The Man Without a Brain
- D.I.Hennessey
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Modern science has documented something truly extraordinary -- there are people who live normal lives without a normal brain, at least without normal brain tissue. People with this condition, associated with Hydrocephalus, exhibit fluid in place of normal brain tissue, yet demonstrate no cognitive impairment. This is just one remarkable piece of evidence that points to something significant about the essence of our humanity.
In the vast expanse of human inquiry, few puzzles are as intriguing as the problem of consciousness—the spark of self-awareness that lets us ponder our own existence. Beyond the neurons firing in our brains, something transcendent seems to be at play, defying purely material explanations.
Consider the basics: Consciousness isn't just an act of processing data like a computer. It's the subjective "I" experiencing joy, pain, or wonder. Philosophers like René Descartes argued, "Cogito, ergo sum"—"I think, therefore I am." This self-awareness suggests an observer separate from the observed, something separate from our physical self -- a soul. Modern neuroscience has attempted to correlate brain activity with thoughts, but it fails to explain qualia—the raw feel of the glorious color in a sunset or the resonating bitterness of regret. These aren't reducible to electrical impulses; they hint at a deeper, immaterial reality.
Skeptics of a spiritual soul, those rooted in materialism, claim consciousness emerges from complex biology, the way wetness is produced by water molecules. But emergence doesn't account for why subjective experience arises at all. Why aren't we simply biological machines—beings that act without truly feeling?
The "hard problem" of consciousness, coined by David Chalmers (professor of philosophy and neural science at New York University, and the co-director of NYU's Center for Mind, Brain and Consciousness), underscores this gap. 'If the universe were purely physical, consciousness shouldn't exist; its presence implies a soul bridging matter and mind.'
Every culture on earth has spiritual traditions that echo this: The idea of a soul as the eternal essence animating the body is a universal concept. Ultimately, consciousness challenges atheism's cold machinery. It whispers of purpose, immortality, and a divine creator. In embracing it, we affirm not just our minds, but our souls—proof that consciousness is spiritually perceived.
This reality is further demonstrated by documented cases of Hydrocephalus, the condition where some patients exhibit normal brain function and memory despite an absence of brain tissue. Neurologist, John Lorber, has studied more than 600 cases in which patients were observed to have fluid in place of normal brain tissue, and yet were living normal lives with no cognitive impairment, sometimes with exception IQs.
The Man Without a Brain
One extreme case is documented of a 44 year old French man with virtually no brain, just fluid where the organ should be. Yet his mind, his memories, his entire identity remained intact. His case was published in the medical journal The Lancet in 2007, describing him as living a completely normal life despite having only about 10% of his brain tissue remaining. The majority of his skull was filled with cerebrospinal fluid due to a condition since infancy called hydrocephalus. The patient was married with two children and led an independent life without any major disabilities.
Cases like his have inspired a radical theory suggesting our brains might be an antenna rather than the source of consciousness itself.
If the brain doesn't create your thoughts and emotions, but merely receives them, then where does consciousness really come from—and where does it go when we die?
The Bible's Answer -- a Soul
It’s not surprising that the Bible mentions the human soul a lot – more than 450 times. God’s message is clear, beginning with Genesis 2:7,
“And God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
The Bible makes it clear that our soul is eternal – it is destined to return one day to the God who breathed it. To quote Jesus’ words, some will “enter into the joy of their Lord,” while others will be “cast out into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Christ’s coming and sacrifice on the cross is the soul’s greatest evidence of all – your soul’s redemption was worth the ultimate cost – the Savior’s substitutionary death, burial and resurrection paid the price to redeem souls!
If you’re interested in hearing more about ‘The Man Who Lived Without a Brain,’ check out the You Tube video at the link below: