The Transmitter to God : The Limbic System, the Soul, and Spirituality [Paperback]

Rhawn Joseph (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2000

Is the "Brain Wired for God?" Is there a genetic, neurological, or evolutionary basis for religious belief?

These questions and more are answered by one of the pioneers in the field of neuroscience and neuropsychology, Dr.R. Joseph. Dr. Joseph was the first to demonstrate neuroplasticity and recovery of neural function in primates, the first to conclusively demonstrate the effects of hormones on sex differences in cognition, and the first to conclusively demonstrate the role of early environmental influences on learning and memory--researched published in the 1970s and early 1980s. Dr.Joseph also shares the distinction, along with that of Drs. Newberg, Persinger, and a handful of others, of being one of the true pioneers in the field of NeuroTheology. In this amazing book, Dr. Joseph brings to bear over 30 years of expertise in the brain sciences to create one of the most unique books of our time--indeed, some say, it may even be ahead of its time.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In the 2nd edition of his classic neuroscience textbooks (1996), Dr. Joseph stunned the scientific community by including a monograph length chapter in which he explained there was a scientific, evolutionary, and neurological foundation for religious and spiritual experience. This chapter not only caused a sensation, but has recently inspired others to write "popular" trade books in which all of Dr. Joseph's ideas, theories, research, and discoveries have been repeated. It is said that mimicry is the best form of flattery. However, we say: why accept mimicry or those who falsely lay claim to the discoveries of others, when you can have the real thing? And in this regard we are pleased to present the 3rd printing of Dr. Joseph's book: The Transmitter to God.

About the Author

Evolutionary neurobiologist and developmental neuroscientist, Dr. Rhawn Joseph pioneered research in neuroplasticity back in the 1970s when he demonstrated the profound effects of the environment on learning, memory, perception, and the developing brain, and was the first to demonstrate that atrophied neurons in the primate brain could be functionally regenerated and the first to demonstrate recovery of neural and perceptual functioning in primates. (See Publications)

In the 1970s Dr. Joseph also provided evidence that the brain was sexually differentiated, that the same exact sex differences were present in other species, that he could reverse these sex differences and the sexual differentiation of the brain, and that these sex differences were maintained regardless of rearing conditions.

In the 1980s, Dr. Joseph published a number of studies on "split-brain" functioning in adults and children, demonstrating, experimentally, the presence of two independent mental realms, localized side by side in the right and left hemisphere.

In 1982 he presented a comprehensive new theory on the neurological organization and expression of language, and introduced the concept of "limbic language," and throughout the 1980s provided experimental support for his convergence-gap filling language axis theory of speech--a neurological theory of language which has now been repeatedy experimentally verified and which numerous scientists now champion as their own.

Dr. Joseph has also pioneered research on the evolution of the brain and mind, consciousness, language, thought, religious and spiritual experience, sexuality (e.g. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2000, 29, 35-66. Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science, 2001, 36, 105-136; Behavioral & Brain Science, 2000, 23, 439-441), and the limbic system foundations of emotion.

Dr. Joseph is the author of one of the best selling neuroscience text books of all time, his theory on the origin of life was telecast almost verbatim in a 15 minute segment televised by ABC News and ABC Nightline in 1997, and his work on the neurology of religious and spiritual experience has been discussed in Time magazine's special issue on spirituality (1997).

Product Details

• Paperback: 305 pages
• Publisher: University Pr (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970073313
• ISBN-13: 978-0970073310
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,149,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars misleading title, May 10, 2002

By 

"ajroberti" (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Transmitter to God : The Limbic System, the Soul, and Spirituality (Paperback)

This book is not about what it is purported to be about.

About 20% of the content deals with neurology and spiritual experiences. The rest can only be described as wildly speculative material reminiscent of Von Daniken and Velikovsky.

A great deal of attention is devoted to the notion that a "super-race" of humanoids lived on Earth 15,000 years ago. Their advanced civilization, housed on the continent of Atlantis, was destroyed when the planet Venus, originally a moon of Jupiter, careened past Mars, stealing that planet's ocean and atmosphere, and came close to Earth, leaving much of the water here in its wake -- hence, stories of a big flood that appear in mythologies the world over.

The current theory of evolution may be problematic, but it is more believable than the author's suggestion that life was planted here, designed so new species would unfold in a carefully-crafted plan to terraform the planet in stages.

There is a large amount of graphic violence, including depictions of medieval torture. Numerous examples of clergy or prophets "gone bad" are given to demonstrate the "close connection" in the brain between spirituality, sex, and violence. The author asserts that gay men have waged a religious war on women, but he cannot provide any examples to back this up. Abraham and Jesus are described as sexual deviants. On the whole, the fact that spirituality has inspired acts of good is overlooked (as is any other fact that would counter his claims).

To be fair, the content that does deal with the stated topic seems to be on a sound footing. The evidence he offers more or less matches what I'd seen elsewhere regarding neurological aspects of spiritual experience. However, I didn't find these portions of the book particularly enlightening.

The editing and layout is extremely sloppy, and (as if it mattered) footnotes are not consistently provided.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars pseudo science, December 31, 2001

By 

C. Tomlinson "xristy" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Transmitter to God : The Limbic System, the Soul, and Spirituality (Paperback)

I was suprised that this work was published by the University of California Press. The author has a penchant for endless citations of his own work to give creedance to various spurious claims. For example, on page 234 the claim is made that "it is well known that DNA can only be made by DNA" and that "the most sophisticated experiments have failed to produce DNA [from the presumed primordial soup]." There is then a citation of [Joseph 2000a]. The author seems to be unaware of the considerable work on the 'RNA world'. RNA is capable of acting as a storage molecule and can catalyze reactions as an enzyme. It isn't as stable a storage device as DNA, but it is plausible that it arose earlier and that proteins and DNA followed. In any event Joseph leaps forward to the 'obvious' conclusion that DNA arose somewhere other than earth and then was transported here via meteors or other beings.

If this is your cup of tea by all means drink. If you are expecting this book to speak about the neurophysiology of spiritual experiences you may be better served to explore, e.g., Austin's "Zen and the Brain" or d'Aquili and Newberg's "The Mystical Mind."

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars NOT published by the University of California Press, April 4, 2002

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Publisher (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Transmitter to God : The Limbic System, the Soul, and Spirituality (Paperback)

One of the earlier customer reviews states, "I was surprised that this book was published by the University of California Press." In fact, the book was NOT published by the University of California Press. It was published by a company called "University Press, California," that is located in San Jose, California.