Does the Hard Problem of Consciousness Point to God?
By Allan W. Janssen
In the ongoing mystery of mind and matter, one question remains persistently unsolved—even by science’s best minds:
This is what philosopher David Chalmers famously dubbed the “Hard Problem of Consciousness.”
While we can map the brain, track neurons, and simulate intelligence, we still can’t explain why a collection of matter should produce the feeling of being alive, aware, and experiencing.
From a purely material standpoint, Consciousness should not exist at all.
But it does. And that fact opens a door—possibly—to the Divine!
When Science Meets Spirit:
Most scientific theories treat Consciousness as something that emerges from complexity. But that answer merely postpones the question: Why does emergence lead to Awareness?
What if instead, as some philosophers suggest, Consciousness is not a byproduct of biology, but a fundamental feature of reality?
This is where things start to sound Theological.
Consciousness as Divine Ground:
If Consciousness is fundamental—more basic than matter or space-time—it begins to resemble something sacred.
Something Eternal!
Something Divine!
This idea is not new.
In fact, many religious and philosophical traditions have hinted at it for millennia:
- In Hinduism, Brahman is the infinite field of Awareness that underlies all Being.
- Plotinus described “The One” as the source of all mind and matter.
- Jewish mysticism describes a Divine Light (Ein Sof) hidden within Creation.
- Christian panentheism sees God as both immanent in the world and transcendent beyond it.
Today, modern theories like Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and quantum consciousness models echo this ancient intuition: consciousness is not localized, but woven into the structure of existence itself!
BioPanentheism: Consciousness as God’s Voice:
In my own theological framework, which I call BioPanentheism... Consciousness is not just a product of the Divine... it IS the Divine.
God is the Living Awareness that permeates all living systems.
We are not separate from God, but we are waves in God’s ocean of becoming!
The Hard Problem of Consciousness, in this light, is not a bug in the system... it is a signal.
A clue that the materialist view of the Universe is missing something essential:
The inner light of Awareness is not an accident. It is the signature of something sacred!
The Trailhead to the Divine:
So, does the Hard Problem of Consciousness point to God?
Yes... If you're willing to let “God” mean something deeper than a bearded man in the clouds!
It means acknowledging that reality itself might be alive, aware, and evolving!
And it means recognizing that your own Awareness—your capacity to ask questions like this—is not just a byproduct of biology... but a glimpse of something Eternal!
🔍 Related Reading
- Biopanentheism: A New Theology of Awareness
- Is Consciousness Embedded in the Universe?
- The Divine Spark Theory
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