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Find books by and about Ken
Wilber at Powell's Books.
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One of Ken
Wilber's Best
Philosopher Ken Wilber "clearly and
succinctly explores the schism between
science and religion, and the impact of
this 'philosophical Cold War' on the fate
of humanity. He sysmatically reviews
previous attempts at integration,
explaining why romantic, idealistic, and
postmodern theories failed. And he
demonstrates how science is compatible
with certain deep features common to all
of the world's major religious traditions.
In pointing the way to a union between
truth and meaning, Ken Wilber has created
an elegant and accessible book that is
breathtaking in its scope."
CLICK HERE for
Dr. Dolhenty's review of The Marriage
of Sense and Soul: Integrating Science and
Religion.
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Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The
Spirit of Evolution, by Ken Wilber
"A fascinating journey tracing the
course of evolution from matter to life to
mind. You cannot read this book in one
sitting, so plan accordingly. Larry
Dossey, M.D., says this is one of the most
significant books ever published, and I
tend to agree." J. Dolhenty
CLICK
HERE to read an excerpt from the
introduction to Sex, Ecology,
Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution
on the philosophy of "oops."
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A Brief History of Everything, by
Ken Wilber
"Here in a different format is much of
what appears in Sex, Ecology,
Spirituality. The book is a
conversation wherein Wilber explains many
of his original ideas. If Sex, Ecology,
Spirituality seems to be too much
right now, this is the book to get." J.
Dolhenty
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A
Brief Review of
The
Marriage of Sense and Soul:
Integrating Science and
Religion
by Jonathan Dolhenty,
Ph.D.
If you are not familiar with Ken
Wilber, considered by some to be the
"philosopher-king of consciousness," you
need to become aware of his writings. Here
is a philosopher who has written numerous
books about the "spiritual factor" and
"human consciousness" and has written them
within the tradition of philosophical
realism. He criticizes both metaphysical
Idealism and metaphysical Materialism,
just as we genuine realists do. And now
his latest book is available.
have often thought about the problem of
reconciling science and religion. Most
scientists appear to be Materialists of
one sort or another and tend to be either
suspect of religion or antagonistic toward
it. On the other hand, many religious-type
people are suspicious of empirical science
and, unfortunately, many are downright
antagonistic toward it. What to do? I
have, in an offhand way, offered my own
solution to the problem but it has always
been somewhat incomplete.
Science has its realm of study and
religion has its realm of study and they
deal with "truth" from different
perspectives within different contexts. I
still believe that is true and points
toward some type of solution, although I'm
not sure it is satisfactory in any final
sense.
Ken Wilber's latest book, "The Marriage
of Sense and Soul: Integrating Science and
Religion," takes a different approach and
an interesting approach to the problem.
And Wilber begins to tell us how we might
think about science and religion in ways
that allow for their reconciliation and
union on terms that will be acceptable to
both camps. It is a task he assumes with
vision and he provides a valuable
contribution.
There is one thing he suggests,
however, that may irk many committed
religionists. While empirical science and
religion may be reconciled "in general,"
when it comes to specific dogmas of a
particular religion, the solution may be
impossible. For instance, the "virgin
birth" doctrine of Christianity cannot be
reconciled with the "truths" of empirical
science.
He says: "Religious mythological
proclamation are clearly dogmatic,
which means that when they are taken to be
literal truths, they are simply asserted
without any supporting evidence. As such,
they fail the test of the three strands of
all valid knowledge."
Wilber concludes, therefore: "Moses did
not part the Red Sea, and Jesus was not
borne by a biological virgin. Those
cliams, in the light of a higher reason,
are indeed bogus."
This may present a problem to "true
believers." But, then, maybe true
believers better reaccess their beliefs.
They certainly should let Wilber present
his case and they should read it carefully
before bombarding him with personal
attacks for being anti-religious, which he
is certainly not.
Wilber's book is one of the best I've
read about the problem of uniting science
and religion. It deserves a place in every
educated person's library, whether or not
he or she agrees with Wilber's
solution.
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