Are humans just complex biochemical machines, mere physical parts of a causally closed materialist universe? Are we approaching the so-called ‘Singularity’, when human consciousness can (and will) be downloaded into computers? Or is there more to the human person – something that might be known as ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’? As this book makes clear, the answers to these questions have profound implications to topics such as heroism, creativity, ecology, and the possibility of reason and science. In exploring this important topic, Dickerson engages the ideas of some well-known twentieth- and twentyfirst-century espousers of physicalism, including the philosopher Daniel Dennett, the biologist Richard Dawkins, the futurist-engineer Raymond Kurzweil, the psychologist B.F. Skinner, and the mathematician-philosopher Bertrand Russell. Through a careful reading of their works, Dickerson not only provides a fivefold critique of physicalism but also offers a Christian alternative in the form of ‘integrative dualism’, which affirms the existence of both a physical and a spiritual reality without diminishing the goodness or importance of either, and acknowledges that humans are spiritual as well as bodily persons.

The Mind and the Machine: What It Means to Be Human and Why It Matters

Politics & Social Sciences

Dickerson, Matthew

Philosophy

Lutterworth Press

The centuries-old war against the Daegmon Lord has been dormant for generations. Knowledge of the Gifts—mystical powers of healing and shaping and knowledge, of speech with creatures, and of supernatural strength in battle—has faded into dim folklore, along with knowledge of the ancient enemy. When a Daegmon suddenly appears out of the old tales, and begins to wreak destruction on the remote villages of Gondisle, the realm is thrown into turmoil. Heroes of the land, led by a new generation of the Gifted, must arise and face this ancient enemy. But their situation grows more dire when the king not only refuses to give them aid, but proves to be under the influence of the Daegmon Lord’s servants. In Book 2, Elynna and her companions continue pursuing the Daegmon in a desperate attempt to rescue the realm of Gondisle. The discovery of an old talisman offers a promise of power, and with it a new source of hope, but it also causes dissension within the company. Thimeon abandons the quest, choosing to return alone to the archives of Citadel in hopes of discovering some new knowledge that will aid them in the battle. While Elynna, now bereft of her Andani guide and hunter, must find a way to escape the armies of Citadel without giving up pursuit of the Daegmon. A wild chase leads Elynna and her company across the Plains and into the Undeani highlands where they find new allies, but also encounter new foes and betrayals, and discover that the Daegmon Lord is more powerful than they had ever imagined. In this work of epic fantasy, the second of three volumes, a group of Gifted heroes finds their quest disrupted by a talisman that brings both power and dissent.

The Betrayed (The Daegmon War, 2)

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

ArchwayPublishing

"In The Gifted and The Betrayed, Matthew Dickerson's masterful story-telling and talent for suspenseful narrative draw us into the battle to save Gondisle from the Daegmon Lord. Dickerson brings to the creation of fantasy epic his keen observation of the natural world. Gondisle's woods, plains, mountains, and marshes seem as real as those of our world. Nature is a living presence in The Daegmon War, and Dickerson follows in the footsteps of Tolkien and Lewis in making of fantasy the art of re-enchanting the world. This series satisfies our hunger for meaning as well as it satisfies our thirst for adventure."--Benjamin Myers, former poet laureate of Oklahoma.Daegmons have wreaked destruction on Gondisle. The hope of the land rests on a small group of heroes who possess mystical powers of healing, shaping, knowledge, speech with creatures, and supernatural strength in battle. Yet the combined strengths and gifts of these heroes seem woefully inadequate, while the enemy grows more powerful each day.In the third volume of this series of epic high fantasy, Tienna, Elynna and their companions, after suffering a devastating defeat, flee east across the wild and rugged Undeani highlands, while Thimeon and Prince Dhan and their small band race north with two treasures from the troves of Citadel: a weapon of power, and an ancient tome of wisdom. Yet Daegmons and the armies of Citadel pursue both companies, whose desperate quests to escape and reunite lead them straight toward Illengond, the ancient holy mountain of the All-Maker. To survive, Tienna must learn what it means to be a healer, Elynna must become a leader, Thimeon must understand ancient wisdom, and all must cling to courage and hope in the midst of loss.

Illengond: The Daegmon War Book 3

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fantasy

What does it mean to be human? Some naturalists believe that the human mind can be reduced to brain biology, suggesting that we are no more than complex biochemical machines. Computer scientist Matthew Dickerson critiques a physicalist/naturalist view of human persons and defends theistic accounts of human nature. He responds to the widespread assertion that human consciousness is nothing more than "software" that can one day be downloaded into supercomputers. Drawing on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, Dickerson gets at the heart of human nature itself, highlighting a far richer vision of personhood, creativity, and love. This thought-provoking book on a timely topic will appeal to those interested in science and religion, philosophy, and technology; readers of the materialist New Atheists; and anyone who simply cares what it means to be human.

Mind and the Machine, The: What It Means to Be Human and Why It Matters

Brazos Press

An expert on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy shows how a Christian worldview and themes undergird Tolkien's classic works.

