🕯️ Occult Philosophy −35%

Spiritual Science: Why Science Needs Spirituality to Make Sense of the World

✍️ Taylor, Steve
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Steve Taylor presents a compelling third path beyond the conventional dichotomy of rigid science and traditional religion. He argues for a 'panspiritist' understanding of reality, where consciousness isn't a byproduct of matter but its inherent, fundamental essence. By drawing on diverse traditions and modern physics, Taylor meticulously builds a case for this integrated worldview, adeptly addressing profound questions about human experience, altruism, and consciousness that elude purely materialist or dogmatic explanations. This work offers a fresh, expansive vision for understanding existence.

🕯️
Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“A world-changing opus, a great book . . . Scientific materialism has foisted highly effective blinders on our world-at-large. Future historians will likely be incredulous at the century-long gap between the advent of investigation into quantum physics and any meaningful assimilation of its revelations into the mainstream scientific culture.”
— Eben Alexander, MD, Neurosurgeon, author of Proof of Heaven, The Map of Heaven and Living in a Mindful Universe
“In this important book, Steve Taylor convincingly argues that the materialist paradigm has run its course and that the evidence from anomalous experiences must be acknowledged. Taylor shows how a panspiritist approach not only eloquently explains anomalous phenomena but can lead to exciting possibilities for the evolution of humankind and the planet. These issues affect each one of us; it is time we all sat up and took note.”
— Dr. Penny Sartori, author of The Wisdom of Near-Death Experiences
“With elegance and lucidity, Steve Taylor explains why spiritual science is the only hope for humanity. A science based on the superstition of matter as fundamental reality could lead to our extinction but a science grounded in the understanding of consciousness as a fundamental reality--as described by this book--could be our saving grace.”
— Deepak Chopra, MD Chopra Foundation
🏛 Watkins Publishing 📅 2018 📖 256 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781786781581
Fun Fact
Steve Taylor's 'Spiritual Science' is a meticulously argued and deeply insightful work that courageously bridges the chasm between scientific inquiry and spiritual understanding. It excels in offering a coherent, intellectually satisfying alternative to reductionist materialism, providing compelling answers to life's profoundest questions. While it will richly reward those seeking a unified worldview, it might disappoint readers looking for simple, dogmatic answers or purely empirical proofs. This book is a vital contribution to the ongoing dialogue concerning consciousness and the future of human understanding.

📝 Description: Spiritual Science: Why Science Needs Spirituality to Make Sense of the World

A mindfulness expert whose work has been hailed by Eckhart Tolle as "an important contribution to the shift in consciousness" offers a new vision of reality--one that is compatible with modern science and ancient spirituality. "With elegance and lucidity, Steve Taylor explains why spiritual science is the only hope for humanity." --Deepak Chopra It is often assumed that there are two ways of interpreting the world: a rational scientific way, or an irrational religious way. Mindfulness expert, Steve Taylor, shows that there is a third possibility--a spiritual, or "panspiritist", view of reality that transcends both conventional science and religion, recognizes spirit or consciousness as fundamental, and answers many of the riddles that neither can explain. Here, Taylor puts forward the evidence for a spiritual view of reality and examines the development and consequences of the materialist model. Drawing on the insights of philosophers, physicists, mystics, as well as spiritual traditions and indigenous cultures, he also systematically shows how a 'panspiritist' view can explain many puzzling aspects of science and the world such as: human consciousness altruism near-death experiences telepathy and pre-cognition quantum physics the placebo effect neuroplasticity A compelling argument for a new vision of reality, Spiritual Science offers a bright vision of the world as sacred and interconnected, and of human life as meaningful and purposeful.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
Taylor’s argument is meticulously constructed, drawing effectively on diverse traditions and modern physics to dismantle the false dichotomy between matter and mind. The prose is accessible yet intellectually robust, making complex philosophical concepts digestible without oversimplification. However, readers strictly adhering to rigid materialist frameworks or those seeking purely doctrinal religious answers may find the 'panspiritist' approach frustratingly vague or unconvincing. It does not suit those who prefer absolute certainty over expansive possibility. Ultimately, it is a compelling invitation to rethink reality, though its broad appeal relies on the reader’s willingness to entertain non-traditional epistemologies alongside scientific ones.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a coherent worldview that respects both empirical evidence and inner experience will find profound value in this text. It is ideal for those tired of the sterile coldness of pure materialism or the rigid dogma of traditional religion, offering instead a vibrant 'third path.' By revealing consciousness as the universe's fundamental bedrock, Taylor provides intellectual ammunition for skeptics and spiritual seekers alike who wish to understand altruism, human purpose, and existence without abandoning reason. This book serves those ready to embrace a holistic vision where science and spirit are not enemies, but complementary lenses for perceiving the same profound reality.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
If you've sensed that neither pure materialism nor traditional dogma fully captures the profound mystery of existence, this book is for you. It offers an intellectually rigorous yet deeply spiritual exploration, inviting you to embrace a more expansive understanding of reality and your place within…

