God Is Not Dead: What Quantum Physics Tells Us about Our Origins and How We Should Live

by Amit Goswami

God Is Not Dead is a fascinating guided tour of quantum physics, consciousness, and the existence and experience of God. University of Oregon physics professor Amit Goswami shows readers that God's existence can be found in clues that the science of quantum physics reveals. Goswami helps readers to break through their "materialistic conditioning," viewing reality as defined by Newtonian physics, to become free through a quantum understanding and experience of consciousness and God. In fact, God Is Not Dead argues for a "quantum activism," leading a balanced life that incorporates both the quantum and material worlds—and an experience of consciousness. God Is Not Dead will change how readers think—and experience—the nature of reality, the existence of souls, the power of dreams, the universality of love, the possibility of ESP, and the very mind of God.

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Metaphysics, Faith, Physics

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

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

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for any or all of these: 1.) sensible, philosophically-inclined discussion and integration of science, quantum theory and human spiritual behavior, 2.) understandable discussions of newer explanations about individual, personal experiences of God, 3.) supporting theories (for those who can read between the lines) about how people can have personal, paranormal experiences, 4.) how you might (perish not the thought!) actually talk respectfully to someone who believes in Christianity's version of intelligent design, 5.) how you might have renewed hope that materialism could actually give way to real science...

... then this is your read, and could be a tremendously exciting book for you. I couldn't recommend it more highly. Get it and enjoy it.

This is penned from a personal perspective, because I don't know as much about any other. Importantly, ideas employing the word, "God" are always personal and there's not a bloody thing anyone can say to you which explains that your experience is invalid. Ever.

If you're a dyed-in-the-wool materialist, an unwavering fan of scientific materialism - afraid or uninterested in apprehending the evidence for sea changes in quantum theory - this won't be your read.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up after I heard the author speak; his writing is definitely not as striking as his speaking. It almost seems like he mumbles when he writes.

I was basically, overall, a little disappointed. This book seems to start mid-conversation; and the conversation is about quantum physics. Maybe he is more explanatory/introductory in another of his books. Or- more likely- I am waaaay too dumb to know a quantum physics introduction when I see one.

All the things that went over my head aside, the main thing I didn't like about this was the author's own complete sureness of himself and his ideas, and his occasional slide in to condescension.
It's not appealing to me to read a book that tells you, "this is THE answer, the end, we're done- I've decided." I prefer things like, "check out THIS answer, what do you think of that?"

I'm not sure if I'd read another of his books, yet. But I found a few other people's books to read through his bibliography.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

An attempt to blend evolutionary science and Christianity with New Age philosophy. As to be expected, he picks and chooses only the bits and pieces he likes from each of these disciplines, being mostly disdainful of each practice as a whole. Sorry, Mr. Goswami, but I disagree that the precepts of Biblical Christianity are as naive and indefensible as you seem to think. Goswami does make some interesting points in pointing out areas of science in which God's existence is indicated, but his idea of God is a politically correct version tailored to be more palatable to those who wish to steer clear of fundamental Christian teachings that no longer go over very well in modern polite society.

[Kelsey Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not a light read but still good.

[Richard Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that you must check out! "God is Not Dead" by Amit Goswami, PhD (the "Quantum Activist"). This theoretical physicist presents a theory of everything with scientific precision. If you are interested in God, consciousness, life, evolution, the universe and the nature of reality, this book is for you! This theory is nothing less than a new paradigm for living and thinking - and a new science within consciousness.
I knew nothing about quantum physics, but I loved this book and the exposition. An exciting hypothesis well presented scientifically and experientially. Could not put this down, I was thrilled!

[Michael Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly simple application of quantum mechanics, quantum wave function, and the collapse of the quantum possibility wave, showing that this is a manifestation God's exercise of the power of downward causation. The author shatters Dawkins theories with ease and by staying true to form, Goswami proves quantum physicists view about the understanding of the viewpoints and beliefs behind proven results in physics which incorporate a deep spiritual aspect that supplies more than sufficient evidence for the reality of God.

[Zbigniew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zabij sie autorze

[monweg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Czy kwestię istnienia boga da się rozstrzygnąć za pomocą dowodów naukowych? W niniejszej książce udowadniam, że tak. Co więcej, już do tego doszło, z korzyścią dla boga.

