Let There Be Light: Modern Cosmology and Kabbalah: A New Conversation Between Science and Religion [Paperback]

Howard Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 2006

In Let There Be Light, Howard Smith, a research astrophysicist and traditionally observant Jew, explores how modern scientific understandings of the cosmos complement Judaism’s ancient mystical theology, the Kabbalah. He argues that science and religion are not only compatible, but that a healthy, productive dialogue between the two sheds light on ethics, free will, and the nature of life, while at the same time rejecting fundamentalist misinterpretation and the pseudoscience of creationism. Written for a general audience, yet supported by the most current and accurate scientific research, the book discusses topics such as modern quantum mechanics and mystical notions of awareness; how Kabbalah’s ten sefirot mirror the developing phases of an inflationary universe; and the surprising parallels that exist between the Big Bang theory and Kabbalah’s origin theory. Smith delves into complex ideas without resorting to jargon or mathematical equations, creating an intelligent, authoritative work accessible to all readers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Can religion answer any of the questions raised by science? Can science answer the questions posed by religion? Smith, an observant Jew who is a senior scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, brings us a work that is "deliberately not... scholarly." It aims to educate and enlighten readers while attempting to fuse an entry-level explanation of the vast and fascinating subject of cosmology with the elusive elements of the Kabbalah. Despite a fluid and uncomplicated organization, Smith fails to communicate with his target audience—those either unfamiliar with or uninterested in science and religion. His unwieldy prose, riddled with parenthetical allusions to former or pending chapters, and littered with qualifications, makes the science hard to follow for even the most avid fans of popular science magazines. Admittedly, his discussion of the Kabbalah is "a modest extraction of a few relevant ideas," but his cursory extrapolations confuse rather than clarify. If enthusiasm could make this an accessible read, Smith could well have succeeded. Unfortunately, readers may feel left in the dark after wrestling their way through his lecture. (Nov.)
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From Booklist

Smith points out in his preface that he is an observant Jew and a research astrophysicist. His book is about what he calls "the essential complementary of modern scientific cosmology and the Jewish mystical tradition of the Kabbalah," Jewish mysticism, the central work of which is the Zohar. Smith posits that the basic theory and its derivations have enabled cosmology to explain the intricate birth and early evolution of the universe. Smith relies on the Zohar and its commentators for most of the cosmological concepts he is comparing. Let There Be Light is based on lectures Smith has given during the last 30 years. He examines such subjects as Einstein's theories of relativity and modern quantum mechanics and awareness. The result is a book that Smith hopes will broaden readers' understanding of the creation of the universe. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: New World Library (October 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577315480
• ISBN-13: 978-1577315483
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #820,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God and the Big Bang, October 25, 2006

By 

Jonathan Rhodes "BookDoctor" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Let There Be Light: Modern Cosmology and Kabbalah: A New Conversation Between Science and Religion (Paperback)

"Let There Be Light" provides a sophisticated and lucid account of the physics that underlies scientists' current understanding of the origins of the universe. Indeed, Smith's discussion of cosmology is the best I have ever encountered in the popular science literature. For this reason alone, the book merits a place at the top any thoughtful individual's reading list. However, this book is much more than a soon-to-be-acclaimed popular science classic. For beyond the physics and cosmology, Smith introduces topics from Kabbalah/religion and, with the skill of a poet, weaves together concepts from these oft-opposing disciplines (i.e., science and religion). From the complex tapestry that emerges from these efforts, Smith demonstrates how the perspectives and analyses of each of these disciplines can in fact complement, illuminate, and shed light upon the other. The result is nothing less than an intellectually and spiritually uplifting experience. It will leave you trembling.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inviting dialogue perfect for science-minded yet religious readers., December 13, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let There Be Light: Modern Cosmology and Kabbalah: A New Conversation Between Science and Religion (Paperback)

Author Howard A. Smith, Ph.D. is a senior astrophysist and former chair of the Smithsonian Museum's astronomy department - so why isn't his LET THERE BE LIGHT: MODERN COSMOLOGY AND KABBALAH reviewed in our science section? Because it's packed with interactions between ancient Kabbalah and modern astronomy and thus forms an important bridge between the two. Learn how science and religion interact harmoniously and how an understanding of the two can bring better understanding of Kabbalah in an inviting dialogue perfect for science-minded yet religious readers.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing - A "Must-Read", December 6, 2008

By 

Ivonne Kinser "Ivonne Kinser" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let There Be Light: Modern Cosmology and Kabbalah: A New Conversation Between Science and Religion (Paperback)

Absolutely great! Howard Smith, senior astrophysicist and former head of the Smithsonian Museum's astrophysics department, smoothly and harmoniously combines astrophysics and Kabbalah to provide an interesting perfective of the mysteries of the cosmos.
"Let There be Light" approaches complicated topics such as quantum mechanics, relativity and cosmic acceleration with amazing simplicity, easily comprehensible for anyone with no science background.
In this book, Smith masters the complex task of communicating technical material to the general public. It is a must read if for anyone interested in science, religion or both.