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Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14194/2895
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Item Mindfulness and the Brain : A Christian Critique of Some Aspects of Neuroscience Conspectus : The Journal of the South AfricaTheological Seminary, Volume 12, Issue 09, Sep 2011, p. 59 - 87(South African Theological Seminary Press Johannesburg, South Africa) Joubert, Callie W. T.The aim in this paper is to critique some aspects of neuro-scientific studies on mindfulness and mindful practices. Firstly, because of the often mistaken assumption that it is something totally new; its roots in fact lie in religious and philosophical views which are the antithesis of a Christian worldview. Secondly, because of opposing views of what the mind is, and how the mind relates to the brain, Christians have come under pressure to show how their claims about God are different from those of epileptics and atheists. In order to deal with these issues, this study commences with a brief introduction to the concept of mindfulness, its historical roots and the scientific claims in support of mindful practices. A philosophical critique of physicalism and panpsychism is then offered from a biblical perspective, followed by a discussion of some of the dangers lurking in the neighbourhood of mindful practices. The conclusion is that the philosophical and religious assumptions that underlie scientific views of ourselves and spiritual growth matter enormously; they deserve continual scrutiny.Item Destruction of the Human Embryo in Stem Cell Research and the Moral Status of the Unborn in the South African Regulatory Framework - A Christian Assessment Conspectus : The Journal of the South African Theological Seminary, Volume 15, Issue 03, Mar 2013, p. 175 - 206(South African Theological Seminary Press Johannesburg, South Africa) Joubert, Callie W. T.One of the most prominent controversies of the last decade has been human embryo research, as obtaining stem cells typically requires the destruction of the embryo. The South African Bill of Rights excludes the embryo from the right to life, yet, in legislation, it is acknowledged that the unborn can suffer harm. The aim of this paper is to help Christians make sense of this state of affairs. First, it highlights a few anomalies in the South African regulatory framework. It then turns to the scriptures, followed by a clarification of crucially important metaphysical concepts and distinctions without which no position on the moral status of the embryo can be adequately assessed and critiqued. The final section comprises a brief response to three objections to the view that the human embryo is in fact a human person.