Just when the world has decided to become less religious, science, which has beaten the secular drum for decades, may change its tune!
Some of our greatest scientific minds now suggest with confidence that there is an intelligence behind the order of the universe.2 The scientific tide is shifting; there may in fact be a God after all. But wait—is it too late?
According to Pew Research Center,there is a global decline in religion: 23% of Americans have no religious affiliation3 and 35% of adult millennials (Americans born 1981-1996) are religiously unaffiliated.6
A National Geographic report states that the new world religion is no religion. Nones, the religiously unaffiliated, make up about ¼ of the US. In the past decade, Nones have overtaken Catholics, mainline Protestants, and all followers of non-Christian faiths.4
For the first time, there is a global decline in the religiously minded. According to a 2016 Huffington Post article, for the first time ever there are more atheists and agnostics than believers in God in Norway and the UK!5
Religious affiliation is declining in Iceland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Spain, Denmark, South Korea, Japan, China, Brazil, Chile, and throughout South America, Latin America, and even parts of Africa.4
All told, the latest Pew Research Center estimates that in 2010, there were 1.1 billion nonreligious people worldwide.7
Why God is Back!
While science has stripped itself of anything related to metaphysics, spirituality, or religion, the gap between science and spirit may be closing. While much of the scientific community is holding tightly to a belief that there is no superior intelligence in the universe, quantum theory is forcing a change, albeit slowly.
The idea that there is an intelligence behind the order of the universe has been around since Vedic times, and was present at the dawn of quantum physics. Max Planck, father of quantum physics, says, “Behind the force that holds the vibrations of the atomic nucleus together, we must assume the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind.” That intelligence, he says, is the matrix of all matter.2
Albert Einstein wrote this in a 1936 letter: “Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modern powers must feel humble.”2 In German, the translation for the word spirit is more precisely “mind and intelligence.”
David Bohm, who has been described as one of the most significant theoretical physicists of the 20th century, suggests that the vibrations of our universe are not random—the are coherent and intelligent. He suggests that we are informed clusters of vibration in space and time, interacting and coevolving with other clusters of vibrations both locally, here and now, and nonlocally, throughout the universe.
These clusters of vibrations are described in Vedic texts from 5000 BCE, which say that underlying all matter, such as the elements of air, fire, water, and earth, is space or akasha. The understanding of space or akasha is that all the elements—all matter—come from vibrations of an intelligent, conscious vibrational field called the Akashic record.
Akashic Records
Akashic records are a compendium of all human events, thoughts, words, emotions, and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present, or future.8
The field described as akasha in the Vedas has been researched in quantum physics as grand unified field theories, zero point field theories, universal quantum field theories, and others. All of these theories suggest that an order or intelligence organizes these clusters of vibrations into matter: from the smallest atoms to the billions of galaxies.2
The consciousness or intelligence Planck, Einstein, and Bohm describe is not empty, passive, or a vacuum state, as once thought. Rather, it is a space filled with forces and vibrations, such as gravity, electromagnetism, nuclear forces, and more. The Akashic field had to be filled with something in order to vibrate and be intelligent and manifest as matter, or, as the Vedas say, into the elements of air, fire, water, and earth and then into more complex realities.
For example, if these clusters vibrate in the frequency of the visual light spectrum, our brain interprets them as shapes and colors. All sounds, tastes, touch, and smells are vibrations of the field that our brain interprets for us.
Ervin László, a two-time nominee for the Noble Prize, author, and president of the international think tank the Club of Budapest, wrote about the relationship of Vedic science, the Akashic records, and quantum theory in detail in his book The Intelligence of the Cosmos.2
Laszlo makes the case that the consciousness described in Vedic texts is not an individual consciousness. It is not “my consciousness.” It is not produced in the brain, just like TV shows are not produced in the TV. We do not produce consciousness; we display it. It does not cease when we die. Consciousness is a reflection, a projection, a manifestation of the intelligence that “in-forms” the world.2
Scientists who hold the belief that the universe is random and consciousness is an energy produced by and only in our brains are slow to accept the new evidence-based data supporting a major shift in our thinking of how the universe works. It is hard to dispute that consciousness pervades everything and that quantum unified fields are organized with, from, or by a higher intelligence.
Consciousness is believed to be the higher intelligence behind the extreme order of the universe. Calculations suggest that if proteins on earth were randomly mixed together in an attempt to make the DNA of a common fruit fly, it would take more time than was available since the Big Bang. In other words, there is no way life, the earth, a fruit fly, or the universe are random events.
Physicist Fred Hoyle says that the probability that a new species would emerge through a chance mutation of their genes is comparable to the probability that a hurricane blowing through a scrapyard would assemble a working airplane.
It is not possible for this world and others to exist randomly, as once thought. Call it order, intelligence, mind, consciousness, creator, supreme being, Akashic record, or God!
Becky says
Interesting that the Native American thinking is that the Great Spirit is masculine and Mother Earth is feminine – perfectly balanced and equally as powerful
TK says
Great article! I have always believed in intelligent design. It just never seemed logical that all the intricacies of life and the universe “just happened” from a random cosmic event. I’m glad science is finally coming to its senses in this area.
Debra says
Look at the details of how are bodies were made. Also stories of thousands of children who remember past lives or life in spirit before they returned here. Read Dr Wayne Dyer. Childrens stories from heaven.
