179. The Neuroscience of Spiritual Formation, with Jim Wilder, author of Renovated

Aug 29, 2023

Jim Wilder, author of Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms, discusses the role of the brain in spiritual formation. He highlights the importance of attachment love in developing relationships with God and others. Mutual mind, where subconscious processing aligns, plays a key role. The podcast explores becoming our true selves, finding peace through gratitude, and the significance of joy in spiritual formation.

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Episode notes

Introduction

00:00 • 4min

Exploring Attachment Love and Spiritual Formation

04:20 • 18min

The Neuroscience of Mutual Mind

22:00 • 10min

Becoming Who We Were Meant to Be

32:04 • 3min

The Role of Joy in Spiritual Formation

35:30 • 2min

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Jim Wilder is the author Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms and the resident neurotheologian at Life Model Works.

In this episode, Jim Wilder discusses how we become who we are created to be through the lens of neurotheology. In other words, what role does your brain play in forming you into the person you were created to be?

And how can an understanding of how the brain works help us develop environments in our churches that nurture deep spiritual formation among our people and help them both become who they were created to be and fulfill the purpose for which they were created?

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Jim Wilder is the author Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms and the resident neurotheologian at Life Model Works.
Jim Wilder explains what a “neuro-theologian” is.
Jim Wilder’s book, Renovated, is based on a conference Jim did with Dallas Willard before he passed away.
Spiritual maturity and natural maturity are both rooted in relationship and are part and parcel of each other.
Attachment love is formed with people who are glad to be with us.
Spiritual formation happens as people develop attachment love with one another and with God.
Human beings often lose their sense of peace. To find our way back to peace the brain’s best path is through being thankful.
According to Jim Wilder, “mutual mind” (or intersubjectivity) happens when two peoples subconscious processing begins to line up with each other. Their brains begin to produce the same chemistry, the same thoughts, the same patterns.
Jim Wilder asks: Would God give us the capacity for mutual mind and not make use of it himself?
Spiritual disciplines create the space where mutual mind with God can develop.
According to Jim Wilder, after the Vietnam War, there was a huge professionalization of the clergy, where pastors were now rated on how well they got results in their job, as opposed to developing loving relationships with people.
If salvation is about becoming the person God meant us to be—and God was intelligent—then by being exactly who God is creating you to be, you will accomplish what God wants done at the moment.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

Books mentioned:
- Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms, by Jim Wilder
- Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, by Peter Scazzero
- Shame and Grace, by Lewis Smedes
- Becoming a Face of Grace: Navigating Lasting Relationship with God and Others, by Ed Khouri

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