The Soul Behind the Brain
The Christian Soul: Understanding Where the Spirit Fits In
Christians do not need to isolate their mind from their faith. We need to understand a biblical worldview of the soul which can give us meaning and understanding of our minds with a will and all the various emotions that are all interconnected to shape our identity. We also need to know our consciousness and mind are not fully explainable by brain activity alone.
Christian theology views the soul as an immaterial substance created by God that interacts with the physical body. It goes beyond our physical bodies and outward behaviors. Our Christian understanding of the soul shapes who we are at the deepest level. It helps us understand how we reason, our free will, and why morality cannot be adequately explained by (neuro)science alone. The Christian hope of life beyond the grave supports the doctrine of resurrection and eternal life and the soul’s existence apart from the brain. So, now that we have clearly defined a difference between our physical brain and our spiritual soul, what then is the soul?
The Bible reveals the soul as the immaterial essence of a person. It emcompasses the seat of our personality, will, and emotions. It is described as God’s creative act:
“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7
The soul carries the spiritual faculties that enable a personal connection with God. Spiritual faculties would be the human capacities through which a person can know, respond to, and relate to God. As the Bible shows us, Christian spirituality involves renewing the mind (Romans 12:2) to align with God’s truth. So, in essence, the mind and soul are intricately linked but not quite identical.
The Spirit Faculties of the Soul
Christian theology identifies key spiritual faculties of the soul that distinguish humans as made in God’s image (Imago Dei):
Mind (Intellect): The ability to reason and understand (Isaiah 1:18 –“Come now, let us reason together”). This faculty allows us to seek and know truth.
Will: The power to make moral choices (Deuteronomy 30:19 –“I have set before you life and death… choose life”). The will reflects our responsibility before God.
Emotions: Feelings such as love, joy, and repentance (Psalm 51:17 –“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”).
Conscience: The inner sense of right and wrong (Romans 2:15 –“They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts”).
Why Spirit Faculties Matter
Understanding the soul’s faculties helps Christians grow in faith. Romans 12:2 encourages believers to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation on Scripture, and worship engage the mind and emotions to align us more closely with God.
Since the will and conscience are faculties of the soul, Christians are called to exercise moral discernment. Teaching these faculties is essential in education and discipleship to develop character and ethical living (Philippians 4:8).
It matters for Christian mental health: neglecting the mind’s spiritual dimension can lead to confusion and despair.
The soul explains human experiences like consciousness, morality, and desire for meaning.
Research
Research: Michael Egnor references studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to detect brain activity in patients diagnosed with persistent vegetative states or comas. In these studies, patients were asked to imagine specific scenarios, such as playing tennis or walking through their home, while their brain activity was monitored. Remarkably, some patients demonstrated brain activation patterns similar to healthy individuals performing these mental tasks, indicating conscious awareness and the ability to understand and follow commands despite no outward signs of responsiveness.
This evidence challenges the assumption that reason and consciousness are impossible without full brain function. Instead, it suggests that consciousness and cognitive faculties can persist independently of overt brain activity, consistent with the concept of an immaterial mind or soul. Egnor uses these findings to argue for substance dualism and to reinforce the Christian understanding of the soul’s reality beyond physical processes.
Ultimately, understanding the soul reminds us that we are whole persons. We were created to live in right relationship with God through the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for each of us. As Jesus taught, the greatest commandment calls us to love God with our whole being: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mark 12:30).
Resources
Egnor, M., & O'Leary, D. (2025). The immortal mind: A neurosurgeon's case for the existence of the soul. Worthy Books.
Egnor, M. (2012). Neurosurgery and the soul: The case for dualism. Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 37(1), 62–80. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmp/jhr046
Egnor, M. (2013). The evidence for dualism from neuroscience. Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences, 57(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0390-5616.12.02131-1
New International Bible (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1978).
Wallace, S. W. (2024). Have we lost our minds? Neuroscience, neurotheology, the soul, and human flourishing. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
