will, cardinally, never have access to a complete and informed picture. When we believe in something, it means that we’ve opened our mind to the capacity to fill in the ‘illusory contours’ of reality, intruding from the visible signs of life the possible—or even likely—existence of an invisible order.” (p. 44)
Later, Lombard uses DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) to demonstrate how neurologists measure the flow of water through the networks within the nervous system. It essentially measures the amount of “free energy” in the brain (p. 59). Between MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) and DTIs, he says: “…we’re not just looking at neurons and glia; we’re looking at activity.” (p.60). This flow, this activity, this drive toward connectivity would be what Lombard would call the “mind” as being beyond the brain because this flow demonstrates “purpose” in the organism. There is, of course, something like a quantum entanglement between brain and “mind.” “Evolution can coexist quite happily with the existence of God. These two seemingly contradictory beliefs are not contradictory at all, but paradoxical.” (p. 72) Why? First, “Inscribed within the text of DNA are all of life’s hidden messages and future possibilities, the intrinsic but unborn potential and tension between the ‘what is’ and ‘what should be’ of existence.” (p. 75) Hence, DNA becomes a “language” that evolves. BUT in the course of that evolution was a quantum leap where beings gained the ability to construct alternative meanings by using human language (pp. 76-77). He then gives a fascinating anecdote about a 19-year-old with AEA (Acquired Epileptic Aphasia) originating from an attack on her immune system as a two-year-old which caused swelling in the region of the brain for language acquisition, comprehension, and use (p. 80) and would recur whenever she was experiencing intense stress (p.81). Without use of language, her eyes would roll back and become something zombie-like. “When language is removed from a person’s perception of reality, reality looks totally different—and it’s a brutal form of reality.” (p. 82) Since language or the lack of it so affects one’s affection and connectedness in life, Lombard contends that “Through language we create the meaning of our existence, but it offers the opportunity to have communion, to know the ‘other’ deeply as well.” (p. 84)
Though language is tremendously significant, Lombard also hammers on the classical idea of chaos as being equivalent to the modern idea of entropy (p. 87). “Life is dependent on counterbalancing entropy with purpose and order. The concepts we are describing are not merely metaphorical; every cell in our body has purpose, too. The purpose is to find balance—to maintain order in the face of opposing challenges that will otherwise mean succumbing to disease.” (p. 89) This purpose on the cellular level testifies to the purpose humans have in not only surviving but growing. But cells which separate themselves from cooperating with others, that focus on themselves are cancerous. Hence, our purpose is to connect with others and with God—without connection, we find no meaning in life. Brains divorced from this connective purpose will be filled with nihilism (p. 97). “We are relational beings, and our brain finds its purpose through a deep awareness that the search for oneself is found at the nexus of self and other.” (p. 103)
It was refreshing to read a neuroscientist who, like me, views the relationship between free will and determinism as paradox (p. 112). He has a more logical interpretation of Benjamin Libet’s experiments of monitoring brain activity when told to push buttons. Because there was brain activity before the pulse was sent to muscle and finger (p. 114), Libet interpreted this as saying that humans have no free will because there is an unconscious signal that precedes each action, but Libet ignored what more accurate timing has shown, that a distal conscious decision was the cause of the movement before the energy fires to signal the action (p. 116)
Based on neuroscience, Lombard goes on to argue that free will (energy) within the limitations of the biological (evolution) programming of reacting to cause and effect such that, “If we are hurt, it is normal to seek revenge or reconstitution. This propensity is based upon our deterministic nature.” (p. 129). But, he argues, if we really have free will, we will not give in to that pre-programming. As Lombard writes: “There can be no free will without the ability to forgive.” (p. 130)
Finally, Lombard addresses the idea of what happens after death. Because he separates mind and brain and has observed the collection of energy he calls mind, he argues that the law of conservation means that the mind can’t be destroyed (p. 158). “When a person dies, his or her biology ceases. But just because the biology ceases, that doesn’t mean that the dreams the emotion, and the consciousness cease also.” (p. 164)
The Mind of God may not convince those determined to insist on pure biology, pure materialism, but it is fascinating to read alternative interpretations from an author who calls himself a “neurologist who ‘believes in belief.’ (p. 117)
So, from the beginning, Lombard argues for connectivity and meaning. For example, “Active faith entails seeing beyond our differences and embracing the truth of connectivity: that our actions impact others.” (p. 11) He asserts an illustration about a charitable act, “By offering you the cup of cool water, I am engaging in empathy and goodwill toward others. I am connecting to another person in a way that goes beyond what many believe is our strict evolutionary nature to dominate, reproduce, and survive as one of the fittest of our species.” (p. 11) Again, he points toward his consistent argument: “The need for faith is so deeply embedded in our biology that even if we don’t identify it, its absence will let itself be known regardless. I learned this lesson early on in my training, but it wasn’t taught in any textbook.” (p. 13)
One powerful suggestion from the neurological perspective was to consider “cradling bias.” This is the assertion that “…the strong universal tendency to hold infants so their gaze directs to the left side of our face (the right hemisphere’s visual field), suggests that emotional qualities such as love, nurturing, and empathy are primarily mediated by the force of the right hemispheric brain. The right hemisphere is so important to the maintenance of our relationships that its impairment may even result in an absolute rejection of oneself, as we often see in patients with the condition of hemineglect.” (pp. 35-36)
