Scientific Evidence for Spirituality Is Here, So What Are You Doing about It?

Science has discovered spirituality: there is now a logically consistentscientific theory of God and spirituality based on quantum physics and theprimacy of consciousness (the idea that consciousness, not matter, is the groundof all being). And there is replicated experimental data in support of thetheory. In other words, although still largely unsung in the media, we now havea viable science of spirituality that is threatening a paradigm shift fromtoday's matter-based science that exclusively encourages materiality (Goswami2008a). You can call the new science a science of God, but you don't have to. Inthe new science, there is no God that is an almighty emperor doling outjudgments on us; instead, there is a pervasive intelligence that is also thecreative agent of consciousness that you can call God if you want to. But thisGod is objective; it is scientific.

So what should we do about all this? What can we do to bring God, our own highersource of causation (really!), and spirituality back into our lives and oursociety? My answer in this book is quantum activism.

So this book is about a new kind of activism. I call it quantum activism becausethe purpose of this activism is threefold. First, we employ activism to bringmedia attention to quantum and primacy-of-consciousness thinking and the newparadigm; this will bring grant support for further research and bring aboutapplications of the new paradigm of such undeniable weight and value that theold paradigm will crash under it. Second, we use the transformative power ofquantum physics to renew ourselves individually to become exemplars andharbingers for social change in the appropriate direction. Third, we recognizethat the current materialism-dominated structures of our social systems areheavily biased against ordinary people pursuing a meaningful life of creativityand transformation. Accordingly, we use activism to change our social systems insuch a way that ordinary people can live transformative meaningful lives andfulfill their human potential, and even pursue the happiness that only creativeand spiritual pursuits can bring.

But I am getting ahead of myself; let me begin at the beginning. Several yearsago, I was giving a lecture in Brazil about the aborning paradigm of sciencebased on quantum physics that brings God (defined in the new way as the sourceof our own causal efficacy) and spirituality back into our worldview. Onestudent challenged me, saying, "I have heard a great deal about new paradigmsthat integrate science and spirituality. But isn't it all theory? When can weexpect you guys to get busy and give us some verification, some data?"

I was taken aback for a moment and then the answer popped from my mouth:"Actually, we have done our job. The scientific evidence for spirituality thatincludes experimental data is already here. My question to you is: what are youdoing about it?"

That created a lot of enthusiastic discussion in the audience. Here are somesamples from that exchange:

* If science has established spirituality, then we should do what spiritualitydictates. My religious upbringing says that spirituality is about beingvirtuous. I'd like to develop virtues—to be able to love, to appreciate beauty,to be truthful, to pursue justice, to be good to my neighbor. But I have alreadytried that and I am confused. Do I have free will to change? I need guidance.Can the new science give me guidance?

* I admit when I think of spirituality I think of God and I have doubts about God,a reaction to my simplistic religious upbringing, no doubt. These doubts havemade me pursue material goals that I know have not made me any happier. Ifscience can show me convincing proof, then I would like to try the spiritualitythat traditions say will bring me happiness. What does the new science say?

* If spirituality is real, then does it mean that we give up material pursuits infavor of spirituality? What if I want to explore my creative potential?Spirituality and God can wait awhile. What does the new science say about that?Can it help?

* I gave up on God because how can a good God allow so many bad things to happen.I can't swallow popular Christianity's good-evil split. Can the new science helpme resolve my confusion?

* I'd like to work on solutions to our social problems. Is that spiritual?

Lots of people today are confused about ethics, about the value of religion andspirituality, even about free will and creativity for the pursuit of humanpotential because of exorbitant claims from mainstream scientists in favor ofscientific materialism—the idea that all things, material objects, thoughts, andeven ideas such as that of spirituality and God can be reduced to elementaryparticles of matter and their interactions. Because of its simplistic ideas,popular Christianity does not help in countering these claims. So the view thatGod is a delusion we would be better off giving up on is gaining ground. In2009, there was even an advertisement on London buses: "God probably does notexist. So relax and enjoy life." Implicit in this advice is the encouragement:since there is no God to punish you, why not enjoy the pleasures of a hedonisticlife rather than suffer the disciplines (since the chance of missing out onspiritual joy is minuscule) of an ethical, let alone spiritual life?

The mainstream scientists are not entirely wrong because the God they denigrateis the God of simplistic popular belief: a God that sits like an emperor on athrone in heaven (wherever that is!) and doles out judgment on people when theydie, sending good people to heaven and bad guys to hell; a God that created theworld and all living species in it, all at once, a mere six thousand...