How Quantum Activism Can Save Civilization: A Few People Can Change Human Evolution

by Amit Goswami

Beginning with Taking the Quantum Leap by Fred Alan Wolf, there have been a number of books that have created new paradigms for integrating science and spirituality. These books have been long on theory and short on application. This work represents something completely different for this genre. In his previous book, God is Not Dead, Goswami proved that not only are science and religion compatible, but that quantum physics proves the existence of God. In this new book, Goswami moves beyond theory into the realm of action. He asserts that quantum thinking is striking the death blow to scientific materialism; that quantum thinking allows us to break from past bad habits and bring us into of free will and possibilities. Beginning with the "God is here, so what are you going to do about it?" Goswami calls for a plan of action that involves applying "quantum thinking" to a variety of societal issues. He issues a call for a spiritual economics that is concerned with our well-being rather than only our material needs; democracy that uses power to serve, instead of dominating others; education that liberates rather than shackles; and new healthy practices that restore wholeness.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2010

About the author

Amit Goswami is a nuclear physicist and member of The University of Oregon Institute for Theoretical Physics since 1968. Dr. Goswami is a revolutionary in a growing body of renegade scientists who in recent years have ventured into the domain of the spiritual in an attempt both to interpret the seemingly inexplicable findings of their experiments and to validate their intuitions about the existence of a spiritual dimension of life.

He became best known as one of the interviewed scientists featured in the 2004 film What the Bleep Do We Know!? , the recent documentary Dalai Lama Renaissance , and stars in the 2009 documentary The Quantum Activist .

Please visit www.AmitGoswami.org for the latest events and information.

Reviews

[Steve Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this 2011 book, Amit Goswami expands on his idea of "quantum activism," which he previously introduced in his 2008 book "God Is Not Dead." This could be thought of as a departure or turning point in his writing, as Goswami is now advocating for social and political activism, applying the lessons of his previous body of work. He even includes several "letters to Obama," urging him to take up this line of thinking, and thus become a true change President.

The whole book is brimming with optimism, as Goswami spells out how quantum activism could be used to transform our social systems on a large scale. The foundation of his argument is an ethics of bringing creativity and meaning into the lives of as many people as possible, maximizing their evolutionary potential - a kind of New Age Utilitarianism. For doing this, his idealist framework that puts consciousness in the center is better suited than the materialist framework that underlies current scientific theories, since materialism cannot account for meaning, or even for consciousness itself. The key here is that the new science in the idealist framework grants consciousness agency; our choices make a difference. The new science embraces spirituality, dismissing the cynical view that life is devoid of meaning, and also the fundamentalist religious view that the world is a trivial stopover point on the journey to rewards in the afterlife. It is here, in the physical world, that we realize our God potential. As Goswami puts it, "The quantum activist undertakes the journey of personal transformation with the transformation of the whole world also in mind." We must accept this responsibility to live truly meaningful lives.

Goswami considers the institutions of democracy, capitalism and liberal education as the culmination of an evolutionary drive to expand meaning processing to all humans. But their continued usefulness towards that goal has been undermined by materialism, which can only offer an economics of mindless consumerism and a politics of seeking power over others. Reforming these institutions requires bringing what Goswami calls the "subtle dimensions" back into focus - we must acknowledge the importance of emotions and thoughts and work to integrate them, and measure our economy in their terms as well, to avoid the trap of ever-expanding consumerism and the environmental harm it causes. The idealist framework allows us to reintroduce ethics into politics without the restrictions of religious dogma, so that policy can align with the goal of expanding meaning processing to as many people as possible; in particular, this means protecting the middle class by correcting the massive trend towards wealth inequality.

As I mentioned, the book is very optimistic in its outlook, appropriate perhaps to the Obama era. As I write this review in 2025, its goals seem farther away than ever. Arguably, though, quantum activism works in the long term - over many generations. So we must believe there is hope for humanity in the future.

[Regis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh Amit, I'm afraid you lost me here.

Given the nicely argumented theories in 'The self-aware universe' I was expecting more. This book was hinting for a more practical approach of things taught in earlier books, but failed to do so.

Granted a few sections in the book challenged me. But not nearly as much as I hoped.

[Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't exactly finish it, hopefully I will eventually. The content here is great, and fascinating. Some of the concepts are a bit like a Richard Back book, but packaged for a physicist. The writing - not so great, not as engaging as it should be for the content.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of a few I just started....good friend recommended this...so far going a little further than I expected....