A Better Notion of God

	Book review on The purpose-guided universe by Bernard Haisch (2010) Reviewed by David Lorimer, 2011 published in Network Review No 106
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Bernard Haisch is an astrophysicist who was also editor-in-chief of the Journal for Scientific Exploration. This book follows up his earlier work, The God Theory, with a reconciliation of science and spirituality within a view where consciousness ultimately creates reality and manifests itself in a sense of purpose. I say science and spirituality rather than science and religion, because the author agrees with many of the criticisms by prominent atheists of traditional religious structures but does not see the need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. He points out that human misuse of religion and the existence of God are two very different things.

He steers a fine line in avoiding theories of intelligent design, building on the work of Sir James Jeans and Sir Arthur Eddington. When it comes to fine tuning, Bernie proposes three possible explanations: the first is that the laws and constants of the universe are a lucky accident, the second that it is a matter of statistics and that there are all sorts of universes with different laws and constants. This is known as the multiverse theory. Thirdly, it is a matter of intelligence whereby the evolutionary process enables it to experience its creative potential and a huge variety of forms. The interesting part of the argument is that each of these explanations implies a leap of faith, or postulates a certain assumption. In the second case, the assumption is that there is a multitude of other unseen universes, which Bernie regards as a bigger assumption than one intelligence being behind all (as he observes, both theories go beyond current science). He then seeks to justify his own choice of the third possibility as rational and consistent with science and philosophy.

He argues that quantum mechanics now necessarily includes consciousness, quoting the recent work by Anthony Leggett showing that measurement creates reality, and that reality does not exist when we are not observing it. This means that consciousness creates observed reality at the quantum level, which makes it plausible that 'a transcendent consciousness is the underlying cause of the Universe.' Although this view cannot be proven, Bernie insists that it is no less logical than the statistical inference for a multiverse embraced by distinguished astronomers like Lord Martin Rees.

An important component of the argument is a study of perennial philosophy and the nature of mystical experience. Indeed, the theory of the perennial philosophy is itself derived from the study of mystical experience. Perennial philosophy assumes the existence of other levels of reality and that the human spirit is in essence identical with the ground of being or God. Furthermore, it is possible to perceive and realise this oneness. Bernie discusses the writings of Sir Arthur Eddington as well as his role in approving the validity of relativity theory. Eddington was led by what he called an Inner Light in his quest for both scientific and spiritual truth. He concluded that ultimate reality was spiritual and that the laws of nature were the creation of spiritual mind. This corresponds to the conclusion that Bernie arrives at on the basis of more recent research. He also draws on Vedanta and Meister Eckhart as well as the more recent work of Eckhart Tolle.

On this basis, he postulates that our great life purpose is to create God's experience as incarnations in physical form, echoing similar ideas from Neale Donald Walsch. We are the means whereby God experiences his own potential. Not only us, but every sentient being. This entails the conversion of potential into experience, where a key element is the evolution of life forms and the corresponding complexification of consciousness. This culminates in unitive knowledge of God, where the individual expression of life realises itself as one with infinite intelligence or Universal Mind. God's consciousness knows itself consciously, which Thomas Troward calls the Great Recognition. It is a point of transcendence, moving beyond ordinary concepts of God to the Absolute represented by the Godhead. Meister Eckhart writes particularly eloquently about this. Bernie's overall theory is that the laws of nature in our universe are thoughts of the eternal intelligence, that creation implies what we call both physical and nonphysical realms and that everything in our universe is ultimately a product consciousness.

On a practical level, the idea that God lives through us can be the foundation of a humane and optimistic spiritual worldview. We are never separate from God, even if we think we are, but gradually we can come to reunite with the Source. In this sense, heaven is 'a complete awakening from the delusion of separation from God and thus reunion with God.' This is direct knowledge beyond abstract reason. The strength and cogency of this book lies in its bringing together the implications of quantum mechanics and fine tuning with the perennial philosophy, both of which are evidence-based at their own level. This allows Bernie to conclude that we live in a purpose guided Universe governed by the laws of science, if you where there is no conflict between matter and forces on the one hand and purpose of the other. This is an important realisation, all the more so given the reluctance of many scientists to discuss purpose. As the subtitle suggests, this gives us reason to believe in Einstein, Darwin and God.

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