Consider the following

I met a guy today finishing up his doctoral dissertation in the field of psychology. He is studying how brain trauma is correlative to addictive behavior (Mike Tyson?). It was a fun short discussion I'm glad I didn't say anything too obnoxious as I later found out he (the future doc) had major brain trauma. But the conversation reminded me of a dialogue of sorts I had with myself (If you can call that a dialogue).

It went something like this.
(me) I'm sad. 
(other me) Why? 
(me) I think it's the chemicals. 
(other me) Do tell. 
(me) Well I think I have a chemical imbalance of some kind, I need some other chemicals to help the-out of balance chemicals re assert there prominence in the appropriate loab or hemisphere or what have you.  
(other me) Huh? 
(me) You get it? It's like... I get sad but now I know why. The chemicals! 
(other me) Uhhh yea but...
(me) No wait, it's real I saw it on a commercial. There was this lady who was sad and then she took a pill and was less sad. There was even some authoritative jargon. Man I feel so much better knowing why!.
(other me) I'm still confused.
(me) Well other than the side affects it's simple. It's kinda like this, Why did the chicken cross the road?  
(other me) I don't like where this is going. 
(me) Because of the chemicals!  
(other me) Yeah I know there are chemicals but what about the chickens desire? What about the chickens world-view? What about the natural law guiding the chicken? What about the chickens family or friends... or actions the chicken did or did not commit? What about the possibilites on the other side of the road, the possible wonder and majesty upon discovery of a new land? What aout how God designed the chicken or the triune mechanics of Body, Soul and chicken spirit* thrusting the chicken across the pavement? What about causation? What about...
(me)....Bro it's a chicken. 


That's the short version of the conversation. But I was thinking about a more rudimentary understanding of sadness. For Example: You got sad because X or we know about sadness because of the corporeal manifestation of tears and correlating muscle contraction in a specified formation... frowny face. How silly would be this so called discovery of sadness? But accordingly we have a sense of knowledge based upon a biochemical manifestation that is  properly scribed and cited in our prevailing medical journals. And hence have a feeling of superiority or control.

The soul whether manifested by skin and bones or chemical overtones will never be as simple as a logging of it's fleshly imprint. We wouldn't want it to be. We are not globs of flesh we are majestically designed and eternally significant. We will not be tricked by the technocrats of our day into thinking we are a box of bumbling atoms. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Note: I understand that some people (many of my friends included) take anti-depressants. And I'm all for medical breakthrough and medicine helping in the healing process.  This is not a tirade against drugs  but rather a recognition of our brokeness and the need for redemption in all areas of our lives conscience and sub-conscience. Let's not just suppress the cough if we have lung cancer, let's get healed. PS I don't think there's such a thing as a chicken spirit.* 


Note 2: The chain of questioning can be never ending in regard to causation unless you allow by faith a stopping point. For example, Why do we get sad? Because of a chemical reaction. Why is that chemical manifestation present? Because of our genetic framework. Why is our genetic framework like that? Well... I think we needed it for pack preservation during our evolutionary status? Well why did that stick around but we lost wings? Well it's instinctual. But I thought instinctual elements were done automatically like birds flying south? Are you saying volitional decision making ability and instinct are the same? Yea. So Canadian Geese can just decide one day they don't want to fly south? Um I think we've lost track. We have lost track because we take questions of our nature to the logical end of design or origins because we are asking questions not just about features but the reason those features are and why they're there or better yet who put them there. And at the end of that chain is a faith statement by the Athiest and Christian.