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When God Is Gone, Everything Is Holy: The Making of a Religious Naturalist
In what he describes as a "late-life credo," renowned science writer Chet Raymo narrates his half-century journey from the traditional Catholicism of his youth to his present perspective as a "Catholic agnostic." As a scientist, Raymo holds to the skepticism that accepts only verifiable answers, but as a "religious naturalist," he never ceases his pursuit of "the beautiful and terrible mystery that soaks creation." Raymo assembles a stunning array of scientists, philosophers, mystics, and poets who help him discover "glimmers of the Absolute in every particular." Whether exploring the connection of the human body to the stars or the meaning of prayer of the heart, these challenging reflections will cause believers and agnostics alike to pause and pay attention.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2008
12 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Chet Raymo
30 books62 followersChet Raymo (born September 17, 1936 in Chattanooga, Tennessee) is a noted writer, educator and naturalist. He is Professor Emeritus of Physics at Stonehill College, in Easton, Massachusetts. His weekly newspaper column Science Musings appeared in the Boston Globe for twenty years, and his musings can still be read online at www.sciencemusings.com.
His most famous book was the novel entitled The Dork of Cork, and was made into the feature length film Frankie Starlight. Raymo is also the author of Walking Zero, a scientific and historical account of his wanderings along the Prime Meridian in Great Britain.
Raymo was the recipient of the 1998 Lannan Literary Award for his Nonfiction work.
His most famous book was the novel entitled The Dork of Cork, and was made into the feature length film Frankie Starlight. Raymo is also the author of Walking Zero, a scientific and historical account of his wanderings along the Prime Meridian in Great Britain.
Raymo was the recipient of the 1998 Lannan Literary Award for his Nonfiction work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 29, 2010
My Amazon review: The middle of the road rating on this book is not a reflection on the author, who is obviously an incredibly smart and thoughtful man and a very interesting writer, but on the fact that I am very obviously not the target audience for this book and am honestly not sure how this book would rate when compared to others written in a smiliar vein.
That said, this is the heaviest 150 page book I've ever opened. By page 24 my list of people and words to double check on included Gerard Manly Hopkins, Columbanas, John Scotus Eriugena, Meister Eckhart, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Julian of Norwich, Nicholas of Cusa, Giordano Bruno, Heraclitus, pantheism, panentheism, scotean sacramental Incarnation and Jansenism and I was overwhelmed by the depth to which Raymo has considered his religious and scientific beliefs. If you know any of these, or are that type of contemplative thinker, this might be the book for you.
In all fairness, although the book opened quite intimidatingly, by chapter four I was getting at least the gist of the author's point. Each chapter builds on those before it giving the book a cohesiveness however they also stand alone in a broad sense as each one brings to the front an aspect of the science vs. religion controversy that adds to the difficulties we have as humans, and biological creatures, in marrying the two. Raymo's point, overall, seems to be that he is willing to give both credence and to take the best of both to create a whole new world order of religious naturalism.
I have to say that to some extent, I think I am on board.
Just for arguments sake, I'd again like to share with you a bit of the writing style. This sentence occurs fairly late in the book (after I thought I'd figured out how to get through without a dictionary and Wikipedia by my side). It doesn't matter what the documents are but for clarity's sake Raymo is referring to Pascendi Dominici Gregis and Syllabus Condemning the Errors of the Modernists (yeah, I never heard of 'em either).
"The oppressive influence of these documents, together with the stultifying doctrine of papal infallibility promulgated in 1870, rendered serious discussion of the intrinsic conflict of science and Catholic faith-based cosmology mute throughout the twentieth century."
If you get this on the first read, this is DEFINITELY the book for you.
Also to Raymo's credit (and so that I don't sound like an utter and totally un-introspective idiot) When God is Gone Everything is Holy has had me thinking quite a bit and as a jumping off point for me, it will pave the way for further research into the ideas he has presented.
If you are at all interested in modern thinking about the dichotomies of our daily literal lives and our inner spiritual ones, give this book a look - just don't expect it to be light reading.
