I recently gave a presentation about an interesting development in the field of anthropology. It is called “human exceptionalism”. Now, this may seem to be something that is way above your head and a very academic slant on things given that we are talking about depression. But, this new field of thinking has profound implications for the human condition. Why is this?

Science tells us we are nothing more than glorified animals; the highest animal on the evolutionary scale. In this thinking, we are just “meat sacks” and our minds are nothing more than “chemical” machines. 

The other night, I was watching a show where a host is talking to children and she was interviewing a ten-year-old child who was already a senior in college! When she asked him “What is love?”, he began to describe the biochemical reactions occurring in the brain that create a physical sensation of love.

I was stunned. Who would allow a ten-year-old child to think that love is nothing more than a spike in brain chemicals? But, the field of human exceptionalism, a field that is NOT a religious affiliated discipline, maintains that humans are unique, exceptional, and MORE than just our biochemical spikes and lows. 

In fact, one startling discovery is the phenomenon of “brain synchronization”. Now, this sounds something akin to Mr. Spock’s Vulcan mind meld on the show Star Trek or perhaps a form of telepathy. But what neuroscientists have discovered is that when two people have face to face conversations, after about five minutes, their brain waves (as measured by electroencephalograms) become IDENTICAL! Something very strange is going on here! Something that is beyond the understanding of science.

What could it be? Could it be there is something more to our existence than just chemistry? Is it possible that we are more than just the products of our DNA? If that is so, then we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that love is far more than just a flow of neurotransmitters! Love is something that transcends the empty space between two people. Love must be something special and unique.

So, what is love? There is an ancient Greek word for love. In fact, there are four! 

STORGE is liking someone through the fondness of familiarity such as family members or people who relate in familiar ways that have otherwise found themselves bonded by chance.

PHILIA is the love between friends as close as siblings in strength and duration. The friendship is the strong bond existing between people who share common values, interests or activities. It is known as “brotherly love”.

EROS is romantic or even sexual love.

AGAPE refers to love, "the highest form of love, charity" and "the love of God for man and of man for God" and embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance. It goes beyond just the emotions to the extent of seeking the best for others. It is considered to be the love originating from God for humankind. It refers to the covenant love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God.

Nowhere in these definitions do we see the surge of chemicals (with the possible exception of eros). Agape love is a transcendent form of love; it is of spiritual origin and comes from God and God alone. Maybe it is this kind of spiritual connection we are seeing in “brain synchronization”. Who knows? But there is no doubt that there is a connection between human beings the defies the simple explanation of evolutionary processes.

What does this mean to you? It means that there is a God who has extended to you and to me a form of love that is beyond our comprehension and, in many ways, beyond our limited capabilities. But, in that love we can find our meaning, our purpose, our destiny. In agape love from God alone, we can bask in the joy that we are eternally and completely loved even when we think we don’t deserve it.

And maybe, just maybe, there is a little flicker of awareness in the minds of scientists that our minds have the mysterious capability of not only synchronizing with other humans, but possibly even touching the mind of God!