Invisible Forces And Powerful Beliefs: Gravity, Gods, And Minds

Description

In this book, a remarkable group of scientists, physicians, philosophers, and theologians share profound insights into our deepest questions, and the invisible forces and powerful beliefs that shape us. They will challenge you-and reward you with a richer understanding of who we are, what we share, and what it means.

Author description

The Chicago Social Brain Network is a network of more than a dozen scholars unbounded by disciplinary precincts or methodological perspectives. The Network's goal is to set aside the antagonisms that have grown up between science and humanities to explore diverse ways of seeing the world and shed new light on the human mind. Network scholars hail from disciplines as disparate as psychology, neurology, theology, statistics, philosophy, internal medicine, anthropology, and sociology. Network members interact on a daily or weekly basis, and the entire Network convenes twice annually for a four-day retreat to discuss each others' research, critique each other, and learn from one another.

Table of contents

Preface xi 1 Invisible forces operating on human bodies 1 2 The social nature of humankind 17 3 Science, religion, and a revived religious humanism 35 4 Health by connection: from social brains to resilient bodies 49 5 Psychosomatic relations: from superstition to mortality 61 6 The suspension of individual consciousness and the dissolution of self and other boundaries 73 7 Action at a distance: the invisible force of language 83 8 Hidden forces in understanding others: mirror neurons and neurobiological underpinnings 95 9 Empathy and interpersonal sensitivity 109 10 Seeing invisible minds 121 11 Anthropomorphism: human connection to a universal society 133 12 How does God become real? 145 13 Theological perspectives on God as an invisible force 157 14 Visible efforts to change invisible connections 171 15 Social brain, spiritual medicine? 185 16 Epilogue 197 About the authors 207 Index 209