Souls?

February 22nd, 2025| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

Dr. Stuart Hameroff, anesthesiologist and professor at the University of Arizona, recently discussed a study that captured the brain activity of clinically dead patients. Researchers placed small sensors on the brains of seven chronically ill patients (two females and five males, ranging in age from 34 to 74) minutes before they were taken off life support, allowing them to capture activity after each patient’s blood pressure and heartrate dropped to zero.

After the patients’ EEGs flatlined, they were pronounced dead, and the devices were removed. The raw data captured the moment of death which was then followed by a spike of energy lasting from one to 20 minutes—gamma synchrony, a type of brain wave pattern linked to conscious thought, awareness, and perception, the kind of brain activity that occurs when one is thinking or processing information.

Hameroff to Jay Anderson, host of the YouTube channel Project Unity:

The scientists saw everything go away and got [this burst] of activity. That could be the near-death experience or it could be the soul leaving the body perhaps.”

Dr. Hameroff believes that consciousness happens at a deeper quantum level, arguing it comes from quantum processes inside microtubules (the “skeleton” of cells) rather than just from large-scale electrical signals between neurons. That might explain why people still have awareness in low-energy brain states, like anesthesia, deep sleep or even near-death experiences.

In any case, there is this mysterious burst of energy that happens in the brain as we die. Researchers of the study said the most possible explanation would be that the bursts were released when the brain was deprived of oxygen.

The existence of something immaterial that, along with the material aspect, forms each of us, is, in my opinion, incontrovertible. That immaterial part, has theologically been called the “soul” and/or the “spirit.” The issue of whether humans are trichotomous (material body + immaterial soul + immaterial spirit) or dichotomous (material body + immaterial something) is a matter of debate.

Here’s the controversy:

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;
and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete,
without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”
Luke 1:46–47

These seem to indicate a trichotomous division of our selves (two immaterial parts, one material part).

But then there are these:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:37

Whoa, it’s four parts now (including the body)?

Also, “spirit” and “soul” are used interchangeably:

“Now My soul has become troubled ….”
John 12:27

When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit ….
John 13:21

Besides, both “soul” and “spirit” can be sinful and need purification:

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls ….
1 Peter 1:22

Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit ….
2 Corinthians 7:1

And the case for two parts?

The woman who is unmarried … is concerned about the things of the Lord,
that she may be holy both in body and spirit.
1 Corinthians 7:34

“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul;
but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28

All that to say: Who knows?

But this we know: at least two parts, the material and the immaterial. And that’s … us.

SOURCE: DailyMail