DrW wrote:
You, zerinus, appear to be firmly in the *1* camp, along with MG and JLHPROF.
I'm comfortable with 1 and 2. Although I think there are some mischaracterizations embedded along the way.
Your OP question seems to imply either/or. Is that your intent?
Nice job describing brain function in your OP. Brain science is interesting stuff.
The way I see it is if there is a creator/God, He is going to communicate with us in any way He can. And since we have brain/nervous systems, He can and will use that conduit, language and mental maps included, as a 'carrier' for 'Spirit'. Although when doing so I think that this sensory system can go into 'system overload' when the Spirit is 'strong', so to speak.
Generally,however, those spiritual impressions are 'whispers' and intimations that go where the 'wind listeth', as scriptural language says.
Brain/heart/Spirit...they're all interrelated, in my opinion.
And it's important to remember that much of what we may call spiritual phenomena IS simply a construct/fabrication of the mind. It takes time and practice to differentiate between pure mental processes and those impressions on the mind that may come/originate elsewhere.
I have always struggled with that along with, I'm sure, many others. I do believe that it may well be true, however, that there are things we can do in order to be more open conduits to spiritual impressions from deity.
Regards,
MG