God at the Speed of Light

Rating:
Summary: Expertly referenced and well researched book
Review: "God at the Speed of Light" is an expertly referenced and well-researched book (over 50 scientific references cited) that methodically establishes the existence of a designing intelligence in the universe. Dr. Baumann's premise is convincingly detailed and defended by scientific fact.
The intelligence of physical light is featured through the descriptions of experiments in quantum physics. These complex experiments are described in easily understood layman terms. The implications of these experiments reveal why physicists are one of the most spiritual of all groups of scientists.
Likewise, astronomical and cosmological data unveil multiple unmistakable arguments for design in our universe.
From the field of medicine, physician Baumann lists documented excerpts from the accounts of various near-death victims, as well as the medical literature, asserting successfully the intimate link between God and the welcoming light of the near-death experience. Similarly, the knowledge that is often imparted by this "Light" correlates well to the intelligence exhibited in the above physics experiments!
Lastly, Darwin's theory of evolution (a problem for many spiritual people) is scientifically shown to be inconsistent with the documented geologic findings of the fossil record. Furthermore, scientific and archaeological findings lend literal support to many disputed passages of the Bible.
As Dr. Baumann suggests, perhaps descriptions of God in terms of light are not just serendipitous.

Rating:
Summary: Very Interesting Idea
Review: Dr. Baumann's idea is a very unique one and God at the Speed of Light will get anyone thinking about the complex universe that we live in. This book is for anyone who is interested in the science vs. religion argument! Plus you don't have to be an astrophysicist to read it. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to broaden their horizons!

Rating:
Summary: Great spiritual education book for a lay person
Review: For a lay person, this book represents a great introduction into the world of spirituality/physics. Indulge yourself for an experience into the realm of photonics and its relation to a higher intelligence in the universe.

Rating:
Summary: Look elsewhere
Review: If you want a book that combines religious belief with a serious misunderstanding of science this book is for you. If you want to read something of a much higher calibre get a book by Gerald Schroeder.

Rating:
Summary: Why do we always have to invoke the Supernatural?
Review: Richard Dawkins wrote the following 3 books, which completely and UNIMPEACHABLY demonstrated that complex life as we see today could have appeared, and in fact did appear and evolve, here on earth without invoking any intervention from a being more developed than we are (thus no God, Witchcraft, UFO's, magic, intervention, or anything more advanced than we are). Why is this so hard for people to grasp? The 3 Dawkins books are (selfish gene; blind watchmaker; and devil's chaplain).

On another very related note, I recently read a book which was written by a neurosurgeon/neurobiologist called "A brief tour of human consciousness", which very well explains the limitations of our sensory perception organs (eyes, ears, etc). An appearance of "light", or the appearance of feeling or movement of an appendage which has been missing for a long time, is a very limited perception (affixes on about 1.5-3.0% of brain. Even more damaging for this view is that since we can only detect a portion of the visible spectrum (i.e. so far ultraviolet and infrared are mostly undetectible). However, If anyone who digs this book wants to worship "light" as being "God", I am all for anything that gets people thinking.

Personally, for me, if I was to ever accept a God, it would be the rulemaker himselve (i.e. the speed of light is constant, so is gravity, energy and matter are interchangeable in our universe, dark matter prevents the universe from expanding exponentially into nothingness). Please some scientist e-mail me and tell me why there aren't 28 colors instead of the R.O.Y. G. B.I.V. 7 that we have always been taught? How do we know if we don't see them? Why are we so sure that for instance radio waves are not visible if our eyes were only more discriminating?

I wonder if string theory posits completely different bubble universes with differing rules?

Summary: Please understand that "bright lights" will appear anywhere a person is dying at less than an instantaneous death, and the bright light is merely the inability to see anything at the edges of a focused beam.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable book
Review: The book is about the melding of science and spirituality. He argues for the belief that 'near death experiences' are for real. To get across his point he mentions Einstein's theory of relativity, quatum theory and other scientific evidences to prove his point. The speed of light plays a major part in all of this. The Big Bang is discussed along with magnetic wave lengths. He is very convincing in his presentation. However, I'm am still somewhat skeptical.

Long before 'Near Death Experiences' came to be talked about, I had a similar experience. I was anywhere between the ages of 2-years and 6-years old, which would be back in the late 1930's or very early 1940's. I know that I was in a car accident and that I had a bad experience with ether when I had my tonsils taken out which could have prompted my near death experience.

Anyway, over the years I recall this experience once in awhile. There was this tunnel that was narrow at one end and became wider as you aproached a magnifcient glowing of light and then I saw Jesus who was surrounded by angels (no they did not have wings), at least I presumed they were angels. As I drew nearer the presence of Jesus, He asked me if I wanted to stay. He told me that if I returned my life would be very difficult I told him that I could survive the difficulty and would like to return. So here I am. By the way, even though I was just a child, in the presence of Jesus I talked and understood as an adult.

