The Intersection of Science and Spirituality

"The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence."
                                       Nikola Tesla (1856 – 1943)

There is a burgeoning movement throughout the world to bring spirituality and science closer together by focusing on the beliefs and knowledge they share in common. Quantum physics and its relationship to consciousness provides the very bedrock for the foundation of this much sought-after convergence. One day quantum physics and consciousness may be recognized as the meeting place where many diverse scientific disciplines and spiritual views come together based on points of concurrence and consensus. Consider, for example, the following core beliefs embraced by most religions and compare these to the theoretical statements and observations stated by many of the past and present scientists doing research in consciousness and quantum physics:

Most believe in a single creator who created the universe and all things; in an afterlife and an eternal human soul; in the power of prayer and/or meditation; in accountability in the afterlife for one’s earthly actions; most advocate loving others unconditionally and selfless service to others; and most advocate the “Golden Rule” or some close variation of it.

By making this comparison, it seems axiomatic that there is great potential for a powerful convergence to take place between spirituality and science. In fact, it seems inevitable that this will occur either in a revolutionary manner, triggered by some major breakthrough discovery, or in a slower evolutionary manner through a long-term course of events with this as the end result.

Just as modern Homo Sapiens functionally evolved from ancient Neanderthal man, so too must modern man evolve to the next level of further sophistication and refinement, and by inference his civilization too. Evolution is nature’s intrinsic mandate, built into the core innate programming of all things. All of creation must either perish or constantly evolve. There is no other alternative.

Sometimes evolution occurs voluntarily by choice prompted by invention, discovery or epiphany. Other times, evolution occurs involuntarily, forcibly and painfully where change is resisted and fought, but change comes nevertheless through chaotic upheaval, disaster and cataclysmic crises, often times involving a massive amount of death and destruction. Sometimes, as in the case of Neanderthal man, nature decides total extinction is necessary and a complete metamorphosis occurs as in the emergence of Homo Sapiens, a species which surfaced suddenly upon the mysterious disappearance of his predecessor, Neanderthal man.

The need to evolve is upon us once more. Indicators abound that time is running out on modern Homo Sapiens. Nature is clearly losing patience with our unsustainable practices. The clarion call is unmistakable: Human beings must evolve or perish — we must swiftly evolve to the next level by eradicating pervasive ignorance concerning who we really are and why we are here, or face the extreme likelihood of mass death and destruction, if not extinction all together.

Humankind’s next phase of evolution will be more an evolution in thought, knowledge, spirituality and consciousness than one involving our biology or physiology. It will likely be an evolution in thinking triggered by further research in consciousness and quantum physics involving dramatic change in perceptions, values, beliefs and attitudes and a profound resultant shift in human behavior. As a consequence of this shift, the “every man for himself” paradigm fueled by greed will be supplanted by the “all for one and one for all” paradigm fueled by a new spirit of altruism and unity.

Through paradigm breaking research in these areas, predicated on credible science, peoples of the world will come to understand that we really are only as strong as our weakest link; that what we do to others we do to ourselves; and that we are indeed our brother’s keeper quite literally. When this comes about, it will be the dawn of a new day, and solutions to every other major threat, problem or challenge we face will quickly find their remedy, but certainly not before. To be sure, we must act quickly to embark on our journey deeper into a more complete understanding of consciousness, for time is not on our side.