DARRYL KREMER says
Dear John,
I enjoyed your article and it was amazingly timely in helping me with understanding my narcissistic self/life struggles… on so many levels. Thank you for that John.
In relation to it’s content, I have thoughts and questions…
With your several statements of ‘fact’, based on research from external sources, I read much of the research you cited. In particular, I questioned the ‘global decline in religion’ statement by Pew Research. I believe that is true of ‘organized’ religion, and religious ‘affiliations’, but I wonder if there has been a reduction in numbers with religious/spiritual individuals? I would like to believe those numbers have increased… but how could that be accurately measured?
On a side note, I also found it interesting that the non partisan ‘Pew Research’ fact tank was originally funded by a Texas oil company for tax benefit, and was extremely political for many years, and ironically is now controlled by partisan politicians that counter the conservative intentions of its founders. Not to say their reviews are not accurate [I do not know}, just suspect to a slanted perspective perhaps [then and now]?
In any case, I agree, science is indeed more formally recognizing a higher divinity in our universe. And I also believe more individuals are questioning the ‘God’ figure of past in their search for spiritual meaning and guidance. I believe it is a time to question everything. And to look into ourselves and understand who we are, and how we connect to each other… and most importantly, be open to experiencing and contributing to this life fully.
“It’s time to conclude. If the substance of the spiritual experience is always and everywhere the same, differences in its expression and interpretation are secondary and not a valid cause for conflict and intolerance. The world to which our quantum brain connects us is fundamentally one, whether its oneness is due to an information field within the natural world or the work of a divine transcendent intelligence. To enter into communion with this oneness has been the quest of all the great teachers and spiritual masters. And to understand the nature of this oneness has been, and is, the ultimate quest of all great scientists. Still today, physicists seek the one equation that would anchor their famous “Theory of Everything,” the theory that would account for all the laws of nature and explain everything that ever happened in our integrally whole universe. Einstein said that knowing this equation would be reading the mind of God.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-quantum-brain-spiritu_b_510843
“You are one miniscule piece of a never-ending cycle. In fact, you’re not even a piece. You’re just a holder for billions and billions of other pieces. Whether that’s organic components, living organisms inside your body, bacteria or whatever it is, you’re just part of the soup of the universe, so just try to enjoy what’s good about it.” – Joe Rogan
Kris says
I agree about the research–I believe that people are increasingly fed up with organized religion, with its messages of exclusivity and hate, and want to experience God on their own, not be told who or what God is. I do not want to be told how to live by conservative fundamentalist “Christians” any more than I would by fundamentalist Islamists. If the message involves judgment and hate, i.e., separating “Us” from “Them,” it’s not from God or Christ, or any other holy messengers.
All you need is love.
Tina Huston says
Loved this article and the explanation about Akasha and how we are “informed” in the Universe. And when we talk about the popularity of God, define God and our multiple archetypes of God and the evolution of those archetypes. Maybe the loss of belief in God is merely part of the process of deconstructing our old archetypes and redefining our understanding toward a more Akasha-like awareness of God. In other words, it’s like experimenting in a laboratory on a hypothesis that has just come to the point where it isn’t working anymore and saying, “I don’t believe in this hypothesis anymore. We have to go back to the drawing board and think higher.”
I brought up this subject with a Harvard professor and asked about not just the Goldie Locks effect where the Earth ended up in just the right spot from the sun to sustain life, but the countless number of Goldie Locks effects on our planet and the Universe. He acknowledged the truth of the Goldie Locks effects and acknowledged the miracle and mystery of it all. It’s all a miracle.
John S says
I like the quote, “The closer you become to God, the more difficult it is to say exactly what God is.’
Susan says
As a woman, I have concern for God as a gender. I’ve heard he and him my whole life and if we talk of God as universal knowledge and spirit I prefer and believe that the stories we learned about God, the father, are just that, Stories.
God as we understand God is how I like to describe the divine intelligence. In this, more of us humans can see ourselves included in this non random world .
Deeta says
Of course divine intelligence – God, if you will – has no gender, but “he, him” and even “Father” make it easier than saying “it.” Just use your own intelligence to understand the concept.
Kizzie says
Great article! Whether we want to accept it or not, everything came from The Creator. We may not be able to completely understand the process, but if we could explain God, He wouldn’t be God.
Ian Middleton says
A nice synopsis – thanks John! I guess whether you believe it or nor depends on your level of consciousness and that there will always be those individuals who just don’t “get it”. Next time around perhaps?
Donna Schwieder says
Enjoyed this commentary! How can we humans become so blind to the amazing world around us? If we came across an incredible invention or stunning artwork we’d be so impressed and awed. We would want to know WHO did that. And oh, how we’d like to meet him or her!
And yet, a tree, our bodies, ants, flowers, dirt, water……..well it all “just happened with the magic of time.” No intelligence needed. What?! We have become arrogant fools thinking we know it all and don’t need any greater Intelligence.
Some scientists of years ago said they were trying to “think God’s thoughts” after Him and so researched and produced blessings for mankind. Atheists can invent things too, of course, but what’s wrong with believing in God and even asking Him for help in science? Or for anything else in this world He’s made for us to enjoy and explore?
“Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself, ‘Who could be the Master of these beautiful things?’ I felt a great desire to see him, to know him and to pay him homage.”
— St. Josephine Bakhita