The Purpose-Guided Universe: Believing In Einstein, Darwin, and God

by Bernard Haisch

In this engrossing new book, Dr. Bernard Haisch contends that there is a purpose and an underlying intelligence behind the Universe, one that is consistent with modern science, especially the Big Bang and evolution. It is based on recent discoveries that there are numerous coincidences and fine-tunings of the laws of nature that seem extraordinarily unlikely.

A more rational concept of God is called for. As astrophysicist Sir James Jeans wrote, "the Universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great machine."

Despite bestsellers by Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and Sam Harris that have denounced the evils of religion and proclaimed that science has shown that there is no God, The Purpose-Guided Universe shows how one can believe in God and science.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Religion, Philosophy, Spirituality

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about the relationship of science and spirituality that will leave both the atheists and the fundamentalists unsatisfied--which means it is just the book for me.

Astrophysicist Haisch says that--although there is no reason to take Intelligent Design seriously, since evolution itself can account for all of life's complexity--there is still evidence of a God to be found in the basic laws of physics that underlie the construction of the universe.

The conditions for a universe open to any form of life--let alone intelligent life--are so statistically improbable that one must believe either in absolute randomness, a multiplicity of universes (string theory) or in the more elegant, Occam's razor style hypothesis Haisch adopts of a purpose-guided universe created by the Godhead.

What is God's purpose anyway? To continually divide his essence, and by doing so to experience consciousness in a myriad of various forms.

Although I must admit I'm too science-dumb to understand a lot of the physics involved, I found this book informative and persuasive, and I recommend it.

[Manny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree with the author of this book up to a point: right now, the main options on offer in the science/religion war aren't very appealing. On one side, the creationists are obviously talking complete nonsense. But the aggressive certainty of the new atheists on the other side is dismaying as well.

Unfortunately, the third way proposed by Bernard Haisch isn't an improvement. Quoting from some extremely old-fashioned interpretations of quantum mechanics - he is fond of the more visionary passages from Schrödinger's What Is Life? - Haisch explains that modern science has "proved" that the everyday reality we see around us is created by consciousness. He then goes on to present a very superficial version of the fine-tuning problem, which "proves" that the whole universe must also have been created by consciousness. There is a great deal about the "Perennial Philosophy", Buddhism, mysticism and the nature of the Godhead, but next to nothing about inflation, the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics or the multiverse, beyond repeated assurances that they are just as faith-based as the ideas Haisch suggests and hence in no need of serious examination.

It really becomes depressing after a while: a book which explains that the secrets of reality can be found in mystical experiences and quantum mechanics, written by someone who's never had a mystical experience, doesn't understand how quantum mechanics works, and can't write. Come back Richard Dawkins, all is forgiven.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would you like to expand your consciousness and explore a purposeful reality that has already existed in and around you?

Book notes
-Consciousness creates reality. A sense of personal identity, free will and ambition are all just byproducts of a vast assembly of nerve cells. The purpose of the universe: to convert potential into experience through evolution. GOD wills this.

-Humans can be reduced to biological machines with consciousness. Science and religions are both ways we experience enlightenment.

-GOD, not being a wrathful one that is remote from us. Beneficient. Rather, GOD, being omnipresent, a divine presence of creative force within each of us. Benevolent. GOD's free will allows for the interplay of opposites. Heat/Cold, Black/White, Good/Bad. We get no more insight from blinding light than complete darkness. GOD identifies with love and bliss.

GOD lives within us and gives us free will so that we can experience the life he created. Oneness with GOD is optimal life and is what wholeness is. Meditation, communion/ritual, prayer and similar acts all work to activate creative consciousness in a positive way.

.Reader's Review
The Purpose-Guided Universe was better than the God Theory (Both written by Bernard Haisch). It does well to transcend the reader into a portal of ever-existing truths that can guide one spiritually.

[Michael Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It is written by a scientist who is also very spiritual. This is the integration of the two paths.

[Oliver. w · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imprecise but insightful

[MrHooker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was expecting something more along the lines of a book that harmonizes the bible with science. However this book does nothing of the sort. Instead the author peddles his own version of syncretism pulling parts of religions that he thinks sound good and rejecting others. He's real big on the Perennial Philosophy and promoting his version of it. I did end up finishing reading it in hopes he had some scientific evidences for backing up various religious beliefs but they were few and far between. My biggest beef was him trying to say that because of the strange behavior of quantum mechanics it proves that consciousness creates reality. Neglecting to mention that these strange quantum behaviors only occur at the subatomic level (smaller than an atom). I will concede that consciousness does create reality in the sense that conscious beings have the ability to shape the reality around them due to being in physical bodies that can interact with the physical world. But where he is going is a totally different direction.

Fortunately I didn't buy this book and just checked it out from the library. Don't waste your time.

If you are looking for something along the lines resolving the Creation & Evolution debate I'd recommend: The Meaning of Creation: Genesis and Modern Science by M. Conrad Hyers or even better: The Language of God by Francis S Collins.

[Lammoth · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Вселена с промисъл" е малко по-стара, излязла преди няколко месеца (или седмици). Заглавието звучи като вселенски бонус, нещо от сорта бургер с екстра сирене, или пък на околовръстна реклама с мотото "хем вселена, хем пък и с промисъл". С цел да сътвори някаква скандална сензация, всъщност Хейш е седнал между два стола и здраво се е пльоснал по гъз. Сега нито християните и религиозните са доволни от една страна, нито учените и рационалистите от друга. Хейш общо взето извадил от джоба на сакото си термина пандеизъм, което общо взето означава, че Бог и вселена са едно и също нещо, т.е. Бог се е превърнал във вселената. Разбира се със същата правдоподобност може да кажем, че Вселената е летяща костенурка с четири слона на гърба си и въобще не разбирам защо Хейш (вероятно идва от хашиш) се е напъвал толкова много, след като убедителни доказателства имаме във всичките книги на Тери Пратчет.

На всичкото отгоре, Хейш е запален уфолог и защитник на прераждането, което автоматично го изравнява с Пратчет на ниво хумор.

[Beverlee Couillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The follow-up to "The God Theory." is fascinating, not necessarily difficult; however, I did read some of it 2-3 times to make sure I understood the physics. This is alternative to the traditional view of who/what God is. Mr. Haisch got me with the first book, and solidified it for me with this one. This is not a book for traditionalists, but more for seekers of a path that is a step beyond. Yes, he pulls in the possibility that it may all be the same, yet, this is another approach to the same theme. But...still, is way different. I honestly don't know how to describe this book, except, for me, it makes more sense than anything I've studied on the topic before. I recommend it to seekers. Those who have questions, as I have had for so long. This works so beautifully for me.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/4/2011 update: doh! I had to return this one because someone had it on hold. But I hope to bring it back home, maybe this summer. I wouldn't say that it is good, really, but in the first chapter that I read the author attempts to seduce you with a non-biased view of religion and science. Which, of course, is impossible. So I want to see how that works out.

[Terri King-Jewell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the book club that I belong to. I thought it would be good but I was so wrong! The majority of the book was the author trying to sell his other books. There was mention of religion. I didn’t agree with much mentioned in it. Total waste of time! Don’t bother.