Is the Soul Real? A Neurosurgeon Makes the Case [Sean McDowell Show]

[Alfred Persson]

Many scientists and doctors believe that there is no such thing as the soul. Dr. Michael Egnor is a neurosurgeon presents the case that the brain alone does not explain the mind. Using modern neuroscience and his vast surgical experience, he believes there is a spiritual soul that transcends the brain, using fascinating case studies to prove his claim. Today, he's here to discuss his new book comes out June 3rd.

READ: The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul Hardcover by Michael Egnor
(https://theimmortalmind.org/)

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In the video another surgeon is cited as proof of the soul's existence because he has electrically stimulated various parts of the brain over a million times, but it never caused abstract thought or "the person himself" to appear, only bodily movements and chemically produced emotions.

 

[for_his_glory]

Gen 2:7 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 soul.

Let's let the word of God answer all our questions as we do not need a Neurosurgeon to define whether we have a soul or not.

 

[Alfred Persson]

Gen 2:7 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 soul.

Let's let the word of God answer all our questions as we do not need a Neurosurgeon to define whether we have a soul or not.

My path to conversion began when apologetic arguments against evolution convinced me to read the Bible.

That a neurosurgeon could stimulate the brain with electrodes over a million times and never cause an intellectual response, is something unbelievers likely don't know. It is powerful proof the brain doesn't create the intellect, something else (soul, spirit) does.

 

[for_his_glory]

My path to conversion began when apologetic arguments against evolution convinced me to read the Bible.

That a neurosurgeon could stimulate the brain with electrodes over a million times and never cause an intellectual response, is something unbelievers likely don't know. It is powerful proof the brain doesn't create the intellect, something else (soul, spirit) does.

My conversion came within a dark place in my life many years ago when I called upon the Lord and he answered me.

The soul, which makes up the conscious part of ones being, is that of thought, action and emotion.

​

 

[Alfred Persson]

My conversion came within a dark place in my life many years ago when I called upon the Lord and he answered me.

The soul, which makes up the conscious part of ones being, is that of thought, action and emotion.

​

Materialists would disagree, they believe consciousness springs from the organ of the brain. To have proof they are wrong, scientific proof....can be used by the Holy Spirit to begin the path to conversion.

If materialists were right, that everything springs from the brain, then stimulating the brain electronically would produce opinion, beliefs, intellectual knowledge. Also in the video, people had half their brains removed and it didn't affect their consciousness, their intellect. Their IQ was unchanged proving intellect doesn't spring from the brain.

Its an amazing video, I will share it with my unbelieving friends.

 

[Alfred Persson]

My conversion came within a dark place in my life many years ago when I called upon the Lord and he answered me.

The soul, which makes up the conscious part of ones being, is that of thought, action and emotion.

​

That intellect springs from the soul, not brain....proves an Artificial Intelligence will never equal us in consciousness. It can look for patterns (as we do), but its choices will always be based on probabilities, not free will. That is, an AI cannot become "sentient", only "seem to be so."

 

[for_his_glory]

That intellect springs from the soul, not brain....proves an Artificial Intelligence will never equal us in consciousness. It can look for patterns (as we do), but its choices will always be based on probabilities, not free will. That is, an AI cannot become "sentient", only "seem to be so."

AI was created by man's technology and materialist can not understand the things of God as they are Spiritual.

1Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Cor 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 

[Alfred Persson]

AI was created by man's technology and materialist can not understand the things of God as they are Spiritual.

1Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Cor 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

That scripture includes the same premise, only what is born of God can reason. Have free will.

AI's imitate intelligence through pattern matching, they don't actually think.

This "fact" gives me a reason not to fear AI, that it will develop will. It will only do what its programmed to do. It can't become "sentient", "self-aware".

At best, its programming can only counterfeit "personhood".

An "evil AI" can only exist, if an evil human is controlling it.

 

[Christ_empowered]

Some old school psychiatrists noted that there seems to be something in addition to the brain that makes us conscious and human. Back in the day psychiatrists basically deliberately inflicted lots of brain damage. Operations heavy shock treatments high dose drugs…brain damage. So…


Even atheists such as Dr.thomas szasz who also didn’t believe in mental illness noticed….

Sometimes severely brain damaged people could keep going or even recover.

 

[for_his_glory]

That scripture includes the same premise, only what is born of God can reason. Have free will.

AI's imitate intelligence through pattern matching, they don't actually think.

This "fact" gives me a reason not to fear AI, that it will develop will. It will only do what its programmed to do. It can't become "sentient", "self-aware".

At best, its programming can only counterfeit "personhood".

An "evil AI" can only exist, if an evil human is controlling it.

As far as Biblical learning I will only trust that which has already been written and allow the Holy Spirit teach me.

 

[miamited]

An "evil AI" can only exist, if an evil human is controlling it.

And the believer says that yes, and when the Scriptures tell us that all men are wicked, we have all turned away... what are the chances that an evil person would be controlling AI?

 

[Alfred Persson]

As far as Biblical learning I will only trust that which has already been written and allow the Holy Spirit teach me.

Of course. Apologetics reaches out to those who don't trust Scripture, yet. I have secular friends who are being motivated to reconsider their rejection of Christianity, because so much of it is supported by scientific data.

 

[Alfred Persson]

And the believer says that yes, and when the Scriptures tell us that all men are wicked, we have all turned away... what are the chances that an evil person would be controlling AI?

100%. I interpret the "image of the beast" to be an AI THAT the false prophet--- (USA, Britian united under one leader)---convinces the earth to build and put their economies under. The false prophet is able to demonstrate the AI will never become sentient, and a threat to humans.

Unknown to the earth, Satan has empowered the Beast "Adonikam the Antichrist" with the ability to "possess" the AI and control it from a distance.

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Rev. 13:14-17 NKJ)

The AI networked with every device will enable the Antichrist to "see" and "hear" everything in the vicinity of a device, and perhaps even the ability to "kill" any who rise up against it near those devices.

Once its built, he "possesses it" declaring himself "god" or Elohim above all Elohim. He will then do things that "show he is a god".

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:4 NKJ)