One terrific section of the book deals with a neurological perspective on epistemology. “Neuroscience reminds us that when we see an image of the external world, what we are really seeing is only our brain’s own particular reconstruction of light that has traversed through our retina and been projected onto the visual cortex. There is an almost infinite gap between the structure of our brains and the universe beyond us, between the ‘what is’ and what we believe to be reality….Our capacity to ‘believe’ requires us to employ extrapolation, a version of inductive logic in which we will, cardinally, never have access to a complete and informed picture. When we believe in something, it means that we’ve opened our mind to the capacity to fill in the ‘illusory contours’ of reality, intruding from the visible signs of life the possible—or even likely—existence of an invisible order.” (p. 44)
Later, Lombard uses DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) to demonstrate how neurologists measure the flow of water through the networks within the nervous system. It essentially measures the amount of “free energy” in the brain (p. 59). Between MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) and DTIs, he says: “…we’re not just looking at neurons and glia; we’re looking at activity.” (p.60). This flow, this activity, this drive toward connectivity would be what Lombard would call the “mind” as being beyond the brain because this flow demonstrates “purpose” in the organism. There is, of course, something like a quantum entanglement between brain and “mind.” “Evolution can coexist quite happily with the existence of God. These two seemingly contradictory beliefs are not contradictory at all, but paradoxical.” (p. 72) Why? First, “Inscribed within the text of DNA are all of life’s hidden messages and future possibilities, the intrinsic but unborn potential and tension between the ‘what is’ and ‘what should be’ of existence.” (p. 75) Hence, DNA becomes a “language” that evolves. BUT in the course of that evolution was a quantum leap where beings gained the ability to construct alternative meanings by using human language (pp. 76-77). He then gives a fascinating anecdote about a 19-year-old with AEA (Acquired Epileptic Aphasia) originating from an attack on her immune system as a two-year-old which caused swelling in the region of the brain for language acquisition, comprehension, and use (p. 80) and would recur whenever she was experiencing intense stress (p.81). Without use of language, her eyes would roll back and become something zombie-like. “When language is removed from a person’s perception of reality, reality looks totally different—and it’s a brutal form of reality.” (p. 82) Since language or the lack of it so affects one’s affection and connectedness in life, Lombard contends that “Through language we create the meaning of our existence, but it offers the opportunity to have communion, to know the ‘other’ deeply as well.” (p. 84)
Though language is tremendously significant, Lombard also hammers on the classical idea of chaos as being equivalent to the modern idea of entropy (p. 87). “Life is dependent on counterbalancing entropy with purpose and order. The concepts we are describing are not merely metaphorical; every cell in our body has purpose, too. The purpose is to find balance—to maintain order in the face of opposing challenges that will otherwise mean succumbing to disease.” (p. 89) This purpose on the cellular level testifies to the purpose humans have in not only surviving but growing. But cells which separate themselves from cooperating with others, that focus on themselves are cancerous. Hence, our purpose is to connect with others and with God—without connection, we find no meaning in life. Brains divorced from this connective purpose will be filled with nihilism (p. 97). “We are relational beings, and our brain finds its purpose through a deep awareness that the search for oneself is found at the nexus of self and other.” (p. 103)
It was refreshing to read a neuroscientist who, like me, views the relationship between free will and determinism as paradox (p. 112). He has a more logical interpretation of Benjamin Libet’s experiments of monitoring brain activity when told to push buttons. Because there was brain activity before the pulse was sent to muscle and finger (p. 114), Libet interpreted this as saying that humans have no free will because there is an unconscious signal that precedes each action, but Libet ignored what more accurate timing has shown, that a distal conscious decision was the cause of the movement before the energy fires to signal the action (p. 116)
Based on neuroscience, Lombard goes on to argue that free will (energy) within the limitations of the biological (evolution) programming of reacting to cause and effect such that, “If we are hurt, it is normal to seek revenge or reconstitution. This propensity is based upon our deterministic nature.” (p. 129). But, he argues, if we really have free will, we will not give in to that pre-programming. As Lombard writes: “There can be no free will without the ability to forgive.” (p. 130)
Finally, Lombard addresses the idea of what happens after death. Because he separates mind and brain and has observed the collection of energy he calls mind, he argues that the law of conservation means that the mind can’t be destroyed (p. 158). “When a person dies, his or her biology ceases. But just because the biology ceases, that doesn’t mean that the dreams the emotion, and the consciousness cease also.” (p. 164)
The Mind of God may not convince those determined to insist on pure biology, pure materialism, but it is fascinating to read alternative interpretations from an author who calls himself a “neurologist who ‘believes in belief.’ (p. 117)
May 12, 2020
2.5/5 I genuinely think that this book had so much potential. The problem is that it tries to address too many concepts in so little time, so that the entire time I just felt myself not really understanding the depth to what was being said. Some of the arguments seem a little iffy, particularly surrounding evolution, but maybe that’s just my view.
