Dualism

Dualism – The concept

Dualism is the concept that our mind is more than just our brain. This
concept entails that our mind has a non-material, spiritual dimension
that includes consciousness and possibly an eternal attribute. One way
to understand this concept is to consider our self as a container
including our physical body and physical brain along with a separate
non-physical mind, spirit, or soul. The mind, spirit, or soul is
considered the conscious part that manifests itself through the brain
in a similar way that picture waves and sound waves manifest
themselves through a television set. The picture and sound waves are
also non-material just like the mind, spirit, or soul.

The alternative concept is materialism. Materialism holds that

everything in our universe is made from physical materials including
the human mind or brain and that spiritual attributes do not exist in
the universe. This concept holds that our mind and brain are one and
the same.

Dualism – Expectations of a material only mind

If dualism is not true, the mind is limited to the physical brain.
Assuming this scenario, what kind of a mind would we expect? We
certainly would not expect to have consciousness strictly from
materials. Perhaps we could expect to see a mechanical mind similar
to a computer that is run by a program. We would not expect things
like consciousness, sensations, thoughts, emotions, desires, beliefs,
and free choice. Such a mind would behave in a deterministic way
based upon the laws of matter. Many scientists and philosophers are
now concluding that the laws of chemistry and physics cannot explain
the experience of consciousness in human beings.

We would not expect people with such a mind to be responsible for

their behavior because everything they do is determined by the
attributes of matter. We all know that is absurd. Also, we could not
trust our minds since they are just a random collection of materials not
produced by an intelligent mind.

Dualism – Expectations of a spiritual mind

With dualism we would expect the spiritual mind to have similar
attributes to that of its source. If the source is the God of the Bible, the
concept of dualism is consistent with the Bible. Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)
states, “Then God said, ‘let Us make man in Our image, according to
our likeness...’” Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) states, “And the Lord God formed
man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life; and man became a living being.” Luke 23:46 (NKJV)
states, “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said,
‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’”

Dualism – Rational and scientific support

A British study published by the journal “Resuscitation” provided
evidence that consciousness continues after a person’s brain has
stopped functioning and he or she has been declared dead supports
the truth of dualism. In their journal article, physician Sam Parnia and
Peter Fenwick, a neuropsychiatrist, describe their study of sixty-three
heart attack victims who were declared clinically dead but were later
revived and interviewed. About ten percent reported having well-
structured, lucid thought processes, with memory formation and
reasoning during the time that their brains were not functioning. The
effects of starvation of oxygen or drugs were ruled out as factors.
Researchers also found that numerous cases were similar.

J. P. Moreland, PhD, author and theologian states during an interview

with Lee Strobel, “People are clinically dead, but sometimes they have
a vantage point from above, where they look down at the operating
table that their body is on. Sometimes they gain information that they
couldn’t have known if this were just an illusion happening in their
brain. One woman died and she saw a tennis shoe that was on top of
the hospital.” This is strong scientific evidence for the validity of her
experience and the existence of a conscience mind that separates from
the body at death.

There is no place in the brain where electric stimulation can cause a

person to believe or decide.

When Roger Sperry and his team studied the differences between the
brain’s right and left hemispheres, they discovered the mind has a
causal power independent of the brain’s activities. This led Sperry to
conclude that materialism was false.

Our thoughts can be true or false. However, brain states cannot be

true or false.

Nobody can tell what we are thinking by measuring brain waves. We

must be asked what we are thinking.

When empirical information is used to as a basis for validating

dualism, we can come to a consensus that it is true. However, dualism
vs. materialism is tied to the creation vs. evolution debate.
Consequently, evolutionists need to take unrealistic positions against
dualism to defend evolution. If dualism is true, we are created by God
and macroevolution is false.

In a similar way, if only the objective scientific empirical facts are

considered, evolution has no support and creation is true by default.