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Book Review: “Fingerprints of God: What Science Is Learning About the Brain and Spiritual Experience”
I had initially bought this book a few years ago. That was when I was borderline obsessed with near-death experiences. However, other things in life won my attention, and the book got buried and lost under other unread books on my crowded bookshelf.
However, I have been dying for something new to read. So I sifted through my book graveyard and happened upon this little gem.
“Fingerprints of God” was a pretty decent read. The author definitely did her research! It is jam-packed with studies and statistics from trusted sources, and full of interviews from well-educated minds.
Barbara Hagerty, a religion reporter who was raised as a Christian Scientist, embarks on a journey to explore the spiritual. At somewhat of a crossroads in her own religious journey, she wanted to dive deeper to find evidence of the spiritual world she believed existed.
A Christian Scientist essentially subscribes to the same beliefs as traditional Christians. However, they vehemently believe all illnesses can be healed through the power of God’s love. Most Christians believe this, but Christian Scientists practice this as a reality. This is the premise of Christian Science; they believe the law of God’s love heals, and that all illnesses are an illusion that God’s law can eliminate.
Anyway, through conversations with doctors, scientists, philosophers, and spiritual healers from different cultures, Barbara is convinced that God is real, and there is a spiritual dimension living beside us.
The book focuses heavily on near-death-experiences (NDE). And she has discussions with doctors who have studied the brain activity of those who have experienced a NDE (after the fact). There are some noticeable changes to the brain after one has a spiritual encounter after “dying”.
One thing I love about the book is that she doesn’t only present the studies or evidence that are in favor of her world view. She encounters doctors who are thoroughly convinced that this is all chemical, that it doesn’t prove anything, and they have an explanation for all the clear changes to the brain. Barbara does not shy away from sharing this information even though it’s in contrast with what she believes is true.
In 2009, Barabara was interviewed on the popular Diane Rehm radio show to discuss “Fingerprints of God”. This is a huge win for the body of Christ; for a well-known, secular radio show to feature an author discussing all things God and spiritual is huge.
I very much enjoyed reading about Barbara’s experience. The book starts off a little slow, in my opinion. I was really looking forward to reading the research and evidence-heavy content. And most of that stuff appears in the latter half of the book.
All in all, I’m glad that I read it, and I recommend that you do as well.
Some favorite quotes:
“Our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different.” ~ Harvard scientist William James (pg. 26)
“…he readily conceded that science could neither prove the reality of a spiritual dimension, nor rule it out. But these experiences, he argued, point to ‘possibility of other orders of truth’. ~ Barbara Hagerty (pg. 26)
“Let me repeat that astonishing statistic: Turning to God rather than rejecting God appears to boost your immune system and stave off the disease nearly five times as effectively.” ~ Barbara Hagerty (pg. 53)
“I think it is the ultimate arrogance for anyone, whether they’re a scientist, or anyone else, to say that something can’t be.” ~ neurosurgeon Robert Spetzler (pg. 206)
“An oxygen-deprived brain blurts out idiosyncratic hallucinations and leaves the survivor confused. But near-death experiences tell coherent narratives and describe elaborate conversations with dead relatives, beings of light, or religious figures like Jesus.” ~ Barbara Hagerty (pg. 227)
If you’re interested, you can purchase the book here or click the image below.
You might also like:
“Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis: Book Review
“The Apologetics Study Bible”: Book Review
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