That said, this is the heaviest 150 page book I've ever opened. By page 24 my list of people and words to double check on included Gerard Manly Hopkins, Columbanas, John Scotus Eriugena, Meister Eckhart, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Julian of Norwich, Nicholas of Cusa, Giordano Bruno, Heraclitus, pantheism, panentheism, scotean sacramental Incarnation and Jansenism and I was overwhelmed by the depth to which Raymo has considered his religious and scientific beliefs. If you know any of these, or are that type of contemplative thinker, this might be the book for you.
In all fairness, although the book opened quite intimidatingly, by chapter four I was getting at least the gist of the author's point. Each chapter builds on those before it giving the book a cohesiveness however they also stand alone in a broad sense as each one brings to the front an aspect of the science vs. religion controversy that adds to the difficulties we have as humans, and biological creatures, in marrying the two. Raymo's point, overall, seems to be that he is willing to give both credence and to take the best of both to create a whole new world order of religious naturalism.
I have to say that to some extent, I think I am on board.
Just for arguments sake, I'd again like to share with you a bit of the writing style. This sentence occurs fairly late in the book (after I thought I'd figured out how to get through without a dictionary and Wikipedia by my side). It doesn't matter what the documents are but for clarity's sake Raymo is referring to Pascendi Dominici Gregis and Syllabus Condemning the Errors of the Modernists (yeah, I never heard of 'em either).
"The oppressive influence of these documents, together with the stultifying doctrine of papal infallibility promulgated in 1870, rendered serious discussion of the intrinsic conflict of science and Catholic faith-based cosmology mute throughout the twentieth century."
If you get this on the first read, this is DEFINITELY the book for you.
Also to Raymo's credit (and so that I don't sound like an utter and totally un-introspective idiot) When God is Gone Everything is Holy has had me thinking quite a bit and as a jumping off point for me, it will pave the way for further research into the ideas he has presented.
If you are at all interested in modern thinking about the dichotomies of our daily literal lives and our inner spiritual ones, give this book a look - just don't expect it to be light reading.
November 25, 2008
Noted writer, naturalist, and Professor Emeritus of Physics at Stonehill College, Raymo is first and foremost a man of science. But unlike Richard Dawkins and those of his New Atheist ilk, Raymo has a soft spot for religion, specifically in the sensuous rituals of his own Catholic upbringing.
This book is a brief, humble manifesto on what it means to be a religious naturalist. Raymo does not believe in miracles or the supernatural. He believes, rather, that we should stop looking for God in exceptions to the laws of nature and start noticing how amazing and mysterious the natural world really is. He cites studies indicating that the human desire to seek to identify with our source is hard-wired into our genes. It is not that the religious impulse should, or even could be eradicated as some would wish. But the archaic cultural institutions that seek to deny the efficacy of scientific inquiry or set themselves up as the “one true faith”? Those obviously have to go. We’ve simply outgrown them.
The Latin root of the word religion is ligare, “to fasten or bind” + re-, “again.” The refastening that needs to happen is between the two largely non-overlapping spheres of our reality: an objective, phenomenological world and subjective experience. Being a religious naturalist means dispatching with the idea that these two apparently separate spheres of experience imply a Descartian mind-body dualism. There is no ghost in the machine. Self-awareness is an emergent property of the machine itself. The implications are electrifying, mysterious, and, in Raymo’s opinion, worthy of awe and reverence.
This book is a brief, humble manifesto on what it means to be a religious naturalist. Raymo does not believe in miracles or the supernatural. He believes, rather, that we should stop looking for God in exceptions to the laws of nature and start noticing how amazing and mysterious the natural world really is. He cites studies indicating that the human desire to seek to identify with our source is hard-wired into our genes. It is not that the religious impulse should, or even could be eradicated as some would wish. But the archaic cultural institutions that seek to deny the efficacy of scientific inquiry or set themselves up as the “one true faith”? Those obviously have to go. We’ve simply outgrown them.
The Latin root of the word religion is ligare, “to fasten or bind” + re-, “again.” The refastening that needs to happen is between the two largely non-overlapping spheres of our reality: an objective, phenomenological world and subjective experience. Being a religious naturalist means dispatching with the idea that these two apparently separate spheres of experience imply a Descartian mind-body dualism. There is no ghost in the machine. Self-awareness is an emergent property of the machine itself. The implications are electrifying, mysterious, and, in Raymo’s opinion, worthy of awe and reverence.