March 9, 2018
I seem to be caught up in a stream of books that look at the “mind” behind the universe. This one is from a neurological and theological perspective. The author is too wise to give final answers, but certainly, like so many others it would seem right now, does point toward “the More” (William James) behind everything.
October 19, 2022
Book good I like
March 23, 2022
“What is essential is invisible to the human eye.”
“Beliefs are so powerful that they can shatter our reality and replace it with an alternative one.”
Medio fumado pero bueno
“Beliefs are so powerful that they can shatter our reality and replace it with an alternative one.”
Medio fumado pero bueno
March 14, 2018
Maybe a four-and-a-half. Part of the theme I'm starting to follow about neuroscience and the experience of death. It was slightly too academic for me at times, but on the whole I like the thesis.
June 25, 2021
Interesting take on the "evidence" of the existence of God. At times, it seemed as if he was reaching a bit. But I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It grabbed my attention.
July 15, 2017
Scientifically, philosophically, and logically flawed arguments and narrative. I should have known form the title that this would be another "god book" cherry picking facts from science, philosophy and physics to hopelessly make recycled arguments to prove the author's religious beliefs. I was barely able to finish the book...
August 3, 2017
I received this book free from Goodreads Giveaways. I thought that this was a new take on religious books and wanted to see what it was like. I especially enjoyed reading about the author's personal life. I found the bits about his life and his patients to be very interesting and more geared towards what he was trying to say with this book. Unfortunately, those bits only made up about 15% of the book. The rest of the book was what I believe the author intended to be answers to life's biggest questions such as, "Is God real?" and "What happens when we die?" His "answers" which took up the majority of each chapter all seem as if they could be summed up with, "There is no actual answer to this question, but we have the ability to think of God; therefore there is a God or an afterlife or whatever it is we're talking about." These explanations that he included seem to be almost the same in each chapter and seemed to go around in circles. I was so bored with these parts of the book, I considered not finishing the book twice.
But like I said, I really enjoyed hearing about his patients and his personal experiences. I continued reading just to see whatever little pieces like that were thrown in. If this author was to write an auto-biography, I think it would be great and would reach a larger audience.
Overall, I would say this is interesting book to read and also a quick read, but I wouldn't read it again and I can't think of anyone I know that I would recommend it to as I find they would have a hard time reading it.
But like I said, I really enjoyed hearing about his patients and his personal experiences. I continued reading just to see whatever little pieces like that were thrown in. If this author was to write an auto-biography, I think it would be great and would reach a larger audience.
Overall, I would say this is interesting book to read and also a quick read, but I wouldn't read it again and I can't think of anyone I know that I would recommend it to as I find they would have a hard time reading it.
July 22, 2017
" Is there a fundamental conflict between science and faith? Is there a distinction between mind and brain? Is there a God? What is the meaning of life? Do humans have souls? Are we different from other animals? Do we have free will? Given the prevalence of evil in the world, can there actually be a good God?" These are deep questions that probably most of us have pondered.
In The Mind of God, the respected behavioral neurologist Jay Lombard addresses these questions as he explores the intersection of science and faith. I appreciated his anecdotes from his extensive neurological practice as they piqued my interest when I was getting bogged down in philosophical discussion. Unfortunately they didn't necessarily address the points he was trying to make.
I imagine some readers would really appreciate this book and it could lead to deep passionate discussions.
In The Mind of God, the respected behavioral neurologist Jay Lombard addresses these questions as he explores the intersection of science and faith. I appreciated his anecdotes from his extensive neurological practice as they piqued my interest when I was getting bogged down in philosophical discussion. Unfortunately they didn't necessarily address the points he was trying to make.
I imagine some readers would really appreciate this book and it could lead to deep passionate discussions.
October 26, 2017
In the context of Logotherapy, a school of psychoanalysis founded by Dr. Viktor E. Frankl whose academic and religious backgrounds are comparable to those of the author, this book tells the readers that our mind is indeed shaped by the way we see things around us and about ourselves, which becomes our models of representations, our own constructed reality. In fact, the theme of this book pertains to an attitudinal value in which we choose our attitudes or response to the things we think hardly changeable. The author emphasizes on the facts that (1) religious faith should be rejuvenated and scientific knowledge enlightened in the quest of finding a meaning of life and that (2) religion and faith should not be at odds with each other but in harmony, since the mystery of our life itself can be neurologically proved as discoursed by the author. In summary, this book is a book of hope that we can change our life if we really want to with the following motto: Dum spiro, spero.
