Human nature presents human minds with a puzzle which they…
““Human nature presents human minds with a puzzle which they have not yet solved and may never succeed in solving, for all that we can tell. The dichotomy of a human being into 'soul' and 'body' is not a datum of experience. No one has ever been, or ever met, a living human soul without a body... Someone who accepts—as I myself do, taking it on trust—the present-day scientific account of the Universe may find it impossible to believe that a living creature, once dead, can come to life again; but, if he did entertain this belief, he would be thinking more 'scientifically' if he thought in the Christian terms of a psychosomatic resurrection than if he thought in the shamanistic terms of a disembodied spirit.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human nature is a puzzle; the soul‑body split is not experiential. Some find scientific views hard to reconcile with belief in resurrection, preferring psychosomatic or shamanistic explanations.
In simple terms: The mind‑body divide and resurrection are complex and debated topics.
Key Takeaway
Explore both scientific and spiritual perspectives on existence.
Themes
philosophy
theology
human nature
mind‑body
resurrection
belief
Mood
contemplative
curious
neutral
Type
Human nature:1
Human soul:1
Life:0
Nature:0
Philosophy:1
Psychology:0
Ressurection:0
Souls:0
Spirituality:0
Soul Body:0
Resurrection Thought:0
Thought Shamanistic:0
Psychosomatic Resurrection:0
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal belief formation
- ethical discussions
- counseling
Key Concepts
metaphysics
psychology
religious studies
existential inquiry
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would convince you of an afterlife?
- How do you integrate science and faith?
A Different Perspective
Scientific proof of resurrection is lacking; personal belief varies.