April 19, 2013
The title to this book is somewhat misleading, at least to me. The author isn't advocating the absence of the concept of god, but rather finding spirituality in the complexities of nature--that "the point of religion. . .is to celebrate the unfathomable mystery of creation" (4). It is a beautiful book, and the first spiritual book that has resonated with me in a long time. I borrowed this title from the library, but I'm definitely buying a copy for myself.
"I am an atheist, if by God one means a transcendent Person who acts willfully within the creation. I am an agnostic in that I believe our knowledge of 'what is' is partial and tentative--a tiny flickering flame in the overwhelming shadows of our ignorance. I am a pantheist in that I believe empirical knowledge of the sensate world is the surest revelation of whatever is worth being called divine. I am a Catholic by accident of birth" (22).
I might just be a spiritual naturalist myself.
"I am an atheist, if by God one means a transcendent Person who acts willfully within the creation. I am an agnostic in that I believe our knowledge of 'what is' is partial and tentative--a tiny flickering flame in the overwhelming shadows of our ignorance. I am a pantheist in that I believe empirical knowledge of the sensate world is the surest revelation of whatever is worth being called divine. I am a Catholic by accident of birth" (22).
I might just be a spiritual naturalist myself.
January 20, 2009
2 1/2 stars
This guy's too much of a fence-sitter to warrant 3 stars. He presents excellent arguments for why science rejects the existence of "God" and miracles and an afterlife. (Zero proof, no reproducible results.) But he cannot seem to commit himself to one view or the other. He considers himself a true scientist, but then insists on calling himself a "Catholic agnostic." When I finished the book I was left without a clue as to what he'd hoped to show in writing it. I felt like the whole book was him saying, "I was raised devout Catholic, but science and rational inquiry have made me an atheist, but I don't want to admit it because I might offend someone or I might turn out to be wrong, and then, oh boy, will God be out to get me!!"
There is some good content, and I agree with much of what he offers, being of a scientific bent myself. Mostly he quotes other people's teachings---everyone from St. Augustine to Emerson to Richard Dawkins---but talks in circles about his own stance.
This guy's too much of a fence-sitter to warrant 3 stars. He presents excellent arguments for why science rejects the existence of "God" and miracles and an afterlife. (Zero proof, no reproducible results.) But he cannot seem to commit himself to one view or the other. He considers himself a true scientist, but then insists on calling himself a "Catholic agnostic." When I finished the book I was left without a clue as to what he'd hoped to show in writing it. I felt like the whole book was him saying, "I was raised devout Catholic, but science and rational inquiry have made me an atheist, but I don't want to admit it because I might offend someone or I might turn out to be wrong, and then, oh boy, will God be out to get me!!"
There is some good content, and I agree with much of what he offers, being of a scientific bent myself. Mostly he quotes other people's teachings---everyone from St. Augustine to Emerson to Richard Dawkins---but talks in circles about his own stance.
September 8, 2012
This is one of those books that the title says it all.
I think it's science professor/writer Raymo's smallest (143 pages) but really it’s his most profound. In this case: simply is better. The book traces the author’s transformation from his devote Catholic up-bringing to his self-assigned descriptor “religious naturalist,” who proclaims that “Divinity is inseparable from nature.”
“I know…that for all the learning, honor, law, and material prosperity that make our lives tolerable, we live in a world that is deep beyond our knowing, and profoundly worthy of our reverence and awe,” he writes.
We come into our world ignorant, and after a lifetime of study we realize we are still pleasing ignorant.
In the end he proposes a union between those who follow a faith-based reality and those who adhere to an evidence-based reality. Could the two sides of the campus come together as one?
As his title states: When God [with a capital G] is gone, everything is holy.
And in the end, it’s a much more profound, peaceful way to live.
I think it's science professor/writer Raymo's smallest (143 pages) but really it’s his most profound. In this case: simply is better. The book traces the author’s transformation from his devote Catholic up-bringing to his self-assigned descriptor “religious naturalist,” who proclaims that “Divinity is inseparable from nature.”
