Friday, July 21, 2017

Book Nook: The God-Shaped Brain

As a Christian, I feel that my life is better because of my faith - not that I'm amazingly wealthy or anything, but just that it brings me joy and a positive outlook. Science can confirm that as well, which is the premise of a book I got to review, The God-Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life, by Christian psychiatrist Timothy R Jennings MD.

It stands to reason that the more we focus on the loving mercy of God, the more we are able to think positively - not that people without faith can't be happy, but it's more of a positive outlook than those who focus on God as a judgmental, angry figure. In Dr Jennings' experience, he's found that a distorted view of God can actually contribute to fear, insecurity, and relationship problems. The book combines theology and neuroscience to show how our beliefs and choices change how our brain works. It's scientific but not incomprehensible, well-written and well-researched. It also discusses his Integrated-Evidence Based Approach to studying God, which combines Biblical writings with scientific laws and personal experience.

For more information, check out: Jennings' "God and Your Brain” seminar series.


Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., is a board-certified Christian psychiatrist, master psychopharmacologist, international speaker, author, Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Life-Fellow of the Southern Psychiatric Association.

He obtained his M.D. degree in 1990 from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis. He completed his psychiatric residency at D.D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, and has served as the Division Psychiatrist for the 3rd Infantry Division. He is married and lives in Chattanooga where he is in private practice. Jennings is also the President and Founder of Come and Reason Ministries and has served as President of the Southern Psychiatric Association and Tennessee Psychiatric Association.

His other books include Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind, The Journal of the Watcher, The Remedy New Testament Expanded Paraphrase and the upcoming The God-Shaped Heart: How Correctly Understanding God's Love Transforms Us, due September 2017.

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