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I went to the website and clicked on the trailer for the book, and also on the introduction to the book by the author. Evidently this book accepts the overwhelming scientific evidence regarding the origins and development of the Universe and of life on Earth. But the trailer and the introduction by the author both suggest that somehow this scientific account is going to get reconciled with religious beliefs in the book..... but neither the trailer nor the introduction give any idea how that is going to be achieved.

The only clue, therefore, is in the title. As it appears on the cover of the book, the title is Thank GOD for EVOLUTION. The implication seems to be that the author is going to accept all the science of evolution, but then say that after all God is behind the whole sequence of events, and we have Him to "thank" for it. Maybe there is more to it, but that seems to be the general thesis. In any case, neither the book trailer nor the author's introduction really spells out anything further, which is kind of suspicious in itself.

Hi Everyone, I have just been introduced to this website. I am the literary executor of all the work by William Samuel. He has been thought by many to be a true modern day mystic. I was just this morning putting another of William Samuel's peices on the William Samuel website. It seems to me that essay I posted there fits in almost exactly with this Ojai Interfaith article. Sychonicity at its best!
Go see this essay by William Samuel: http://www.williamsamuel.com/02-23-08-cw-theincubator.htm

If you prefer, you can go to the website www.williamsamuel.com and then find the article on the Archive list.

I have posted lots of really profound things to read there, so enjoy it all.

Seems like a collective 'enlightenment' is really speeding up now! Very intersting and truly wonderful, indeed.

Thanks so much, Sandy

what exactly is a "mystic"? can I be one? can I get one?

Oh, I think it is just someone who sees a bit farther beyond 'the box' as they call it...that's all....and I know William would not have called himself this, but I think he is just so exceptional..Perhaps the word bothers you, and therefore I should not have used it...sorry.

Sandy

Oh, I think it is just someone who sees a bit farther beyond 'the box' as they call it...that's all....He really was prophetic....though I know William would not have called himself 'a mystic', but I think he is just so exceptional and brillant...Perhaps the word "mystic" bothers you enough that I caused you to miss the point of his work...I am so sorry, I should be more careful... I just thought his essay would be appreciated.

Sandy

Ooops...I obviously do not know how to edit my post before submit....If anyone knows how to delete my first three tries....I could use the help....gee whilikers me! Lots of Love, Sandy

David - (by the way that's my favorite name, makes me gasp in joy, David "sounds" like the heart of God, doesn't sound intellectual at all)

Anyhoo - Everything's suspicious until You experience or make a connection with it for yourself. The thing that blows me away tho, is at this time there are so many voices asking the ultimate questions of "Who Am I, where do I come from, where am I going and what the Bleep is going on?

And in replay there seems to be as many answers. Oprah's now doing a big pod cast with Eckhart Tolle's book "the New Earth", and she's been spouting Chopra for ages. Now I'm not necessarily a big fan of any of them, but I'm encouraged and delighted by the massive influx of knowledge and options in the spiritual arena.

My cousin is a "think tank" scientist and we get into scientific/spiritual discussions all the time and this scientist is one of the holiest guys I've ever been around. A gem who doesn't talk God but if there was ever someone who recognized his work, it's my cousin. He's in awe of the magic and "doesn't pretend to know where it's coming from." He's asking the same questions as everyone else?

I know that religions and spiritual organizations tell you they have THE answer - But they all point you in a direction that is meant to hit a cord in you. The answers will utimately be discovered by each individual.

BTW, I'm familiar with Samuel and what a wonderful addition to the mix, you read and glow.

Dear Dvorah,

Thank you for taking off your Mickey Mouse hat and speaking a little more directly.

You may be "encouraged and delighted by the massive influx of knowledge and options in the spiritual arena," but have you no capacity to discriminate the massive quantities of fraud and delusion in this area from the few gems of true wisdom??

In the meantime, please don't say cord when you mean chord.

Maybe it's time to cut the cord.

David - The fraud and illusion is always there, so what? I trust that people will eventually discern what is going to work for them. So what if they waste a little time with some BS? How will they know what's true or not, if they don't play a little bit? At least they're asking the questions, and that's a relief, it shows great progress in the affairs or Man and the world, and opens a chance for some light, contentment, happiness and love to shine in.

Besides it takes a gem to know a gem, meanwhile there's nothing wrong with being a beautiful faceted Czeck crystal and hanging out at Macy's instead of Saks.

True wisdom? unspeakable, unfathomable, crazy stuff, who would believe it???

and my Mickey Mouse Hat? I wear it to bed, and my dog wears one too.

#10 was posted By Dvorah - I was thinking of David.

David, I wanted to add a thought about "true wisdom". True wisdom has always been up for interpretation. From the Bible to the Vedas to Buddha to Mohammed - everyone seems to have a take on "true wisdom."

From my perspective, it's enough people get relief from their incessant nagging confusing thoughts and often painful heartbreaking feelings. Let "True Wisdom" find each person in it's own time in it's own form.

In the meantime, "thoughts and feelings and beliefs" of loving, being happy, enjoying life, gratitute, Being, consciousness, understanding etc are "true wisdom" in the making. They console and offer light in an otherwise grey world.

The discernment you seem to be so concerned about is "the problem" of the intellectual not of the heart, true wisdom. From my experience, When "true wisdom" touches you - there is no discussion, only awe and gratefulness, and then there is a natural desire to share to give in the only way that you can and are designed to do.

David, if you have found "true wisdom" and it sounds like you have, then share it and someone who is ready will hear your version of it and fall to their knees in gratefullness and awe. Love Dvorah

If Rev. Dowd wants to claim that God is responsible for evolution, good for him. It's a totally untestable assertion, and it does no harm to anyone. It may even comfort some people.

The only real trouble is when religion tries to deny the empirical evidence of science. Evolution, like few other theories in science, has been undergoing rigorous testing and revision for over 140 years. It has stood the test of time. Nova recently did a great documentary about the whole "Intelligent design" situation. You can watch it online at that link. They tell the long history of the theory through the recent Federal trial that was held to determine if "Intelligent Design" should be taught as an alternative to Evolution in Biology. The trial took place in a red state and was presided over by one of Bush's pet judges. Everyone thought that Evolution would be denigrated when this judge handed down his decision and that science in America during Bush's administration would suffer yet another devastating setback. The Bush-appointed judge in his ruling actually called out the right-wing think tank responsible for the promulgation of ID saying:

"(the Discovery Institute's Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture)CSRC expressly announces, in the Wedge Document, a program of Christian apologetics to promote ID. A careful review of the Wedge Document's goals and language throughout the document reveals cultural and religious goals, as opposed to scientific ones."