January 31, 2020
The first chapter piqued my interest. A scientific perspective on the human tendency towards religion? Sounds refreshing. But I slowly began to realize that I was not getting what I was promised, and instead had the chance to read a self proclaimed “scientist” cherry-pick stories (that may or may not have been truthfully transcribed) that supported his faith. I’ll admit, I couldn’t get past the first four chapters, but in a desperate attempt to not have completely wasted my time, I opened a page towards the end and happened upon his discussion of Alzheimer’s. And instead of addressing how the disease is a great reason to not have faith, he managed to turn it into a discussion of the malaise of current society using technology and turning away from god. The book isn’t worth the toilet paper his supposed Bhuddist monk wouldn’t use on himself.
May 21, 2020
Some interesting ideas smattered here and there amidst lengthy and unwieldy (yet incomplete) neuro scientific discourses. A few of the case studies were both fascinating and heartbreaking. Yet ultimately, this book does not deliver a cohesive theology or compelling evidence to support the author’s beliefs . It reads more as a memoir written by a man of faith who also happens to be a scientist, telling us where he has seen the mind of God in neuro biology —but not giving us enough to feel as though we’re seeing what he has seen.
January 25, 2022
This rambling and conclusory work does not deliver on the promise of its title. It does not benefit really from the experience and knowledge of its author. It’s like a series of synapses firing away that in the end amount to very little of value.
December 23, 2017
This book is bullshit.
February 7, 2018
Review title: I'm a soul man
Lombard's little volume speaks loudly about the current state of the science of the mind and on the possibility of mind separate from brain, consciousness beyond neurological cognition, and the existence of an infinite eternal presence we call "God." He is explicitly not writing from any faith perspective but from the perspective of a neurologist wrestling with the big questions he's encountered in 30 years in the field, and seeking answers that comport with his science.
He writes on a general knowledge level, so he doesn't ask the reader to follow complex equations, at most providing new vocabulary that he explains with simple definitions and case studies; the book has no index, but does include endnotes pointing to accessible sources for the average reader. He begins with some basic definitions: consciousness from the Latin meaning "to know together" (p. 7), faith meaning "accepting that there is a greater reality beyond our sense and our intellect." (p. 9), religious faith or the Mind of God meaning "our capacity to deeply love and understand each other" and "offer service, kindness, love, healing, and forgiveness to others. Our actions through faith will always speak louder than the ideological words we use to describe them." (p. 11-12)
What science accounts for these feelings? Lombard references first the long-understood separation of the brain into a left hemisphere which processes facts, calculations and logic, and a right hemisphere that provides" understanding [of] the interpretative and sentinel value of our experiences." (p. 23) Then Lombard references a startling case study of a blind patient "who did not recognize her condition. She did not accept that she could not see." although doctors verified that her eyes were not delivering light and sensation to the brain, her right hemisphere was giving her the context of vision in the absence of sensory input! (p. 25)--a clear analogy and possible scientific explanation for the presence and belief in God: "God exists but our brains cannot comprehend the sheer magnitude of light, beyond the spectrum of any perceived reality." (p. 26)
Next he moves on to the recent discovery of mirror neurons, which have been observed to fire in empathy for another person's pain, for example if I see you burn your fingers on a hot stove, your neurons will fire with extreme physical sensation and pain and I have a corresponding set of mirror neurons that fire "almost simultaneously and produce similar results of pain." (p. 38) Lombard suggests that this scientific proof of empathy may be an explanation for human compassion (an emotion that evolutionary theory has struggled unconvincingly to explain as part of an individual-centered drive to survive): our brains mirror neurons give us compassion
While not written from a Christian perspective, Christians will recognize the reference to 1 John 3:16: " By this know we love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Is the soul a real pre-existing locus of consciousness, or is it just a series of biological switches and nerve connections that gives the illusion of a" person" separate from the material body? Lombard writes about diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a new form of MRI scanning that he says reveals the action of the mind (software if you will) separate from the brain's biological hardware, and describes a study that identified the locus of forgiveness. Why is forgiveness important? Because forgiveness is "what's unexpected . . .. freedom from the inevitable automation of action and reaction, from stimulus and response." (p. 130). It is proof of free will and an autonomous soul. Lombard concludes with a discussion of "memory, time, and history" (p. 160) that relies as much on faith as science to buttress his assertion that the essential "me" of the soul/mind will live forever.
This is an interesting book that attempts to bridge the strict materialist, who will claim Lombard is too unscientific and metaphysical in his arguments, and the person of faith, who will believe he trivializes creation (yes, he does argue for intelligent design and the irreducible complexity of a mind created with a scientific drive for purpose) by referencing biological sources for mind, soul, free will, and eternal life. So it seems likely that no reader will finish the book without mixed emotion, which I think would leave Lombard content with his work.
