The Science of Oneness: A Worldview for the Twenty-First Century
I wrote this book because I wanted to help make the world a  better place. Along the way my life was changed by what I discovered.After decades studying the issues of environmental destruction, poverty and  war, I concluded that the foundations for a better future are missing. We  are at a time in the history of civilization when the certainties of the  old worldview have disintegrated, and the concrete of a new worldview has  not yet set. A key task, it seems to me, is to lay new philosophical and  spiritual foundations on which we can build our future. New technologies,  policies and laws are vital, but they will fail without strong foundations.  Nothing less than radical change in our understanding of the universe, and  of the meaning and purpose of life will do.So I set out to explore what was happening at the cutting edges of science  in order to create a coherent picture of the universe and our relationship  to it that could form the basis of a more just, sustainable and peaceful  future. What I found exceeded my wildest expectations, leading me on a  personal journey that transformed my beliefs and life. Rather than the  mechanical, alienating, meaningless vision of reality bequeathed to us by  classical science, I found a living, conscious, interconnected, meaningful  and purposeful universe of which we are co-creators. And I found a vision  which resonates strongly with the beliefs and wisdom of many ancient  spiritual traditions.In exploring the emerging worldview, my intellectualism became balanced by  an appreciation of experiential, intuitive, spiritual and other ways of  knowing. I began to understand the limitations of human knowledge, and to  look for ways to test the reliability of what we think we know that  complement the scientific method. So the science of oneness is more than a  coherent portrait of reality; it is also a holistic way of knowing that  comes from personal experience, intuition and an inner sense of rightness  as well as from reason and modern science.My aim was not just to satisfy intellectual curiosity, but to change lives  and the world. If this book is to fulfil my aims, it is important that you,  my readers engage critically with the ideas presented. Many of the concepts  may be new to you, and you may feel ill-equipped to evaluate them. But you  have your own life experience, imagination, and conceptual frameworks by  which you make sense of the universe. I encourage you to bring all these,  to bring your whole self, to bear on the material. Question and challenge  it, and reinterpret its meaning where appropriate. Seek what makes coherent  sense of the whole of reality, not just its separate parts; and seek what  makes sense physically, emotionally and spiritually as well as  intellectually. Trust your inner voice, not mine. Remodel your  understanding of reality as necessary, and act out of what you learn.The journey of this book began more than a decade ago. I am not the person  I was when I set out. My ideas have evolved and developed, and are  continuing to shift. This book is not a set of ideas to be accepted or  rejected, but an invitation to join me on a life-long voyage of discovery.  At times the terrain is dry, and the going hard and steep. I’ve focused on  key concepts and avoided technical jargon as far as possible, but it’s  still a rugged journey. But the view from the summit is stupendous, giving  new and glorious insights into the nature of the universe, our planet and  ourselves; and bringing a new sense of identity and purpose, and a new hope  for the future.