“I know…that for all the learning, honor, law, and material prosperity that make our lives tolerable, we live in a world that is deep beyond our knowing, and profoundly worthy of our reverence and awe,” he writes.
We come into our world ignorant, and after a lifetime of study we realize we are still pleasing ignorant.
In the end he proposes a union between those who follow a faith-based reality and those who adhere to an evidence-based reality. Could the two sides of the campus come together as one?
As his title states: When God [with a capital G] is gone, everything is holy.
And in the end, it’s a much more profound, peaceful way to live.
April 6, 2009
A concise and enlightening look into "religious naturalism." Raymo is poetic, crystal clear in what he has gained from his own religious upbringing (Catholic) and where he departs from it, and an eloquent and sincere voice for the scientific worldview (rather than harsh and sarcastic, as Richard Dawkins can be). Raymo says a lot in a slim volume. This is one that will stay with you.
did-not-finish
August 28, 2023Less than 20 pages in and the meandering writing style is too much for me.
June 10, 2023
It's a must read book for people who consider themselves spiritual, or are exploring spirituality, or think that both religious people and atheists are militantly against each other and want to take the middle ground.
I could relate to a lot of things said in it. I wish I had read it sooner.
I could relate to a lot of things said in it. I wish I had read it sooner.
February 26, 2009
A nature writer and physicist explores ground that lies between theological or faith-based religion (particularly Catholicism, his birth faith) and scientism. A complete empiricist and "agnostic Catholic" who rejects all anthropormorphic views of divinity or nature, he is drawn to discover and celebrate the Mystery that transcends our understanding and lies hidden in every particular of nature.
March 5, 2010
I resonate with the message that the author is intending to get across with this book. However, the meandering style reduces somewhat the effectiveness of the delivery of that message. I love Mr. Raymo's Science Musing blog (http://www.sciencemusings.com/blog/), and find his style and content more impactful in those smaller, zen-like observational chunks.
February 28, 2020
When God Is Gone Everything Is Holy by Chet Raymo is an intriguing book that offers the religious and secular alike diverse views about religious living. He explained how nature in a Heraclitean way hides itself. As a scientist he ventured to peel back the many layers of nature to find its meanings. Such an endeavor has led to some surprises and discoveries. How come a staunch Roman Catholic with a graduate education in physics from the University of Notre Dame became a critic of the Catholic faith? This was because of his training in the empirical research methodology as a scientist who investigated life’s natural phenomena.
The writer as a result came to disbelieve in the teachings of Roman Catholicism although he liked its liturgical celebrations. He nevertheless saw sin, free will, miracles, and the soul as religious beliefs that lacked authenticity in the lab. Raymo described Catholic beliefs as being paternalistic, and Eurocentric. He sided with some notable historical figures like Gerard Manley Hopkins, Charles Darwin, and Teilhard de Chardin in support of his arguments. The author also referred to Richard Dawkins, and Sam Harris with whom he had issues with, but had kind words for Thomas Merton’s ideas about nature. Raymo concluded that he would best be described as an agnostic or a religious naturalist, for there was much he didn’t understand about God and the mysteries of life.
The writer as a result came to disbelieve in the teachings of Roman Catholicism although he liked its liturgical celebrations. He nevertheless saw sin, free will, miracles, and the soul as religious beliefs that lacked authenticity in the lab. Raymo described Catholic beliefs as being paternalistic, and Eurocentric. He sided with some notable historical figures like Gerard Manley Hopkins, Charles Darwin, and Teilhard de Chardin in support of his arguments. The author also referred to Richard Dawkins, and Sam Harris with whom he had issues with, but had kind words for Thomas Merton’s ideas about nature. Raymo concluded that he would best be described as an agnostic or a religious naturalist, for there was much he didn’t understand about God and the mysteries of life.
