My view is that this is incompatible with the Christian message, which clearly maintains a dualistic approach to the creation of the body and the spirit. The former is temporary, the latter is eternal.
It would seem that some element of Panpsychism is plausible as it is unclear at what point consciousness arises in people and animals, there are many researchers such as Rupert Sheldrake who also hold Christian sentiments, that consider that consciousness could be connected to the complexity of a self organising system, the most simple of these are atoms while the most complex are galaxies. We see verses like Romans 8:22 suggesting that "All creation groans" it may indicate that there is some notion of awareness or feeling among celestial bodies and entities traditionally considered inanimate.
I’ve listened to the programme. A link is here for anyone else who may be interested. Â
I remain of the view that panpsychism is unscriptural for the reasons given above. Philosophically, I would reject it, as there is absolutely no empirical evidence that all matter is conscious. Furthermore, if believing that anything material is conscious leads to contradictions (as Chapter 1 of my book argues), then believing that all matter is conscious cannot remove those contradictions.
I don't accept there is a serious mind-body problem, certainly not one that leads to contradictions. I believe it is a fundamental law of the universe that spirit can affect, and be affected by, matter without being in contact with it - just as matter exerts a gravitational force on other matter without being in contact with it.
Those Christians with panpsychists leanings also need to be clear about how this idea relates to their concepts about the nature of God. Is God material, having length and breadth like other matter? No, the Bible says He is spirit and not even the highest heavens can contain Him. Â Â
It would seem that some element of Panpsychism is plausible as it is unclear at what point consciousness arises in people and animals, there are many researchers such as Rupert Sheldrake who also hold Christian sentiments, that consider that consciousness could be connected to the complexity of a self organising system, the most simple of these are atoms while the most complex are galaxies. We see verses like Romans 8:22 suggesting that "All creation groans" it may indicate that there is some notion of awareness or feeling among celestial bodies and entities traditionally considered inanimate.
Have you listened to Melvin Bragg In Our Time on this topic? Interesting discussion