Attention Religious and Theological Educators

A draft lecture introducing the topic "Irreducible Mind"

[The following headings could be developed into a Power Point Lecture, with pictures and illustrative material, if desired]

Why present lectures on IRREDUCIBLE MIND in a Christian context?

Briefly.....

    1. Materialism is still the prevailing philosophy of the Western world.
It "holds that the only thing that exists is matter, and is considered a form of physicalism. Fundamentally, all things are composed of material and all phenomena (including consciousness) are the result of material interactions; therefore, matter is the only substance." [Mind and Consciousness are nothing but electrochemical processes in the brain.]
    2. The majority of scientists may still be philosophically Materialists. Yet science is a set of investigative techniques that can be used by people espousing any philosophy.
    3. There is no question of "Science versus Religion" but rather of Materialists against spiritually minded people: both of which groups can use scientific methods.
    4. Perhaps because of the identification of Materialism with Science, some more liberally minded Christians have abandoned belief in any dimension other than the visible material, and there has been a secularisation of Christianity.
    5. "Fundamentalism" has been one of the reactions to this situation. The term fundamentalism was originally coined to describe a narrowly defined set of beliefs that developed into a movement within the Protestant community of the United States in the early part of the 20th century, and that had its roots in the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy of that time. The "Modernists" were seen as the secularisers of Christianity.
    6. Whatever our philosophies and religious beliefs, we are all human beings who live and love, have mystical experiences, and paranormal experiences, (although this is often denied), and we are all faced with the same existential questions: whether we will raise a family, make our way financially through life, how we cope or dont with ill-health, how we mature as people, how creative we become, we have to learn to live in disparate communities, have to cope with mental illness.. and there is the death of the body and the question of a hereafter.
    7. In all countries there are traditional communities of faith, where there are shared beliefs and practices. Religions and spirituality have their ground in spiritual experience and the faith communities' interpretation of this experience, and scientific weighing and measuring lies at the periphery.
    8. "Einstein (1950) defines science - 'The object of all science, whether natural science or psychology, is to co-ordinate our experiences and bring them into a logical system." Human beings have always tried to make sense of their experiences of life. Modern science provides a number of valuable tools for doing this.
    9. Materialists proclaim the non-existence of mind apart from the physical body, the non-reality of paranormal phenomena, the illusoriness of all religion. They claim this as scientific fact.
    10. Are they correct? Can they prove scientifically that there is nothing but (lifeless, mindless) matter. They cannot. Tangible matter consists of atomic and subatomic particles, which along with electricity, and the radiation spectrum that includes infra-red, visible, and ultra-violet light, are Energy in varying states. We can describe what energy does, but no one knows what it is in itself. We cannot say that it is "dead" or "alive". The nature of energy is not a closed question.
    11. Scientific work carried out by non-Materialists suggests that the basic stuff of the universe namely energy, might best be described as mind at work, rather than dead matter. And this is where our book Irreducible Mind comes in.
    12. Basically it is claimed that IM disproves the statement that "mind/consciousness is nothing but electrochemical processes in the brain." That is the negative objective of IM.
    13. Positively, it examines scientifically many dimensions of the paranormal, showing the likely reality of an afterlife, and the possibility that the physical and material is a product of the invisible and spiritual.
    14. It is recognizably describing a reality that has much in common with the reality presented in the New Testament. Thus it "helps us to coordinate our experiences and bring them into a logical system", (using Einstein's words).
    15. Study of works such as Irreducible Mind may help us discriminate between true and false, healthy and unhealthy, in spiritual matters, and may help develop a psychology more in touch with the true nature of things.
    16. We will need to approach our topics with an open and inquiring mind, ready to accept well-attested evidence when it is provided.

To whom is this lecture overview intended?

    17. The authors of IM have advanced undergraduates and graduates in psychology in mind.
    18. But the whole book is so germane to New Testament studies and understanding of spirituality, that study of this and similar books should be included in all theological studies, especially by those intending to enter the ministry. Proper study would be essential. Guiding principles and insights should be memorised, thought through and applied, by students. This is necessary if the false picture presented by Materialism is to be dispelled. For Materialism, as suggested, influences almost every aspect of Western thought and culture.
    19. Naturally if the new insights are confined to the clergy, the task is only begun. It may be possible to have courses based on IM in Church Secondary Schools. Work will be needed to adapt and present the material in a manner suitable to the development of the young people.
    20. When progress has been made, creative thought will suggest ways for wider dissemination of this scientific understanding of reality.
    21. Finally, do we need to spell out the frightful effects of Materialism, and the way it will make the future a frightening prospect for much of humanity?
        Before looking through our first attempt at lectures.. Lectures 1 to 5, it would be good to read Jonathan Edelmann's Review, which gives a summary of the argument of the book.

[Lectures 1-5 were delivered to a Christchurch WEA study group. Different lectures naturally for other groups of students]