God & the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science & Spirituality [Hardcover]

Daniel Chanan Matt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1996

Drawing on the insights of physics and Jewish mysticism, Daniel Matt uncovers the sense of wonder and oneness that connects us with the universe and God. He describes in understandable terms the parallels between modern cosmology and ancient Kabbalah. He shows how science and religion together can enrich our spiritual understanding.

We "embody the energy" of the big bang, writes Matt. Furthermore, "God is not somewhere else, hidden from us. God is right here hidden from us." To discover the presence of God, Matt draws on both science and theology, fact and belief, and on the truths embodied in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, as well as Judaism.

A rich dialogue between the physical and the spiritual, God & the Big Bang takes us on a deeply personal, thoughtful and inspiring journey that helps us find our place in the universe--and the universe in ourselves.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the past, the conversation between religion and science often turned bitter and acrimonious because neither camp was willing to listen to the other's ideas.In recent years, however, as both scientists and religious thinkers have demonstrated, the congruence between the two worldviews runs far deeper than either is sometimes willing to admit. In this marvelous new book, Matt, a professor of Jewish spirituality, explores the connections between Jewish mysticism and the cosmological theory of the Big Bang. Several questions motivate Matt's study: How does the Big Bang theory challenge the Jewish concept of God? How may a study of the dimensions of this theory help us discover new insights into spiritual dimensions of human life? In his answers to these and other questions, Matt draws a relationship between the kabbalastic teachings that describe the "breaking of the vessels" that sever an individual's oneness with God and the physical theory of "broken symmetry," which articulates a sense of lost unity in the universe. Both kabbalists and physicists, he says, dream of finding unity, and this dream is expressed in their writings. Playful, imaginative and thoughtful, Matt's book carries the dialogue between religion and science to new levels.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The controversy surrounding NASA's recent announcement of the discovery of possible life on Mars poses challenges to long-cherished beliefs in science and religion. How spirituality can integrate these discoveries is given an explanation in Matt's (Jewish spirituality, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley) important and timely book. Borrowing primarily from the traditions of Jewish mysticism and Hasidism, the author opens a dialog between modern scientific cosmology and spirituality whose goal is to seek the existence and significance of God for contemporary people. Ein Sof (literally, "there is no end"), the name given to God by Jewish kabbalists, underscores the notion that God is present everywhere, and Matt identifies Ein Sof as quantum physics' "zero-point energy" left over from the primordial bang. Ein Sof points to the oneness, the interrelatedness, of all creation, making God part of our world. Matt includes a very helpful glossary of terms, though an index would have been extremely useful. Highly recommended for the general reader.?Pius Murray, Holy Apostles Coll. and Seminary, Cromwell, Conn.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Pub (May 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879045486
• ISBN-13: 978-1879045484
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,772,212 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart mix, December 23, 1997

By 

guy richardson - See all my reviews

This review is from: God & the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science & Spirituality (Hardcover)

I took Danny Matt's class in "God and the Big Bang" in Berkeley. Matt in person is witty, intelligent and educated. In print, he is even more so. His science is strong, his kabbalah is flawless. There are parallels between this book and Capra's Buddist/science books, but where Capra is trying to prove something, Matt is just pointing out interesting facts. Anyone interested in science or theology would enjoy this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pantheism Peeping 'Round the Corner, March 24, 2003

By 

Hadassah Devorah (Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God & the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science and Spirituality (Paperback)

I intended to buy this book from the Jewish perspective, so I wasn't dissapointed. As a naturalistic Pantheist, a progressive Jew and an avid fan of Carl Sagan, this book is a pretty great mix. It is humanely written, describing the natural beauty surrounding us and using mundane analogies that 'click' with all of us. The only problem with this book is a theological one: the author tries to reconcile a scientific pantheistic outlook (Spinoza's 'God' as another reviewer noted correctly) based on empiricism, with a (panen)theistic outlook of Kabbalah and the traditional theistic outlook of Torah. This is hard to swallow for those not interested in Jewish tradition, but can be considered a noble - albeit not perfect attempt - for those Jews (like me) who seek to reconcile a rational worldview with a spiritual approach.

Getting down the the Nitty Gritty of Pantheism and the history thereof, I recommend Paul Harrison's 'Elements of Pantheism'. Start there and if you're into Judaism, this book makes a good sequel.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars !An apassionate book!, December 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: God & the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science and Spirituality (Paperback)

In our times, it's important to enjoy ourselves, and feel that we are in a beautiful and neverending world. You can feel it, when you raise the point between science and God, and you can see that, day by day, we are integrate our technology and our souls in one, and now we can realize this, seeing that with science, we can find our mind, body and universe toghether. With this book, you will feel more unit with the Divine and with the whole universe. !Don't miss it!