Sensory Homunculus and Intelligent Design

I remember first seeing a version of this model at the Natural History Museum, London. I was in my teens, and I found it rather disgusting.

It's a representation of how much of the brain's sensory apparatus is given over to processing signals from these areas. Thus the lips, the tongue, and, above all, the hands have levels of sensitivity that far outweigh the arms or legs.

In terms of neural processing, our eyes and ears have vast amounts of processing power dedicated to them in the brain, but this model the 'little man' called Sensory Homunculus is do to with touch reception.

Give that each human's psychological well-being is very much tied into the quality of the touching they get, it looks like kissing is a good idea!

Let us kiss, eat, and shake hands for our brain doth benefit!

Part of the challenge facing any Christian ministry is the balance between physiology, psychology, and spirituality. If the body had its way unrestrained, that little bit under the leaf in the picture would be getting a lot of attention. This does not sit well with the pious.

However, the major issue is that many, if not most Christian relationships suffer from sensory deprivation - on a scale that is agains the Geneva Convention!

Sensory starvation is a form of torture.

Our consciousness lifts us far above mere physical beings, but we are still in a physical vessel that has neurological needs. God has made us as helpers suitable for one another, at every level.

I'm not going to dig any deeper than that at this moment but will conclude with saying that your hands are designed to touch - and there is nothing lovelier that a loving touch. This is not just about sex - that's such a small area of the application of touch. It is about physical intimacy.

Paul said (in 1 Corinthians 7:5):

Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

And I say, along with Paul in Ephesians 4:27... don't give the devil a foothold!