To pierwsze zdanie w książce. Zdanie, po którym jedni będą mieli ochotę zanurzyć się na wiele godzin w tym tekście, a inni najpewniej rzucą ją w najdalszy kąt. No bo, jak to? Istnienie boga/Boga ma być udowadniane metodą naukową. Czy to jakiś żart? Autor niejednej naukowej publikacji tak twierdzi.

Amit Goswami jest fizykiem jądrowym i członkiem Instytutu Fizyki Teoretycznej Uniwersytetu Oregon od 1968 roku. Jest rewolucjonistą w rosnącej grupie naukowców renegatów, którzy w ostatnich latach zapuścili się w domenę duchowości, próbując zarówno interpretować pozornie niewytłumaczalne wyniki swoich eksperymentów i potwierdzać swoje intuicje dotyczące istnienia duchowego wymiaru życia.

Przyznam się bez bicia, nie wiem prawie nic o fizyce kwantowej i w ogóle fizyka była i jest moją piętą achillesową. Jednak, a może tym bardziej, z ogromnym zainteresowaniem sięgnęłam po ten tytuł. Powiązanie nauki z religią wydawało mi się bardzo kuszące. Ale jednak, gdy zaproponowano mi ten tytuł, to gdzieś z tyłu głowy zapaliła mi się lampka ostrzegawcza. A później – przecież nikt mnie nie pobije, nie mam pięciu lat. A wyjście ze strefy swojego komfortu już nieraz się sprawdziło, więc może i teraz…

Bóg jeszcze nie umarł to kolejna książka Gostwamiego, w której próbuje on łączyć duchowość ze światem nauki. Autor stawia tezę, że bóg/Bóg jest wyższą świadomością i stara się to udowodnić za pomocą aksjomatów fizyki kwantowej. Sporo przed nim, bo dwa wieki temu, Nietzsche napisał: „Bóg nie żyje” („Gott ist tot”) najpierw w Wędrowcu i jego cieniu, a później w Wiedzy radosnej i jeszcze w Tako rzecze Zaratustra. Jednak profesor Amit Goswami stwierdza, że absolut jeszcze nie umarł. Może wśród wątpiących w tym miejscu pojawić się pytanie – I kto ma rację? Myślę, że trzeba przeczytać książkę Goswamiego do końca. Sam siebie określa mianem „aktywisty kwantowego”, a jego prace (w tym i ta) koncentrują się w obrębie fizyki kwantowej i ludzkiego umysłu. A tytułowemu bogu/Bogu, nadaje własne znaczenie, które chyba nie do końca usatysfakcjonuje ludzi wierzących, ale będzie także prztyczkiem w nos dla ateistów.

W dalszej części, gdy opuścimy już te cięższe fizyczne tematy jest lepiej. Przynajmniej dla mnie, bo wkraczamy w tematykę, która bardziej do mnie przemawia. Sny, reinkarnacja, odmienne stany świadomości (czyż nie brzmi lepiej?) będą łączone z innymi elementami, np.: kreatywność, uzdrawianie, transformacja. Co jeszcze? W kolejnych rozdziałach będzie trochę o filozofii i filozofach; psychologii, medycynie alternatywnej, radiestezji, a nawet czakrach, no i nie zapominajmy o duszy, która jest (być może) najważniejsza.
W moim odczuciu profesor Goswami nie próbuje nikogo przekonać na siłę do swoich racji, ale ma specyficzny styl, do którego trzeba przywyknąć. Przedstawia jednak interesujące hipotezy, których ludzi z otwartą głową pobudzą do myślenia, a nawet do zweryfikowania własnych dotychczasowych poglądów.

Ta książka nie jest tylko dla tych, którym po drodze z fizyką. Jeśli interesujesz się Bogiem, życiem, ewolucją, wszechświatem, naturą – ta publikacja jest dla ciebie.

