Summary & Review
Book Review
Life’s meaning, or the question “Why are we here?” has perplexed scholars and ordinary men since the very beginning of man’s existence. Have you pondered that question? In this fascinating treatise, Edmund Michaels has brought together vast areas of historical and contemporary knowledge, combined that knowledge with his own profound thoughts and created a brilliant dialogue.
It is apparent as early as Chapter 1 that the author has given the reason for man’s existence a decidedly religious slant while relying on extensive scientific research and his own scientific background to support his theories. While this book is neither a book of religion nor a book of science, Mr. Michaels gives a compelling overview for the general reader of the big bang, the soul, harmonies and frequencies. He offers an intellectual discussion of man’s evolution from man’s first appearance on earth to man’s existence in today’s very troubled world and offers intriguing solutions to the wiles of the evils in this world, past and present.
Drawing upon the idea that what is thought of today can be reality tomorrow Michaels offers a glimpse into a brand new world of “Good Brother” in an altruistic society. This treatise is rigorous enough for scientists yet clearly written that laymen will easily grasp the fundaments of many theories such as the big bang and harmonics. Readers will gain an appreciation of how the events of one’s life affect their course to good or evil and many other thought provoking issues.
Rosalie McMenamin
Summary - LIFE’S MEANING: THE UNIFICATION OF GOD, MATTER, MAN, MIND, AND SOCIETY A Treatise on the Science of Religion by Edmund Michaels
God and science are not diametrically opposed. As science has matured it has provided the material that demonstrates that God created the universe and everything in it, including Man. Man did not evolve from apes but from a being that God made and he can evolve further, but only after harmony is restored.
During times of physical or emotional pain, individuals often ask, why? Desperately, they turn to God for answers. Then as the situation unfolds, some of these individuals feel the presence of God, and some do not. What accounts for these two opposite experiences? What is God’s role in providing answers, and what is man’s role? Both religious zealots and skeptics use faith to explain man’s behavior in society, but man’s interactions are based upon an understanding of science, science that began at the beginning of the current time period, at the origin of the universe, 13 to14 billion years ago. Now in these most recent times since the Big Bang, we are beginning to question what occurred 13 to 14 billion years ago and those questions, those mysteries, are being answered using science. Science not only is the study of the mysteries of life, the study of creation and of all that occurred since then, science is those events. Science has evolved as we have evolved and explains man’s place in the cosmos. The understanding of the meaning of life is not only found by looking at the stars, it is not only found by investigating mysterious people or places, nor is it only found by special rituals, charms and concoctions. Life’s meaning can be found in the most complex instrument ever constructed, the brain. This book attempts to bring science and religion closer, giving credence to both the believer and skeptic. Western religion holds that God created the universe and all things in it. Man’s evolution from a lower to a higher state of being is a journey to rejoin God. However, during the unifying process, the mandatory utilization of science and religion creates strife within two levels of man, the primitive and the cognitive. Any attempt for both processes to coexist in the needed reasoning produces deep-seated emotions. In order to understand the meaning of life we must learn and then train our brain to overcome all obstacles, be it logic or emotions, and only then to move toward unification with God.
Harmony results from synchronization—the act of working in concert with other human beings and with the various faculties and parts of one’s self. Humans will change the world by being good, which is learning to perform constructive interference when we witness the bad or wrong. We must then teach this simple yet difficult concept to our children while simultaneously inspiring other adults to do the same. Goodness can triumph over evil instantly when evil is brought to see its own sins and when it sees the goodness of its intended victim. In the long run, however, the foremost and most difficult duty is to reveal the deep family connection between the one who does evil and the one who does good.
The Big Bang is an instance of harmony in the universe. It gave rise to gravity, and evolutionary processes which led to the birth of man. Harmony explains when the fetus acquires a soul and thus when life starts. The brain and mind are not exactly the same and because of differences they constantly wrestle for harmonious existence; this is the struggle that results in crime, terrorism and power. The brain is the solid organism with connections and parts that equates to an elaborate computer, while the mind is the energy circulating in the brain with the ability to change the connections and more importantly with the ability to learn to evolve. When the struggle between the brain and the mind is rightly explained, the result is not just knowledge but unification.
Man’s life is complex; it can be explained not only by beliefs but by scientific facts. This book lays a foundation for education and social harmony by bringing to bear the relationships found within the unique human nervous system.
