Briefly, of course he was expelled-from the synagogue in Amsterdam for his heretical beliefs, including pantheism.<br><br>Mind-body parallelism is usually associated with Baruch Spinoza. His theory affirms that both mental and physical events exist but that no causal interaction between them occurs--parallel railroad tracks that never meet...On one track occurs mental events, while all physical events are confined to the second track. Every time either a mental or physical event occurs, a corresponding event appears on the other tack. His explanation of this was based on his claim that mind and body are attributes or aspects of one more fundamental substance--for Spinoza that one substance was a pantheistic God. (Ronald Nash, Life's Ultimate Questions).<br><br>Spinoza, Baruch (Benedict): (1632-1677) Dutch Jewish philosopher; wrote 1. Ethics Based on Geometry and 2. Theologico-Political Treatise. Reality is Infinite Substance or God. "By God, I mean a being absolutely infinite a substance consisting in infinite attributes." From the human standpoint, two attributes are intelligible: consciousness (mind) and extension (matter). mind and body, thought and motion, are parallel; the causal succession of physical events is paralleled by the logical succession of ideas (parallelism). God and the universe are one (pantheism). God is immanent cause not creator. All events are interdependent and necessary (determinism). "The whole endless series of bodies with their divisions, forms, and motions, are the modes of extension (matter), just as the endless series of minds with their ideas and volitions are the modes of consciousness (mind)." Spinoza's monism attempts the reconciliation of idealism and materialism. He is a rationalist in epistemology; pantheist in metaphysics. <br><br>Here is some things on line--quick search--I did not read the materials (Besides these sources Geisler's Introduction to Philosophy has some material on him):<br><br>The Philosophy of Benedict Spinoza<br>Benedict Spinoza (1634-77)<br>FREE WILL AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY, by John M. Frame<br>Gordon Clark's Extraordinary, View of Men & Things<br>PHILOSOPHY INTERNET RESOURCES<br><br>As usual all sources are used at the readers own risk. If one should become confused during the use of such material the Highway will disavow any knowledge of your existence.

Reformed and Always Reforming,