If you would, I'd like to explore a little further the reasons you gave back on 12/20/2012.
First though, If i take you rightly, what you call the immaterial aspect of man is not something I should be understood to be rejecting whole cloth. I pretty much agree with the what Paidion posted in response to the bit about "...if we're just a bunch of material." I think we can all rightly conclude this aspect of the human person. My objection is to the notion that it is immaterial. It would be a mistake to think I am saying your immaterial aspect is oxygen.
you said:
Why is the continuation of an immaterial aspect the best explanation? You're correct in observing that our cells die off and are replaced seasonally, but I think to make so much of this is to make a mountain from a mole hill. We observe this phenomenon in everything that lives on earth. What does that mean? Pet dogs, shed their hair constantly, and their bodies go through the same cell renewal ours do. Does this mean they remain who they are by their immaterial consciousness? What about the snake who sheds his skin seasonally, does he need a immaterial aspect to remain the same snake?...As for reason, it is my understanding that, physically, we are basically completely new people about every 7 years... but amidst these enormous physical changes, we remain who we are. That continuity, it seems to me, is best explained by the continuation of an immaterial aspect...
We're agreed that this is how God has designed us, that is cell renewal, but I don't think an immaterial aspect has any explanatory power as to how continuity of identity is maintained throughout that process. If you have a explanation, I would like to hear it, but I don't think there is one that can avoid begging the question only to land on, "I don't know, but God knows how it all works." Though, neither do I as a physicalist have a universally satisfactory explanation for that maintenance of our identity. My point is that this argument swings both ways, I think making it clearly not a reason against monism.
You've heard the phrase, "I think, therefore I am." I thought this might help with how I believe we are to understand what you call the immaterial aspect. I think whatever this is, it's a fundamental consequence of how God has designed the human body to operate, and that design now being alive. And therefore can only be physically generated, sustained, or exist at all. So then, it's not ,"I think, therefore I am," for this gets the cart before the horse. Rather it's more like, I breath, therefore I think.
By the way, (on an unrelated subject ) I wholeheartedly agree with the original post.
Grace and peace to you Matt.