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This is the first major response to the new challenge of neuroscience to religion. There have been limited responses from a purely Christian point of view, but this takes account of eastern as well as western forms of religious experience. It challenges the prevailing naturalistic assumption of our culture, including the idea that the mind is either identical with or a temporary by-product of brain activity. It also discusses religion as institutions and religion as inner experience of the Transcendent, and suggests a form of spirituality for today.
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The New Frontier of Religion and Science Religious Experience, Neuroscience and the Transcendent
John Hick
The New Frontier of Religion and Science
Also by John Hick: EVIL AND THE GOD OF LOVE DISPUTED QUESTIONS IN THEOLOGY AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION PROBLEMS OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AN INTERPRETATION OF RELIGION GOD AND THE UNIVERSE OF FAITHS THREE FAITHS – ONE GOD A JOHN HICK READER DIALOGUES IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
The New Frontier of Religion and Science Religious Experience, Neuroscience and the Transcendent John Hick
© John Hick 2006 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2006 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 Companies and representatives throughout the world PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN-13: 9780230507708 hardback ISBN-10: 0230507700 hardback ISBN-13: 9780230507715 paperback ISBN-10: 0230507719 paperback This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hick, John. The new frontier of religion and science:religious experience, neuroscience, and the transcendent/John Hick. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN-13: 9780230507708 (cloth) ISBN-10: 0230507700 (cloth) 1. Psychology, Religious. 2. Religion and science. 3. Religion. 4. Religions. 5. Experience (Religion) 6. Neurosciences. 7. Transcendence (Philosophy) I. Title. BL53.H53 2007 2006051363 201 .65“dc22 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham and Eastbourne
For my grandchildren Jonathan, Emily, Rhiannon, Alexander, and Ellie.
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Contents
Preface
xi
Part I 1 Religion as Human Institutions Pre-axial religion The axial age The new axial insights Religion as institution and religion as spirituality/mysticism The institutional balance sheet The ‘scientific’ study of religion
3 3 4 6 7 8 11
2 Spirituality and Mysticism ‘Spirituality’ and spirituality Spirituality/mysticism Unitive mysticism
14