February 26, 2018
chet raymo is so,,,extra lmao
chet: epistemological humility in all things !
why did the universe come into existence?
chet: i don't know.
what lies in the distant universe?
chet: i don't know.
does God exist?
chet: NOOOO!1!1!!!11!!! no! no chance! no possibility! science! SCIENCE ?? EVER HEARD OF IT ??
lmaoooo
chet: epistemological humility in all things !
why did the universe come into existence?
chet: i don't know.
what lies in the distant universe?
chet: i don't know.
does God exist?
chet: NOOOO!1!1!!!11!!! no! no chance! no possibility! science! SCIENCE ?? EVER HEARD OF IT ??
lmaoooo
October 22, 2016
This book outlines a spectacularly rational view regarding religion and faith. I appreciate the objectives highlighted that are determined to be important in a religion that won't cause war. Anyone interested in theology or free thinking would enjoy this immensely.
June 29, 2018
Compelling and intricate. This book belongs in your personal library.
December 17, 2018
One of the most brilliant books I've ever read. Raymo's writing is like science set to poetry
December 31, 2019
A collection of good essays with some surprises. I prefer Raymo's fiction.
February 20, 2014
The ramblings of a "religious naturalist:" When God is around; everything is not holy
The author recalls and recounts his life experiences about his catholic upbringing, and his conflict with scientific and philosophical education. He calls himself a "religious naturalist," who does not believe in personal, transcendent God; yet feels religious and belief in Catholic sacramental tradition.
This is a potpourri of sociology and theology dictated by a certain level of morality required by Catholicism. The author discusses the work of many philosophers, scientists and theologians about the impact of faith, prayers, and religious practices. In the fifth chapter titled "The Sea into which all rivers flow" he presents an interesting discussion as to whether the nature of God is veiled as most scientists believe, or Goethe who suggested that God has no veils and nature has no mystery. To support this controversial view he discusses the radical and feminist views of Meera Nanda who radicalizes ancient Indus culture and Hindu philosophy to present a liberal humanistic approach. If Hinduism is an extremist's faith, how would she categorize Islamic faith and Islamic laws? The author correctly notes in the Sixth chapter on Ockham's razor that righteousness and belief in false prophets lead to culture wars, jihad, crusades, and mass killings.
The author is a physicist and a philosopher, but his work in this book does very little service to these two disciplines which offers consensus knowledge of the world in a rational and methodical way. Advances in quantum cosmology, particle physics and molecular biology have revolutionized human thought and brings science and philosophy closer than ever. Although God does not directly figure in any equations, formula or living cell but his presence is felt figuratively.
This book is not easy to read and at times it is boring: I hope this book is little more interesting to other readers than it was to me.
The author recalls and recounts his life experiences about his catholic upbringing, and his conflict with scientific and philosophical education. He calls himself a "religious naturalist," who does not believe in personal, transcendent God; yet feels religious and belief in Catholic sacramental tradition.
This is a potpourri of sociology and theology dictated by a certain level of morality required by Catholicism. The author discusses the work of many philosophers, scientists and theologians about the impact of faith, prayers, and religious practices. In the fifth chapter titled "The Sea into which all rivers flow" he presents an interesting discussion as to whether the nature of God is veiled as most scientists believe, or Goethe who suggested that God has no veils and nature has no mystery. To support this controversial view he discusses the radical and feminist views of Meera Nanda who radicalizes ancient Indus culture and Hindu philosophy to present a liberal humanistic approach. If Hinduism is an extremist's faith, how would she categorize Islamic faith and Islamic laws? The author correctly notes in the Sixth chapter on Ockham's razor that righteousness and belief in false prophets lead to culture wars, jihad, crusades, and mass killings.
The author is a physicist and a philosopher, but his work in this book does very little service to these two disciplines which offers consensus knowledge of the world in a rational and methodical way. Advances in quantum cosmology, particle physics and molecular biology have revolutionized human thought and brings science and philosophy closer than ever. Although God does not directly figure in any equations, formula or living cell but his presence is felt figuratively.
This book is not easy to read and at times it is boring: I hope this book is little more interesting to other readers than it was to me.
October 22, 2019
This one is a toughie. The title is rather abrasive in its confrontational approach to organized religion. That's unfortunate, because much of the content is far less aggressive and I would say much more reasonable. Raymo is doing two things in this book: he's recovering from trauma he experienced being raised Catholic, while at the same time trying to hold on and transform the aspects which gave him comfort (community, tradition, ceremony, and reflection).