[Steve Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "God Is Not Dead," Amit Goswami revisits much of the territory he has covered in his earlier works on science within consciousness, based on his interpretation of quantum physics. This time through, Goswami explicitly relates his theory to the concept of "God," which, as in his other 2008 book, "Creative Evolution," he defines as "objective cosmic consciousness," the causal agent of manifestation via the collapse of the probabilistic wave function in quantum mechanics. It is through this agency that consciousness has causal efficacy and creative power, ideas in line with religious beliefs about a creator God with purpose and a plan, even if that plan is simply manifesting higher and higher orders of creativity. Goswami calls this agency "downward causation," in contrast to the "upward causation" of materialistic physics, and identifies three "signatures of the divine" which are hallmarks of this downward causation - nonlocality, discontinuity, and tangled hierarchy. He argues that evidence of these signatures in biology and psychology is best explained using his consciousness-based ontology. Some of his arguments require you to believe data about reincarnation, ESP, and spontaneous healing, but I personally find them persuasive and his theory sound with or without this supporting evidence. In the last part of the book, Goswami introduces the concept of "quantum activism," a calling to strive for creative manifestation using the power of quantum consciousness. Quantum activism seeks to unite the goals of inner transformation of the soul with outer transformation of our shared material environment, thus uniting the aims of both religion and science. As such, it is a spiritual mission based on a scientific theory of God.

[W_ksiazkowym_zaciszu]

Na początku należy zastanowić się nad samą definicją boga, która według naukowców, opiera się na wyższej mocy, za pomocą której wytłumaczalne są zjawiska, nie mieszczące się w granicach nauki. Jednak jak widać naukowcy nie ustają w próbach wykazania naukowych podstaw wyjaśnienia zjawisk niewytłumaczalnych. Według nich są dwie koncepcje boga: jak boską sygnaturą kwantowa i druga, jako subtelny wymiar rzeczywistości. Dr Amit Goswam, fizyk kwantowy, w książce podjął się m.in. nierozwiązanych tematów związanych z biologią, pochodzeniem człowieka , bytem nadprzyrodzonym, boską naturą wszechświata i wiele innych. Książka podzielona jest kolejno na pięć części: wprowadzenie, dowody na przyczynowość odgórną, dowody na istnienie ciał subtelnych, , powrót do przyczynowości odgórnej oraz aktywizm kwantów...brzmi skomplikowanie? Troszkę tak, ale wcale takie nie jest. Autor ze szczególną dokładnością wyjaśnia nam problematyczne i nie do końca jasne zagadnienia, tak żeby dla laika były one zrozumiałe. Tak więc np. zawarta w dwóch rozdziałach tematyka odnosząca się do przyczynowości odgórnej to nic innego jak Bóg, rozumiany jak zjawisko, wywodzące się z aktywności mózgu... znajdziemy tu również wiele ciekawostek. Wiedzieliście, że Hindusi uważają Jezusa za Awatara? Książka jest na pewno warta uwagi. Samo połączenie genetyki, astronomii, filozofii, religii, psychologii, archeologii jest bardzo ciekawym zabiegiem...i jeżeli dodać do tego pierwiastek boski we wszechświecie, wychodzi z tego naprawdę interesująca lektura.

Jeżeli jesteście ciekawi, co fizyka kwantowa mówi o naszym pochodzeniu oraz jak interpretuje i dowodzi istnienie Boga, zachęcam was do tej lektury

[Jason Alderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but the whole premise is built on such a fundamental misunderstanding of quantum mechanics that I have to genuinely question the authors motives.

Dr Amit Goswani is a physist so it seems incomprehensible that he wouldn't know that the double slit experiment observer effect isn't caused by consciousness but by the act of measuring - i.e. the photons of light are so small that introducing a measuring device (such as a laser or fillter) changes the trajectory of the photon and causes the differing patterns. It wouldn't matter if the observer was a human or a potato as the experiment doesn't rely on consciousness.

Similarly the quantum eraser "time travel" example put forward in the book is over simplified and doesn't mention that the wave patterns ARE different. Here's a really good explainer video;

https://youtu.be/RQv5CVELG3U?si=OgUJy...

The fact that an untrained reader points these out leaves me two conclusions - Dr Goswani didn't do his research or, more likely considering his PhD, he's misleading his readers intentionally to sell books.

After this shaky start the book then uses other examples as proof of his theory;

- acupuncture (clinically proven to be placebo effect)
- dowsing for water
- the use of quantum healing which is thinking yourself free of cancer...

At this point I had to stop reading as it's genuinely dangerous and worrying.

