by Dr. Bernard Haisch
Review by Will Arntz
For many years now I've considered "The Great Debate" to be whether or not there is a reality beyond the physical. On the one hand are the hard core materialist reductionist scientists who are adamant that there is nothing beyond the physical - time, space, matter, energy, end of story, and when you die end of story also. In fact the sense that there is a "you" is just a brain phenomenon. You're a machine.
On the other hand there are the religious adherents. This widely varied group goes from the strict Biblical set: creation by God in seven days and the Universe is around 4,000 years old, to believers who are vaguely uncomfortable with the strict religious story, yet who still toe the line in hopes of good Heavanic placement in the hereafter.
On the next hand (we're doing Vishnu - 4 hands) are the New Paradigm Quantum devotees. They embrace science in a sound byte way, inserting the word quantum before many nouns, thus explaining Everything in quantum zero-point fluctuation.
Then there's Dr. Haisch. An accomplished astrophysicist, who survived a few years in the Catholic seminary, contracts with NASA, and an upward fight in the scientific world for his take that yes, there is more than the physical. His response to all the above is his book The God Theory. In this very readable book, he takes on all the aforementioned viewpoints and presents his theory in simple, yet scientifically accurate terms.
Part of the appeal of this book is that Dr. H presents his hypothesis as a scientist conditioned by decades in the halls of science. In particular, there is no pulpit pounding insistence on his viewpoint. Rather, he discusses topics such as creationism vs. evolution without the emotional upheaval of belief systems.
Of particular interest is his writing on the zero point field. I had been aware of the astounding discovery, where some scientists were able to derive Newton's second law of Physics ( F=ma) by considering that inertia was simply the "drag" encountered by mass in the zero point field. I first read of this in Lynn McTaggart's book the Field. This is astounding because (i) that basic law was thought to be a primary law of the Universe and thus not-derivable, (ii) it made the zero point field a basis of all matter (iii) the scientific community largely ignored this amazing discovery.
What I was not aware of was that Bernard was one of those responsible for this discovery! So, if you are interested in learning about the zero point field from someone with the scientific and metaphysical credentials - go no further.
Finally, I appreciate the candor in the book, such as:
"Esoteric wisdom holds that the origin of creation lies in God's desire to actualize potential… To create any given universe, God selects a subset from an infinite variety of ideas to actualize and experience. Each universe consists of a subset of ideas that work together and thereby enrich God through a living experience of infinite potentials made manifest.
"I am aware of a contradiction here. How can one enrich the infinite? That must be regarded as one of the mysteries of creation. It is to me, in any event."
If you want to put your metaphysical conception of the universe on a more solid scientific basis, and/or you want to have great discussions with some of the hands listed above, get a little God Theory in your life.