Whether you're religious or not, if you enjoy having discussions with people from other religious (or non-religious backgrounds), this book would provide you with some reflective, important, and ponder-some material.
Whether you're religious or not, if you enjoy having discussions with people from other religious (or non-religious backgrounds), this book would provide you with some reflective, important, and ponder-some material.
January 4, 2017
Written by a professor emeritus from a college in the northeast and highly regarded science author, this book is a reflection on one man's transformation from devout Catholicism to what is titled "religious naturalism". Chet argues that the study, even worship, of the natural world and its enormous complexity and beauty is enough to occupy a religious naturalist - no need to invent a higher power or supreme being. He develops this argument with a liberal sprinkling of scientific thought and history. Recommended!
January 12, 2013
Written by a professor emeritus from a college in the northeast and highly regarded science author, this book is a reflection on one man's transformation from devout Catholicism to what is titled "religious naturalism". Raymo argues that the study, even worship, of the natural world and it's enormous complexity and beauty is enough to occupy a religious naturalist--no need to invent a higher power or supreme being. He develops this argument with a liberal sprinkling of scientific thought and history.
Recommended!
Recommended!
May 9, 2014
So accessible, so readable, in spite of the author's scientific pedigree. Widely read in the sciences, religion, theology, philisophy, poetry, Raymo takes an honest and reflective look at his religious experience as a child and young person in the wake of his education in science. Rather than utterly dismissing all things religious, as is the habit of some of the 'new athiests,' he takes a kinder, gentler path. I love his favourite phrase, three simple words. I echo them often. You'll have to read the book to find out what they are.
March 16, 2015
Such a short little book, but it took me a long time to read. Lots of stuff jammed into these pages, lots of things to think about. (and i do love a book that makes me think!) However what I'm most grateful for is his explanation of the story and popularity of the novel 'Mr. Blue'(1928) by Miles Connolly, in the very first chapter. (I had always wondered what it was about that one, will probably read it now.) Raymo makes a strong argument for curiosity and wonder in the natural world, this is definitely his love song to the soul of science.
January 2, 2015
Started out a little unsure of this, but by the end I couldn't put it down. What "Honey from Stone" hinted at as an underlying foundation, this book expressly studies and explores. It's Raymo's analysis of his path from devout seminary student preparing to enter the priesthood to physicist and "religious naturalist." Clearly a different path than my own, but he manages to describe my own beliefs better than I could ever attempt.
November 5, 2015
I put this on my science shelf, but it is really more the philosophy of science. There are also several references to poems and poetry, and a few to literature, which makes this book hard to classify. It is a wonderful book for those of us who call ourselves pantheists or, as Raymo prefers, religious naturalists. This is my second time through, and reading it a few years later was a much better experience. Probably because I am more scientifically literate.
June 4, 2009
It's different than I thought it would be but enjoyable nonetheless, most of all as an introduction to historical/literary figures engaged with the tension between science and religion. At times curiously repetitive (a Biblical trope?), Raymo did have me reading much more per sitting than I usually intended.
January 2, 2015
Picked this up on a whim. It's sort of memoir sort of a personal statement of belief by a Jesuit-educated physicist who transitioned through his life from practicing Roman Catholic to what he labels a Catholic agnostic.
A lot of it has to do with how the author finds wonder and mystery in the world without having to attach a deity to it.
A lot of it has to do with how the author finds wonder and mystery in the world without having to attach a deity to it.
March 22, 2009
As I consider Chet Raymo one of my favorite writers of fiction and nonfiction, I found this book irresistibly well-written and engaging--though I did not find his essential premise completely convincing.
October 13, 2010
Wonderful meditation on how to find spirtual solice in nature. The writing is poetic and mesmerizing and the ideas resonate in those who have not bought into what otherwise organized religions have tried to sell.
May 3, 2013
I liked it. A bit repetitive of Raymo's earlier themes. I misplaced my copy about 2/3 through.
November 15, 2010
A good and thought provoking read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews