The dividing line between philosophy and science continues to blur, as journalist Amanda Gefter argues in her recent reflection on experimental metaphysics at Quanta Magazine. This is due, in large measure, to the conundrum of conscious human experience. And, she’s right that consciousness, intuition, and experience continue to prompt new questions about the fundamental nature of the world and science.  

Computer engineer and philosopher Bernardo Kastrup has been at the forefront of the gradual shift in conventionally accepted understandings of reality. He and many others see it as motivating not a personal theism like Christianity (e.g., “An Idealist Perspective on God and Religion”), but something akin to New Age Eastern spirituality or cosmic consciousness focused on what is ultimately an impersonal spirituality.

But this door must be opened with caution and what it leads to must be explored carefully. Mind Matters News has an important role to play as we explore the implications of consciousness in more depth. Specifically, does it lead to something like Christian theism or to an impersonal consciousness, claimed by the many new age gurus who dominate the blogosphere.

Soul Science Ministries challenges New Age approaches to consciousness on behalf of theism 

As interest in consciousness studies grows, my organization, Soul Science Ministries, stands out by challenging a popular New Age narrative with a fresh, theistic perspective. In contrast to New Age and cosmic consciousness views, which often portray consciousness as an impersonal force, Soul Science advocates for a spiritually grounded, theistic approach that emphasizes a personal connection to the divine. This vision, rooted in Christian theism, aims to reshape our understanding of consciousness by exploring its implications for a whole host of issues including mental health, holistic well-being, and humanity’s role in a technology-driven world.

Soul Science’s mission brings a nuanced voice to the consciousness debate, focusing on the “turn inward” as a path not just for self-realization, but for spiritual connection. This approach underscores consciousness as a pathway to personal and divine discovery, contrasting with secular and New Age frameworks that prioritize self-actualization. By highlighting the unique role of consciousness in our mental and physical health, Soul Science Ministries promotes a comprehensive view that honors the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit—advocating for holistic well-being as a reflection of divine order.

In a rapidly advancing technological landscape, Soul Science challenges trends that may reduce human experience to data or artificial intelligence. By emphasizing consciousness as a uniquely human trait and a divine gift, it offers a compelling counterpoint to secular and impersonal perspectives. Its approach to consciousness—rooted in theistic faith and integrating scientific insights—provides a balanced foundation for exploring humanity’s purpose, mental health, and resilience in an increasingly complex world.

In a landscape where New Age gurus and alternative spiritual practices are embracing consciousness as an antidote to reductive scientific views, it is vital for theistic traditions—especially Christian theists—to participate in this crucial dialogue. For example, Soul Science Ministries sponsors design theology as a project.

As we explore consciousness, we find that it raises fundamental questions about reality and our place in it. These questions often challenge the limits of the scientific method, pushing us to reconsider not only what we know but how we come to know. Soul Science Ministries recognizes the need for a nuanced response from religious perspectives to issues that transcend science alone, such as the subjective nature of consciousness. While Mind Matters News and other platforms provide valuable discussions on these topics, there remains an essential need for a distinctly theistic approach that accounts for the soul’s place in the cosmos and provides a foundation for spiritual reflection within a scientific world.

Consciousness and its implications

The pursuit of consciousness studies is not merely a theoretical exercise but holds profound implications for human life—mental health, holistic well-being, and even our perception of humanity in a world increasingly dominated by technology. In this way, consciousness reflects the essential mystery of subjectivity, a realm where science often struggles to venture. Here, Soul Science Ministries encourages a “turn inward,” a practice that has guided monotheistic traditions for centuries. This inward journey reveals how consciousness is not only about understanding ourselves but about understanding reality itself.

The turn inward and mental health

As society grows more concerned with mental health, the role of the “turn inward” in fostering psychological well-being has never been clearer. The journey of self-reflection and spiritual introspection has been shown to alleviate stress, reduce symptoms of anxiety, and promote a more balanced approach to life.

From a Christian theistic perspective, the turn inward is a means of reconnecting with the soul and, ultimately, with God, who offers peace, purpose, and guidance. In contrast to the New Age emphasis on self-realization as an end in itself, the theistic approach sees self-awareness as a gateway to understanding our dependence on the divine, which can foster resilience, hope, and healing. Soul Science Ministries advocates for this deeply relational approach to mental health, which holds that true peace is not merely the absence of mental distress but the presence of divine purpose and comfort in times of trial.

The turn inward and holistic physical health

The turn inward also has significant implications for physical health, promoting a holistic perspective that addresses the body and mind as interconnected facets of the human experience. Numerous studies show that practices encouraging mindfulness and self-awareness—such as prayer, meditation, and reflective study—benefit physical health by reducing blood pressure, improving immune function, and decreasing stress hormones.

Yet, in the theistic framework Soul Science Ministries champions, these health benefits are not pursued solely for self-improvement but as part of a larger spiritual discipline. The physical body is viewed as a vessel that reflects the goodness of the Creator and deserves care. Thus, health becomes an expression of gratitude and reverence, a way of honoring our embodied experience and the God who has given it to us. This contrasts with trends that view health solely through a materialist lens, emphasizing instead a holistic view that includes body, mind, and spirit.

The turn inward as a marker of humanity in a technological age

In an era increasingly shaped by rapid technological advancements, the turn inward has become a critical means of distinguishing what it truly means to be human. Technology, though beneficial, has led to concerns that artificial intelligence, virtual realities, and immersive digital experiences might replace or redefine essential human experiences. Soul Science Ministries views consciousness as an innately human phenomenon—a unique capacity to reflect, relate, and experience meaning beyond mere data processing. By turning inward, we embrace our human capacity for self-awareness and spiritual connection, rather than merely seeking external stimulation. This inward turn fosters a sense of identity and meaning that technology, no matter how advanced, cannot replicate. Here, the theistic approach provides a safeguard against reducing humanity to algorithms or data points, reaffirming that human beings are more than the sum of their biological or computational parts.

A Call to Join the Dialogue

Soul Science Ministries envisions a new path forward, one that blends the theological and the scientific in the quest to understand consciousness. This approach does not deny the insights of science but recognizes that science alone cannot answer the deepest questions of purpose and meaning. Here, we issue a call to others—scientists, theologians, and seekers of all backgrounds—to join in this mission and consider the impact of consciousness studies on human understanding. Supporting Soul Science Ministries means supporting an approach that values science without sacrificing the depth of faith, bringing balance to discussions often dominated by secular or New Age perspectives.

As consciousness continues to reveal itself as fundamental to our understanding of reality, let us strive to see this as an invitation—not to dissolve into a cosmic whole, but to embrace the divine image within us, to live meaningfully, and to engage in this world with purpose and clarity.