Then over the years I started debating this with myself. He did not tell me that I had to return, He asked me if I wanted to return. Having told me that my life would be difficult, I have reasoned that by answering Him that I wanted to return, I was being arrogant and prideful. That has bothered me. Yet I'm still skeptical that it was an actual experience, and just not my brain putting these thoughts in my head while dying. Then I think, why the question from Jesus, if it was just my brain playing tricks. Eventually I will know the truth. :)

The author is very persuasive in his presentation of near death experiences being true and claims that these people enter one of the dimensions that are not available to us humans otherwise.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable book
Review: The book is about the melding of science and spirituality. He argues for the belief that 'near death experiences' are for real. To get across his point he mentions Einstein's theory of relativity, quatum theory and other scientific evidences to prove his point. The speed of light plays a major part in all of this. The Big Bang is discussed along with magnetic wave lengths. He is very convincing in his presentation. However, I'm am still somewhat skeptical.

Long before 'Near Death Experiences' came to be talked about, I had a similar experience. I was anywhere between the ages of 2-years and 6-years old, which would be back in the late 1930's or very early 1940's. I know that I was in a car accident and that I had a bad experience with ether when I had my tonsils taken out which could have prompted my near death experience.

Anyway, over the years I recall this experience once in awhile. There was this tunnel that was narrow at one end and became wider as you aproached a magnifcient glowing of light and then I saw Jesus who was surrounded by angels (no they did not have wings), at least I presumed they were angels. As I drew nearer the presence of Jesus, He asked me if I wanted to stay. He told me that if I returned my life would be very difficult I told him that I could survive the difficulty and would like to return. So here I am. By the way, even though I was just a child, in the presence of Jesus I talked and understood as an adult.

Then over the years I started debating this with myself. He did not tell me that I had to return, He asked me if I wanted to return. Having told me that my life would be difficult, I have reasoned that by answering Him that I wanted to return, I was being arrogant and prideful. That has bothered me. Yet I'm still skeptical that it was an actual experience, and just not my brain putting these thoughts in my head while dying. Then I think, why the question from Jesus, if it was just my brain playing tricks. Eventually I will know the truth. :)

The author is very persuasive in his presentation of near death experiences being true and claims that these people enter one of the dimensions that are not available to us humans otherwise.

Rating:
Summary: Great Way to JumpStart Your New Year
Review: This time of year is the perfect time to look over the past 12 months and ask ourselves, did I do something that really count? Did I grow spiritually, spending time in reading and stimulating conversations, continuing to answer the questions that really matter? Did I share what I knew with others, to encourage and promote love and understanding? If your answer is one where you wish to do more, jumpstart your personal advancement this year by reading this book!

The author captures the reader very well, and my excitement compelled me to finish this book within a few days. I live in the San Diego area, and would invite you to also read the books of three local authors, all of which I have heard at various speaking engagements, and were extremely impressed with, and subsequently bought their books. If you haven't read their books this past year, I would recommend them for your New Year, to help create a new, more powerful and intuitive New You in 2004:

- Deepak Chopra: The Spontaneous Fulfilment of Desire
- Jack Canfield/ Mark Hansen: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Your Dreams (Not Local, but excellent, uplifting stories)
- Tiffany Snow: Psychic Gifts in the Christian Life - Tools to Connect
- Marie Jones: Looking for God in All the Wrong Places

Rating:
Summary: Great read & good mind stretcher!
Review: Valuable for anyone interested in theology, physics, or both. Dr. Baumann's book is cogently written, with excellent endnotes/references for all chapters. The author convincingly and eruditely presents how quantum physics (among other areas of modern science) supports many spiritual beliefs/concepts pertaining to the afterlife, nature of the universe, multiple dimensions, etc. Likewise, he challenges our ideas of what we might conventionally perceive as "reality" with various plausible theories of existance based on the latest revelations in quantum mechanics, cosmology, the natural sciences, etc.

Even if you don't agree with all of its ideas/conclusions (the author certainly doesn't jam them down your throat), this book is most worthwhile to provoke thought, and it just might inspire you to further pursue such studies on your own.

I most heartily recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: Geoff Simmons, M.D.. What Darwin Didn't Know
Review: Worthwhile read. I found the first half a little heavy in the physics and sometimes hard to follow, but the bottom line was always readily apparent. The second half was particularly worthwhile. It does make one think about light, Schroeder's theories and how scientists truly are at a loss to explain it's quirky behavior and ubiquitous presence.