Peter Clarke, a member of the advisory board of the Faraday Institute, and a neuroscientist, examines what it means to be "human". Many believe that the findings of neuroscience refute religious belief, and that religious experiences are simply the products of abnormal brain events. But does the evidence back up such claims? In this comprehensive study, Clarke looks at how the brain works, addressing such areas as the nature of free will, near death experiences, and the idea of a soul. He examines the ideas of leading thinkers, including Francis Crick, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sigmund Freud, Sam Harris and Daniel Wegner. Using up-to-date research, this luminous volume will provide a grounded and balanced approach to the debate.