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

Taylor’s argument is meticulously constructed, drawing effectively on diverse traditions and modern physics to dismantle the false dichotomy between matter and mind. The prose is accessible yet intellectually robust, making complex philosophical concepts digestible without oversimplification. However, readers strictly adhering to rigid materialist frameworks or those seeking purely doctrinal religious answers may find the 'panspiritist' approach frustratingly vague or unconvincing. It does not suit those who prefer absolute certainty over expansive possibility. Ultimately, it is a compelling invitation to rethink reality, though its broad appeal relies on the reader’s willingness to entertain non-traditional epistemologies alongside scientific ones.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely not. Taylor champions a *broader* scientific lens, integrating empirical observation with phenomena often dismissed by materialism, suggesting science must expand its scope to fully grasp reality.
Rather than proposing a new dogma, this book synthesizes scientific findings and spiritual insights into an evidence-based worldview. It offers a coherent framework that recognizes spirit as intrinsic to reality, without demanding adherence to specific religious tenets.

📖 Who should read this

If you've sensed that neither pure materialism nor traditional dogma fully captures the profound mystery of existence, this book is for you. It offers an intellectually rigorous yet deeply spiritual exploration, inviting you to embrace a more expansive understanding of reality and your place within it.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Consciousness as Primary

Taylor posits that consciousness is not an emergent phenomenon of the brain, but rather the fundamental essence of all reality. This radical reorientation challenges prevailing materialist views, suggesting that our individual awareness is a localized expression of a universal, inherent 'spirit' that underpins the cosmos itself.

Transcending Dualities

The book meticulously navigates the perceived chasm between scientific rationality and spiritual intuition. Taylor advocates for a 'spiritual science' that integrates empirical observation with profound insights from ancient wisdom traditions, offering a unified framework capable of embracing phenomena often dismissed by either purely scientific or purely religious perspectives.

Explaining World Riddles

By embracing a panspiritist view, Taylor offers illuminating explanations for phenomena that defy conventional understanding. He delves into topics like altruism, near-death experiences, and the very nature of human consciousness, demonstrating how a fundamental spiritual dimension provides coherent answers where other models fall short.

📜 Historical context

This work stands firmly within a tradition of thought that seeks to bridge the empirical and the numinous, echoing perennial philosophies and the inquiries of early natural philosophers who saw no conflict between rigorous study and spiritual insight. It resonates with modern holistic movements that critique reductionist science, extending the conversation initiated by figures like William James and Carl Jung regarding consciousness and the unseen dimensions of reality.

📚 Glossary

Panspiritism
Materialist Model
Fundamental Consciousness

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. How does your current worldview account for phenomena like profound altruism, near-death experiences, or the subjective experience of consciousness? Where do you find your understanding challenged or incomplete?
  2. Reflect on a time when you experienced a sense of profound interconnectedness or a spiritual insight that transcended everyday logic. How might Taylor's 'panspiritist' view offer a framework for understanding that experience?
  3. If consciousness were truly fundamental to the universe, how might this alter your daily perception of reality, your personal ethics, or your sense of purpose?

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