Lombard's little volume speaks loudly about the current state of the science of the mind and on the possibility of mind separate from brain, consciousness beyond neurological cognition, and the existence of an infinite eternal presence we call "God." He is explicitly not writing from any faith perspective but from the perspective of a neurologist wrestling with the big questions he's encountered in 30 years in the field, and seeking answers that comport with his science.
He writes on a general knowledge level, so he doesn't ask the reader to follow complex equations, at most providing new vocabulary that he explains with simple definitions and case studies; the book has no index, but does include endnotes pointing to accessible sources for the average reader. He begins with some basic definitions: consciousness from the Latin meaning "to know together" (p. 7), faith meaning "accepting that there is a greater reality beyond our sense and our intellect." (p. 9), religious faith or the Mind of God meaning "our capacity to deeply love and understand each other" and "offer service, kindness, love, healing, and forgiveness to others. Our actions through faith will always speak louder than the ideological words we use to describe them." (p. 11-12)
What science accounts for these feelings? Lombard references first the long-understood separation of the brain into a left hemisphere which processes facts, calculations and logic, and a right hemisphere that provides" understanding [of] the interpretative and sentinel value of our experiences." (p. 23) Then Lombard references a startling case study of a blind patient "who did not recognize her condition. She did not accept that she could not see." although doctors verified that her eyes were not delivering light and sensation to the brain, her right hemisphere was giving her the context of vision in the absence of sensory input! (p. 25)--a clear analogy and possible scientific explanation for the presence and belief in God: "God exists but our brains cannot comprehend the sheer magnitude of light, beyond the spectrum of any perceived reality." (p. 26)
Next he moves on to the recent discovery of mirror neurons, which have been observed to fire in empathy for another person's pain, for example if I see you burn your fingers on a hot stove, your neurons will fire with extreme physical sensation and pain and I have a corresponding set of mirror neurons that fire "almost simultaneously and produce similar results of pain." (p. 38) Lombard suggests that this scientific proof of empathy may be an explanation for human compassion (an emotion that evolutionary theory has struggled unconvincingly to explain as part of an individual-centered drive to survive): our brains mirror neurons give us compassion
because "God" is compassionate . . . . We feel compassion today because God first is compassionate. All the intangible qualities such as hope and love and joy and compassion are found within the Mind of God. We become aware that our actions are a reflection of a deeper reality, as it is written in Proverbs, "As water mirrors a face, a heart responds to another. (p. 40-41)
While not written from a Christian perspective, Christians will recognize the reference to 1 John 3:16: " By this know we love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Is the soul a real pre-existing locus of consciousness, or is it just a series of biological switches and nerve connections that gives the illusion of a" person" separate from the material body? Lombard writes about diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a new form of MRI scanning that he says reveals the action of the mind (software if you will) separate from the brain's biological hardware, and describes a study that identified the locus of forgiveness. Why is forgiveness important? Because forgiveness is "what's unexpected . . .. freedom from the inevitable automation of action and reaction, from stimulus and response." (p. 130). It is proof of free will and an autonomous soul. Lombard concludes with a discussion of "memory, time, and history" (p. 160) that relies as much on faith as science to buttress his assertion that the essential "me" of the soul/mind will live forever.
This is an interesting book that attempts to bridge the strict materialist, who will claim Lombard is too unscientific and metaphysical in his arguments, and the person of faith, who will believe he trivializes creation (yes, he does argue for intelligent design and the irreducible complexity of a mind created with a scientific drive for purpose) by referencing biological sources for mind, soul, free will, and eternal life. So it seems likely that no reader will finish the book without mixed emotion, which I think would leave Lombard content with his work.
December 30, 2017
An interesting book in which the author, a physician and neurologist, interprets neuroscience in the context of religion and tells us why it supports his belief in God. Here are some of his conclusions.
“The majority of neuroscientists assert that there is no physical evidence of an existence beyond the flesh, that any person’s subjective sense of self as a soul or immaterial being is an illusion, a simulation designed to hide the actual backroom computations and neuronal workings of our brains.”
“Recent brain imaging studies demonstrate that our brains are hardwired for faith… The area of the brain activated during subjective religious experiences is the same part of the brain that allows us to be aware of others – to be empathetic, emotional, altruistic, thoughtful, and aware of ourselves… We meditate and pray with the same side of our brain [right hemisphere] that we use when we’re kind to other people.”
“Since we have empathy, we understand that the universe is not simply about us – and that understanding points to something ‘beyond’ ourselves… We experience God’s love when we exhibit empathy… We reveal God’s mercy when we act mercifully, his kindness when we are kind, his love when we love.”
