Who Knows? A Study of Religious Consciousness

Is there really a God, and if so, what is God actually like? Is there an afterlife, and if so, is there such a thing as eternal punishment for unrepentant sinners, as many orthodox Christians and Muslims believe? And is it really true that our unconscious minds are connected to a higher spiritual reality, and if so, could this higher spiritual reality be the very same thing that religionists call "God"? In his latest book, Raymond M. Smullyan invites the reader to explore some beautiful and some horrible ideas related to religious and mystical thought. In Part One, Smullyan uses the writings on religion by fellow polymath Martin Gardner as the starting point for some inspired ideas about religion and belief. Part Two focuses on the doctrine of Hell and its justification, with Smullyan presenting powerful arguments on both sides of the controversy. "If God asked you to vote on the retention or abolition of Hell," he asks, "how would you vote?" Smullyan has posed this question to many believers and received some surprising answers. In the last part of his treasurable triptych, Smullyan takes up the "beautiful and inspiring" ideas of Richard Bucke and Edward Carpenter on Cosmic Consciousness. Readers will delight in Smullyan’s observations on religion and in his clear-eyed presentation of many new and startling ideas about this most wonderful product of human consciousness.

After perusing the theological chapters of Martin Gardner's The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener, and before exploring cosmic consciousness, retired philosophy professor Smullyan sets out the strongest arguments he can find for and against hell, finds the notion logically consistent, and hopes it is false. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Raymond Smullyan, a retired distinguished professor of philosophy, has authored over twenty books. He has had a remarkably diverse sequence of careers-as a pianist, magician, mathematical logician, philosopher, and essayist. His widely known writings are on such varied topics as mathematical logic, retrograde chess analysis, stereo photography, Chinese philosophy, psychology, and religion. He currently resides with his musician wife Blanche in the Catskill Mountains of upper New York State.