Quantum Gods: Creation, Chaos, and the Search for Cosmic ConsciousnessDoes quantum mechanics show a connection between the human mind and the cosmos? Are our brains tuned into a "cosmic consciousness" that pervades the universe enabling us to make our own reality? Do quantum mechanics and chaos theory provide a place for God to act in the world without violating natural laws? Many popular books make such claims and argue that key developments in twentieth-century physics, such as the uncertainty principle and the butterfly effect, support the notion that God or a universal mind acts upon material reality. Physicist Victor J. Stenger examines these contentions in this carefully reasoned and incisive analysis of popular theories that seek to link spirituality to physics. Throughout the book Stenger alternates his discussions of popular spirituality with a survey of what the findings of twentieth-century physics actually mean. Thus he offers the reader a useful synopsis of contemporary religious ideas as well as basic but sophisticated physics presented in layperson’s terms (without equations). Of particular interest in this book is Stenger’s discussion of a new kind of deism, which proposes a God who creates a universe with many possible pathways determined by chance, but otherwise does not interfere with the physical world or the lives of humans. Although it is possible, says Stenger, to conceive of such a God who "plays dice with the universe" and leaves no trace of his role as prime mover, such a God is a far cry from traditional religious ideas of God and, in effect, may as well not exist. Like his bestselling book, God, The Failed Hypothesis, this new work presents a rigorously argued challenge to many popular notions of God and spirituality. |
Contents
Quantum Flapdoodle and Other Flummery | 7 |
Preface | 13 |
Acknowledgments 227 | 21 |
Copyright | |
15 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Quantum Gods: Creation, Chaos, and the Search for Cosmic Consciousness Victor J. Stenger Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
Amherst Amit Goswami atoms basic believe big bang Bleep body called Capra century chance chaos chapter Christian claim clock complexity consciousness cosmic Cosmology deism deist describe detector divine action double-slit experiment Earth Einstein electric electromagnetic electron elementary particles emergence energy entropy equation evidence evolution example exist experiment Feynman field force Fritjof Capra Goswami human interactions interpretation of quantum John Hagelin laws of nature laws of physics linear momentum Maharishi many-worlds interpretation mathematical matter measure meter mind modern physics motion moving neutrinos neutron Newtonian mechanics nuclear objects observed path percent phenomena philosophical photon Physical Review physicists Planck predicted principles Prometheus Books psychic quantum mechanics quantum physics quantum spirituality quantum theory quarks random reality religion scientific scientists simply space space-time speed of light spin standard model Stenger symmetry Tao of Physics theologians tion University Press Vatican Victor violating wave function York