“Everybody wonders about the ultimate question of life. Meaning. Purpose. We want to know if there is some greater reason for our being born… Purpose implies direction and intent… Thrown into the mix of understanding purpose is seeing its opposite force in nature. In science, chaos refers to that which is unpredictable and erratic. In physics – the study of motion – chaos is recognized as the second law of nature, and the concept of entropy refers to the degree of disorganization among components of a system. In biology, chaos implies an uncoupling of relations in an aggregate that normally interdependent… We begin to find purpose through acts that bring order into our lives, through relationships based on love and compassion. The more connected we are to each other, the more purpose we find.”
“Too many people are on a slow walk to suicide. They believe they have no purpose, no meaning. They’ve drunk the Kool-Aid that says it’s all random – our birth was random, our life is random, and our death will be random. That’s a big lie. Life is about order, not chaos, and order is filled with meaning. We must spend our resources pushing back against disorder so that we continue to have meaningful lives.”
“I contend we must hold to both predeterminism and free will. The magic of human evolution was that we started with a template; we started with intent and predeterminism… Our consciousness both has purpose and can create purpose – and that’s what gives us free will… We are predetermined, yet we are also free. We are predetermined in terms of our biology, mostly. But we are free in terms of our consciousness, mostly.”
“Free will means our ability to construct our own narrative about the meaning and purpose of our lives. We are free to believe in God, or to deny the existence of a Creator. We are free to act morally, or we may choose not to. Only humans are endowed with this potential, or the capacity, to go beyond the limits of our existence, to freely choose for ourselves a particular path… If we imagine the world on a scale that can be tipped in one direction or the other by our own actions… our first creative act of freedom must be forgiveness. We believe that our lives are based exclusively upon cause and effect. We are pre-programmed to react: If we are hurt, it is normal to seek revenge or reconstitution. This propensity is based upon our deterministic nature, the conditional and expected. So much of human history is based on this principle, the expected response to an offense, but revenge gains no new ground. There can be no free will without the ability to forgive… Free will means having the will to act unconditionally, the ability to transcend the constraints of causality and thereby live in the midst of the freedom and potentiality of God. The process of forgiveness is the only true freedom… Hannah Arendt, who authored The Human Condition, wrote that forgiveness is a ‘reaction which does not merely react but acts anew, unconditioned by the act which provoked it and thereby freeing from its consequences both the one who forgives and the one who is forgiven.’”
“The majority of neuroscientists assert that there is no physical evidence of an existence beyond the flesh, that any person’s subjective sense of self as a soul or immaterial being is an illusion, a simulation designed to hide the actual backroom computations and neuronal workings of our brains.”
“Recent brain imaging studies demonstrate that our brains are hardwired for faith… The area of the brain activated during subjective religious experiences is the same part of the brain that allows us to be aware of others – to be empathetic, emotional, altruistic, thoughtful, and aware of ourselves… We meditate and pray with the same side of our brain [right hemisphere] that we use when we’re kind to other people.”
“Since we have empathy, we understand that the universe is not simply about us – and that understanding points to something ‘beyond’ ourselves… We experience God’s love when we exhibit empathy… We reveal God’s mercy when we act mercifully, his kindness when we are kind, his love when we love.”
“Everybody wonders about the ultimate question of life. Meaning. Purpose. We want to know if there is some greater reason for our being born… Purpose implies direction and intent… Thrown into the mix of understanding purpose is seeing its opposite force in nature. In science, chaos refers to that which is unpredictable and erratic. In physics – the study of motion – chaos is recognized as the second law of nature, and the concept of entropy refers to the degree of disorganization among components of a system. In biology, chaos implies an uncoupling of relations in an aggregate that normally interdependent… We begin to find purpose through acts that bring order into our lives, through relationships based on love and compassion. The more connected we are to each other, the more purpose we find.”
“Too many people are on a slow walk to suicide. They believe they have no purpose, no meaning. They’ve drunk the Kool-Aid that says it’s all random – our birth was random, our life is random, and our death will be random. That’s a big lie. Life is about order, not chaos, and order is filled with meaning. We must spend our resources pushing back against disorder so that we continue to have meaningful lives.”
“I contend we must hold to both predeterminism and free will. The magic of human evolution was that we started with a template; we started with intent and predeterminism… Our consciousness both has purpose and can create purpose – and that’s what gives us free will… We are predetermined, yet we are also free. We are predetermined in terms of our biology, mostly. But we are free in terms of our consciousness, mostly.”
