Enhancing Christian Life: How Extended Cognition Augments Religious Community by null


Enhancing Christian Life: How Extended Cognition Augments Religious Community
Title : Enhancing Christian Life: How Extended Cognition Augments Religious Community
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0830852816
ISBN-10 : 978-0830852819
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 176 pages
Publication : August 25, 2020

2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Finalist Science and TechnologyNo one is really Christian on their own. But often the religious life is seen as individual, private, and internal―resulting in a truncated, consumeristic faith. And what if that kind of individualistic Christianity is built on a fundamental misunderstanding of human nature? According to psychologists Brad Strawn and Warren Brown, it's time to rethink the Christian life in light of current research on the human mind, particularly with a deeper understanding of the process called "extended cognition." Using insights from neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, they argue in Enhancing Christian Life that persons must be understood as not only embodied and embedded within particular contexts, but also extended beyond the body to encompass aspects of the physical and social world. Embracing a vision of the Christian life as extended into interactions with a local network of believers, they help us discover a fuller, effective way to be Christian. After exploring the psychological dynamics of extended cognition, including how the mind is "supersized" by the incorporation of physical tools and social networks, Strawn and Brown consider implications for spiritual practices, congregational life, and religious language and traditions, which they describe as mental "wikis." The formation of robust Christian life, they show, is a process that takes place within a larger mesh of embodiment and mind―broader, deeper, and richer than we could ever be on our own.

Enhancing Christian Life: How Extended Cognition Augments Religious Community Reviews

  • Michael Taylor

    "Enhancing Christian Life" is a good read for anyone wanting live in community with other Christian believers. In a day where some Christian believers want to live individualistically (they say they believe in Jesus Christ but do not attend and/or serve at church, keep their religion to themselves, etc.), we can grow stronger when living in community.

    The authors also describe different spiritual disciplines that can be lived in community (prayer, serving, interacting) either in church, neighborhood, relationships, etc. These chapters were insightful and helpful, especially as persecution of believers grow worldwide. Also liked the information on how our minds improve while living in Christian community.

    Would have liked to have seen information and suggestions for finding other believers to grow with (for example, what are some characteristics you should look for in a Christian community to grow with, besides church where are other sources of a potentially good community to be a part of, when is it time to leave the community you're in if things are not clicking and to look for another community to be a part of, etc.). I say this because while I like to be in community with other believers, the results have been mixed some groups I fit in well with while others were not a good fit. I also know other people who have had the some problem. In summary, while living in a Christian community is preferable, it needs to be a group that truly cares about you and not just see you as an extension of themselves or value you only for what you can do for others instead of being a person who is precious to Jesus Christ.

    Comment aside, still a good read and will be read again. Recommended.

  • Joel

    I believe it is difficult to fully understand just how much our individual upbringing and cultural surrounding influence our perceptions, assumptions, and behaviors. Perhaps it is even challenging to realize the fullness through which that journey is not meant to be 'only' individual! For Christians, I believe this is ever so true in how we interact and live as part of the church. In this book Dr. Brad Strawn and Dr. Warren Brown offer incredible insight, wisdom, and perspective to those of us who are part of the church of Jesus seeking to intentionally interact and live together in the way of Christ. To continue to understand and experience what it is truly to invest in a community of Christ followers with our entire selves is an incredible blessing and journey. This book is greatly informing and inspiring this journey in a cultural moment that is especially challenging. Many thanks and blessings to them, as well as grace and peace to all who choose to select this text and seek to understand what it is to live our shared life of faith.