A Hobbit Journey: Discovering The Enchantment Of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth

When Kristinge, a young monk at a monastery in southeastern France, discovers he is the son of a famous Frisian hero and king who died in battle six years earlier, he leaves the monastic life and sets out in search of his identity. Traveling with his old mentor Willimond, a monk originally of Lindisfarne, Kristinge’s journey brings him first across France to Denmark to search of his mother, and eventually back to his native soil of Friesland. Along the way he meets the young, decadent, and half-crazy Frankish king Clovis who resides in Paris, and the holy Abbess Telchild of the nearby monastery of Jouarre—two of several historical figures woven through the novel. However, what begins as a quest to uncover his heritage and find whether his mother still lives becomes a sort of spiritual journey of discovery at many other levels. Kristinge wrestles with the question: who is he, and who should he become? Is he the monk he has spent the past six years training to be? Or the gifted bard that was trained as a youth to compose songs, sing, and play the harp? Or is he the future king that will unite Friesland and save it from the threat of the increasingly powerful Danes and Vikings on the one side and decaying but still threatening Frankish empire on the other. Compounding his confusion, Kristinge also rediscovers and falls in love with a young woman whom he had known many years earlier as a child: a woman who would be far above his station were he to remain a monk but not above his station were he to become king.

The Rood and the Torc: The Song of Kristinge, Son of Finn

Literature & Fiction

Contemporary

Wings Press

Matthew Dickerson takes his readers from tiny mountain streams in the southern Rockies of New Mexico to the mighty Colorado River at the head of the Grand Canyon, to the Hill Country of Texas, exploring these various waters that manage to hold cold-loving trout in the midst of the hot desert landscapes of the American southwest. This lovingly described journey brings us through Dickerson’s own life of discovery and his love of fly fishing, trout, and the rivers where trout live. Though neither an historical nor a scientific text, the writing is informed by both. The book is illustrated by original prints from Texas artist Barbara Whitehead.

Trout in the Desert: On Fly Fishing, Human Habits, and the Cold Waters of the Arid Southwest (Heartstreams)

Science & Math

Biological Sciences

Review "A Fine-Spotted Trout on Corral Creek is a wonderful tale of exploration and discovery shared by a gifted storyteller ... who does a terrific job of making us feel as if we are with him on his journey. His descriptions of Glacier Park are true to the place." —Doug Mitchell, Exec. Director, Glacier National Park Conservancy"A Fine-Spotted Trout on Corral Creek is a fine tribute to an often-underappreciated native fish. (Only underappreciated by those who haven’t experienced fishing for them.) Dickerson, being both a devout student and teacher of this subject matter—and coming from the position of both seasoned angler and keen observer—is uniquely positioned to share his lifetime education on trout, interwoven with stories of fishing for native fish in wild places. This book is a strong call to protect the fish we love and the places that harbor them." —Zack Williams, editor, Backcountry Journal and Swing the Fly "An enjoyable and informative read that reminded me why I love cutthroat and cutthroat country so much." —Bob Mallard, Executive Director, Native Fish Coalition"Dickerson’s careful research and insightful explanations of the science surrounding cutthroat trout—the successes, the failures, the future threats— provide a remarkable lens through which the reader can see, and understand, the extraordinary journeys of cutts and their critical position within western ecosystems. Dickerson’s obvious love of the fish themselves, as well as his fly-fishing acumen, help to make this book a solid, enjoyable read for any fisherman. His remarkable ability to describe the silence and patience and attentiveness that puts the entire watershed on display for a dedicated observer makes this book exceptional." —Pat Wray, author of Gift of the Grenadier"While A Fine-Spotted Trout on Corral Creek is a stunning narrative about one man’s adventures in fishing, it’s also a richly informed text that brings to light the critical role native fish play in our interdependent ecosystem.... Dickerson’s views on the science are well researched and documented.... His search for native cutthroat trout is also a search for answers about how we connect with the natural world, and what happens to habitat and the animals who depend on it if we don’t get it right. Even if you are not an angler, you’ll enjoy A Fine-Spotted Trout on Corral Creek. But if you are, my guess is like me, you’ll be caught hook, line, and sinker." —Doug Mitchell Product Description Matthew Dickerson’s well-crafted prose narrative takes readers from the headwaters of the Colorado River in Wyoming to the Crown of the Continent in Glacier National Park. In the midst of the lovingly described wild and scenic beauty of these places, readers will learn about the science, history, conservation, and restoration of an important native fish—cutthroat trout—and the habitats where they live, while enjoying stories of the pursuit of those fish with both a fly rod and a camera. The book is well-informed by science as well as careful observation, and conveys both the passion and knowledge of the author. The author, Matthew Dickerson, was a 2017 artist-in-residence at Glacier National Park, invited to that residence specifically to learn and write about cutthroat trout. Much of what he learned and observed is shared in this book, along with stories and knowledge gleaned from times in the national forests of Wyoming and interviews with USGS, U.S.Forest Service, and National Park Service biologists. It is well-informed by science, but doesn’t read like a scientific text. About the Author Matthew Dickerson began writing about fishing and environmental issues in 1997 with an award-winning newspaper column in Middlebury, VT. He is the author of numerous books on fly fishing and river health throughout the US. He is also the author of three novels of historical fiction, three fantasy novels, and several books on the theological and moral aspects of the work of J.R.R. Tolkien

A Fine-Spotted Trout on Corral Creek: On the Cutthroat Competition of Native Trout in the Northern Rockies (Heartstreams)

Discover the enchantment of Tolkien's Middle-earth

A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth

Oasis Audio

Aslan's Breath: Seeing the Holy Spirit in Narnia

Square Halo Books

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