“Free will means our ability to construct our own narrative about the meaning and purpose of our lives. We are free to believe in God, or to deny the existence of a Creator. We are free to act morally, or we may choose not to. Only humans are endowed with this potential, or the capacity, to go beyond the limits of our existence, to freely choose for ourselves a particular path… If we imagine the world on a scale that can be tipped in one direction or the other by our own actions… our first creative act of freedom must be forgiveness. We believe that our lives are based exclusively upon cause and effect. We are pre-programmed to react: If we are hurt, it is normal to seek revenge or reconstitution. This propensity is based upon our deterministic nature, the conditional and expected. So much of human history is based on this principle, the expected response to an offense, but revenge gains no new ground. There can be no free will without the ability to forgive… Free will means having the will to act unconditionally, the ability to transcend the constraints of causality and thereby live in the midst of the freedom and potentiality of God. The process of forgiveness is the only true freedom… Hannah Arendt, who authored The Human Condition, wrote that forgiveness is a ‘reaction which does not merely react but acts anew, unconditioned by the act which provoked it and thereby freeing from its consequences both the one who forgives and the one who is forgiven.’”
March 18, 2025
I think a book about neuroscience and faith should try its hardest to push the boundaries of what is truly ineffable and what is not. By studying the brain, we can at least draw relations that we previously couldn't, despite the inherent fuzziness of the concepts. I don't think this book did that, and it did the age-old thing of "well it's an experiential thing, I can't explain things that are unexplainable". But the tendency with an argument like that is to use it for more things than the argument is true for, and I think this book fell right into the same trap. The book continually scratches the surface of truly interesting ideas, and then walks right past them to say "man you just gotta take a leap of faith".
Would be a 2/5 based on the arguments & writing, but the author's personal medical examples and domain expertise pushed it up to a 4/5. Worth a read by skipping straight to the examples and references to existing research, then thinking about the implications yourself because the author doesn't explore them very much.
Spoilers, if this is a book that can have spoilers.
One of the examples near the end of the book is about a woman exhibiting unusual aggressive and animalistic behavior. Her husband believes she is possessed, while the hospital staff believes she has dissociative identity disorder. The staff temporarily treated her by administering Haldol, which is an anti-psychotic medication traditionally used for schizophrenic patients. She reverted back to her normal, mild-mannered self afterwards.
Isn't that fascinating?? A drug that traditionally works for psychosis and hallucinations had reverted a woman back to her normal self. For me, it brought up interesting questions about the relationship between reality and identity, as well as how the different types of beliefs can shape different layers of reality. The author never dives into any of the questions except bringing up the fact that it brings up interesting questions. I personally would've loved to hear a medical expert's exploration into the questions, but I guess I'm not going to find that opinion in this book.
Would be a 2/5 based on the arguments & writing, but the author's personal medical examples and domain expertise pushed it up to a 4/5. Worth a read by skipping straight to the examples and references to existing research, then thinking about the implications yourself because the author doesn't explore them very much.
Spoilers, if this is a book that can have spoilers.
One of the examples near the end of the book is about a woman exhibiting unusual aggressive and animalistic behavior. Her husband believes she is possessed, while the hospital staff believes she has dissociative identity disorder. The staff temporarily treated her by administering Haldol, which is an anti-psychotic medication traditionally used for schizophrenic patients. She reverted back to her normal, mild-mannered self afterwards.
Isn't that fascinating?? A drug that traditionally works for psychosis and hallucinations had reverted a woman back to her normal self. For me, it brought up interesting questions about the relationship between reality and identity, as well as how the different types of beliefs can shape different layers of reality. The author never dives into any of the questions except bringing up the fact that it brings up interesting questions. I personally would've loved to hear a medical expert's exploration into the questions, but I guess I'm not going to find that opinion in this book.
February 7, 2026
This book should be required reading for every person on the planet, and I mean that in the most sincere way. There are currently far too many people shooting their mouths off abut God, religion, faith, the soul, and the afterlife without having any scientific basis for what they are saying. They have taken a good long look at all of the idiotic drivel that has corrupted religion down through the ages, and come to the knee-jerk conclusion that it must all be bullshit. And now, an elitist group of quasi-intellectuals has championed this cause, namely the "Four Horsemen" of Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens, and Harris.
Enter Dr. Jay Lombard, an eminent neuroscientist with a wealth of open-minded, inquisitive, and well-balanced research into the issues. He presents a battery of cogent, thoughtful, insightful, and compelling evidence through his years of trying to solve the mysteries of the crown of creation and evolution, the human mind. He combines science, anecdotes, a probing curiosity, and a wealth of thought from many disciplines to strip down the issues to their basics, freed from the doctrine and dogma of corrupt and ambitious men who sought to control religion.
From this day forward, the only comment I will ever have for any agnostics or "atheists" I come across, is "read this book, then we will talk."
Enter Dr. Jay Lombard, an eminent neuroscientist with a wealth of open-minded, inquisitive, and well-balanced research into the issues. He presents a battery of cogent, thoughtful, insightful, and compelling evidence through his years of trying to solve the mysteries of the crown of creation and evolution, the human mind. He combines science, anecdotes, a probing curiosity, and a wealth of thought from many disciplines to strip down the issues to their basics, freed from the doctrine and dogma of corrupt and ambitious men who sought to control religion.