Two stars as it certainly solidified some of my beliefs and made me research in frustration so it wasn't completely worthless.

[Henrique · Rating 2 out of 5]

Embora eu não seja um cientista e não entenda grande coisa de física quântica, a mim me pareceu diversas vezes que o autor coloca a carroça na frente dos bois, dando como certas coisas que ainda não o são, como se não houvesse nenhuma outra hipótese possível que não a existência de Deus. Vários dados são presumidos como verdades científicas, quando claramente não o são. Acho também que, se ele se propõe a tornar os argumentos científicos para a existência de Deus mais palatáveis para o senso comum, ainda é preciso ser mais claro do que ele conseguiu ser. Creio que ele também não teve sucesso ao tentar aproximar a figura de Jesus das verdades sugeridas pela física quântica. Penso que a maioria dos cristãos de Igreja ignoraria solenemente as referências ao Evangelho de Tomé, que parece ser de vital importância para a associação pretendida pelo autor, mas que não consta na Bíblia e é tido como apócrifo.

[Las Bookowy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Po książkę sięgnęłam gdyż miałam ochotę na cięższa literaturę. Chciałam przeczytać coś co zmusi mnie do analizowania materiału. Książka okazała się jednak zbyt chaotyczna, aby sprawiała czystą przyjemność. Wiem co autor chciał przekazać, lecz mógł to zrobić w kompletnie inny sposób. Za dużo odwołań i lawirowania wokół tego co było istotne. Książka męczyła mnie formą napisania, mimo że jestem zdecydowanie umysłem ścisłym i fizyka sama w sobie jest dla mnie interesująca.


Przyswoiłam tą książkę, ale wątpię że zostanie w mojej głowie na długo. Zdecydowanie nie zgadzam się z wizją Boga jaką przestawił Dr Amit, najbardziej wzburzył mnie rozdział poświęcony zdrowiu, w którym autor opisywał przypadki cudownych nowotworowych uzdrowień. Jeśli lubicie taką tematykę, możecie z czystej ciekawości zapoznać się z pozycją. Czas poświęcony na czytanie tej książki nie oceniam jako zmarnowany, lecz pozycja nie porwała mnie.

[Lusajo Mwaisaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book left me with more questions than answers that I hoped to find, the key question being "How should we Live?" As a devout Christian currently on a journey through faith, and questioning my faith on a daily; the uestions that the book raised has in a way cemented my faith.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit convoluted and hard to follow. This book has some good things to say but I can't tell if it's supposed to be a science, spiritual, phylisofical, or maybe a metaphysical book. There are so many things it goes over it's hard to keep them straight and figure out how everything is supposed to fit together. Not terrible but not great either

[Dale Funk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not exactly for the laymen, but certainly interesting to anyone that wants to parse through it. I recommend it for anyone in the science community. Likewise for anyone looking to link science to religion, though it may not give you the answers you're looking for.

[Gregory]

The Self-Aware Universe by Amit Goswami

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a kind heart Dr Goswami displays




View all my reviews


A great read for seekers

[Dulcinea Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

""God is Not Dead" by Dr. Amit Goswami is a revolutionary integration of consciousness, quantum physics, and the experience of God. He posits that there are two kinds of scientific evidence for the existence of God and importantly reminds the reader that the phenomenon of love and the existence of the soul are supported by this science. The ultimate conclusion is that a balance of materiality and quantum concepts is what will foster the experience on God on earth." ~Dulcinea Contreras, October 2008

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was curiously unsatisfying, but interesting. The book wonders and postulates into dead-ends, but also contains the theories on which a belief in downward causation - God - that is based on physics is quite plausible. It is not a theory or proof of a particular faith, but of the absolute requirement within the laws of Quantum Physics, for a God.

Intresting

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of the quantum consciousness or quantum God is interesting. The way the author brings science into it is not well explained. There were glimpses of insight, but overall the book is written in a very simplistic way.

[SueSue · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like quantum physics books for the general audience, you'll probably enjoy this. However it's not as easy a read as most others. Took me quite a while to get through it.

[Madhurima · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is informative but Amit Goswami is not a good writer and he is too stuck in his ego. Read this book for the concepts and facts. Forgive the writer for his language.