God and the Evolving Universe : The Next Step in Personal Evolution

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
At once a symposium on some of the basic fundamentals of the history of philosophy, world religion, cosmology, evolution, psychology, and spirituality, as well as a how-to guide on synthesizing knowledge and ancient wisdom into everyday life, God and the Evolving Universe in many ways brings to mind Dickens's A Christmas Carol. How? In that authors, James Redfield and Michael Murphy, act as guides on a mystical journey through the past and present in order to point the way to a possible, brighter future.

From the Big Bang and the dinosaur to thumbed creatures like ourselves, "we've come a long way, baby." The ever-imaginative evolutionary process is beyond amazing, and according to the belief of the authors, it has a telos, or an inherent desire to create increasingly complex and myriad structures -- as evidenced in your backyard, our solar system, and in human consciousness.

In the course of human development our history can be traced from prehistoric cave drawings, shamanism, and the founding of world religions to the love of the rational and artistic exemplified by the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, and the discoveries of Darwin and Einstein. These awakenings, Redfield and Murphy believe, have laid the foundation for us to further express our potential and untapped resources. You have only to look around you to see that these resources, which have been realized by many athletes, dancers, scientists, poets, mystics, and activists.

Contemplate for a moment the contributions and excellence of Plato, Lao Tzu, Michael Jordan, Jane Goodall, Nelson Mandela, John Muir, Mother Theresa, Louis Pasteur, Henry Thoreau, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Martha Graham, William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill, Bob Marley, Catherine the Great, Vincent van Gogh, Joseph Campbell, Thich Nhat Hahn, and Mahatma Gandhi. The magic, or telos, is there, and when an intention is formed to plug into it consciously, individuals can and do transform our culture, its institutions, and ultimately, our world.

To help you along on your own evolutionary journey, the authors have laid out a detailed series of meditation exercises and movement practices, as well as a comprehensive reading list, that will help you tap into the power line of universal energy and wisdom. Get off the bench and onto the playing field. The time for participation is now. Learn from the past, live in the present, and get ready for an amazing future. (Jennifer Forman)

Publishers Weekly

When is perennial wisdom more perennial than wise? Perhaps when it follows this commonplace opener: "Today we stand poised at a threshold in human history." Popular and prolific author Redfield (The Celestine Prophecy) is teamed here with Esalen Institute cofounder Murphy and documentary filmmaker Timbers. This trio of writers presents the history of human consciousness as an unfolding map of human potential, extrapolating from empirically documented peak human experiences a future norm of sensation and sensibility. An emphasis on empiricism and an 80-plus page annotated bibliography (almost one-quarter of the book) anchor the text; a chapter of exercises provides application. Perhaps the historic framework dwarfs the picture of what is new: it's difficult to discern progress in the argument for forthcoming human advancement in this latest work from writers who have already persuasively or profitably ploughed the ground. It's also difficult to find the God of the title, except as the Divine One who primed the evolutionary pump at its outset and inspired many of the visionaries the authors cite. The text is accessible but dry; Redfield's visionary fiction and Murphy's genre-bending books (e.g., Golf in the Kingdom) offer more fun. The book may be most valuable to those not familiar with the work of Redfield or Murphy; as a synergistic addition to their work, there's not much new. (Jan.) Forecast: The Celestine Prophecy spent more than three years on the New York Times bestseller list, making it one of the hottest spiritual books of the late 20th century. A 13-city author tour should help Redfield (who has an outstanding history in promoting his books directly to readers) and his colleagues sell through their 75,000-copy initial print run. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

The universe, of which the earth and humans are a part, is still evolving. People, however, are so busy living that they are often unaware of that process. Redfield (The Celestine Prophecy) and coauthors Michael Murphy, cofounder of the Esalen Institute, and writer/producer Silvia Timbers aim to make readers more aware of their world and themselves. For those whose knowledge of evolutionary theory is scant, this book provides a good introduction in three parts: "Awakening," which summarizes both Western and Eastern visionary thinkers; "The Emerging Human Being," which explains the new spiritual potential; and "Participating," which looks at the possible outcome of people operating on a superhuman level. The authors point out that evolution is not an even process but one of spurts and jumps, and they present exercises to help readers participate in it more fully, develop psychic abilities, deepen education, work on social transformation, and the like. Now, they argue, regardless of the events of September 11, we are experiencing a spurt that could change the face of humanity. Informative, thought-provoking, and challenging, this is a worthwhile acquisition for public libraries. John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.