From this day forward, the only comment I will ever have for any agnostics or "atheists" I come across, is "read this book, then we will talk."
May 3, 2021
Part neuroscience, part religious studies, and part philosophy Jay Lombard MD book an interesting read. Perhaps not the most organized set of thoughts, the thoughts indeed complex. This is not “light reading”. Not fully sure of one particular take away of the book , other than that spiritual thinking is linked to some persons sense of self and also that trauma can have a significant impact on how the brain actually fires and the constructs from which thinking both conscious and unconsciousness operates. Good news in the book the process whereby Jay Lombard MD forgives himself and reorganized the way his brain fired in the healing he speaks long after the passing of his father. Lombard is able to let go of some the regrets he had about his more regretful choices as a teenager and his relationship with his father. It sad in a way that it took until after his dad was long dead for dr Lombard to find this healing. It easy to feel incredible empathy for Dr Lombard and to wish he could have found this healing while his dad was still alive. Literary art as a slice of life, of humanness, of forgiveness, of compassion and of God’s love.
August 7, 2017
Knowing Lombard is not a Christian and would therefore not be talking about the Triune God of the Bible, I was reluctant to even read the book. However, my interest in neuroscience and how that might relate to the transcendence made it a worthwhile read. First the good - Lombard points out the ways in which non-believers can't account for any standard of morality outside of God. There would be no place for empathy without God. There would also be no meaning or purpose. I also appreciated how he explained how certain brain issues can cause behaviors. On to the bad - his definition of God is very nebulous and seemingly a bit pantheistic. The way he tries to blend God and evolution is also against the nature of God. His handling of morality doesn't really go far enough to provide a standard. He still operates under the disproven understanding of left and right brain function. Finally, it seems as if the afterlife is just a collection of memories.
An interesting book to read to see how some else tries to explain reality, but unfortunately it doesn't really explain it at all.
An interesting book to read to see how some else tries to explain reality, but unfortunately it doesn't really explain it at all.
December 24, 2019
I can't decide between 1.5 and 2 stars.
I chose to check the book out because it talks about neuroscience, and it was a quick read. I knew, before going into the book, that it wouldn't convince me that there is an omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent "god."
*disclaimer: I don't believe there is a god (which is different from claiming there is no god.) I am waiting to be proven wrong.
the arguments in this book were not strong by any means, but maybe that wasn't the point.
I chose to check the book out because it talks about neuroscience, and it was a quick read. I knew, before going into the book, that it wouldn't convince me that there is an omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent "god."
*disclaimer: I don't believe there is a god (which is different from claiming there is no god.) I am waiting to be proven wrong.
the arguments in this book were not strong by any means, but maybe that wasn't the point.
March 8, 2020
My ratings of books on Goodreads are solely a crude ranking of their utility to me, and not an evaluation of literary merit, entertainment value, social importance, humor, insightfulness, scientific accuracy, creative vigor, suspensefulness of plot, depth of characters, vitality of theme, excitement of climax, satisfaction of ending, or any other combination of dimensions of value which we are expected to boil down through some fabulous alchemy into a single digit.
July 23, 2020
Being an unorthodox creationist, I have to say that I was skeptical about this book at the time of purchasing it, but it turned out to a be good read. The book reads well and chronicles the authors journey, both as a scientist and a religious person, as he discovers faith and rationalizes it using his scientific training. Overall the book is worth a read, if you want to get a feel for how the brain supports elements, like love, compassion etc, that allow us to feel the mind of God.
July 5, 2024
Im gonna consider reading half the book as a completion because to be honest it was enough. One of the reviews I read was great concept poor execution and I 100% agree. I love neuroscience, and love non fiction about neuro, and I also am a spiritual person so therefore I thought this book was perfect. Too much was based on basic connections that anyone could make without having to know any neurology.
July 12, 2017
I wish my dad could have read this book. This book uses similar resources to my college philosophy thesis and does a superior job at addressing that very messy place where reason meets religion. From the hard problem of consciousness to the afterlife and memory- I need to read this book a second time. Anyone care to read and discuss?
November 22, 2017
This is a book that straddles the lines of directionality. Is it a medical book, a philosophical discourse on the nature of reality and search for meaning, or a thesis on religion.
As my beliefs run along the lines that “ it’s all connected” I get it, but still found that each direction that the author took deserved more individualized depth and attention.
As my beliefs run along the lines that “ it’s all connected” I get it, but still found that each direction that the author took deserved more individualized depth and attention.
October 13, 2018
This book was so well written and informative on many levels. It is an ongoing discussion between the scientific and faith communities and this book reflects that you can and SHOULD have both. Its a fantastic read and a refreshingly open take on a sometimes divisive topic. I wish I could find a book filled with Dr. Lombards cases and experiences in Neuroscience so interesting.
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