Customer Reviews

Where God Lives: The Science of the Paranormal and How Our Brains are Linked to the Universe

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'Learning to listen to our inner voice is what this book is allabout.' ' . . . We are just starting to learn how to use it.'

This book combines the perspectives of science and spirituality to consider what right temporal lobe stimulation in the brain is really accomplishing. The best part of the book is that it goes on to propose daring new hypotheses about the nature of the mind and reality. I look forward to future experiments designed to test these hypotheses.

Dr. Morse is a pediatrician whose young patients have often experienced near death. These young people report important spiritual events associated with their near-death experiences. These spiritual experiences include speaking with dead relatives, seeing themselves in out-of-body experiences as the doctors work on them, going through tunnels into another world, and meeting religious figures. When one of his patients asks Dr. Morse what the purpose of these spiritual events is, the question sets Dr. Morse to thinking. The results of that investigation are found in this book.

One of the reasons that the question intrigued him is that he had noticed that these patients seemed to develop an improved balance in their lives that improved the quality of their lives afterwards. This quality of life often meant having better health, happier times, closer relations with others, eating healthier foods, and exercising more.

What he has come to appreciate is that near-death experiences are simply spiritual experiences that anyone can have without having to almost die. ' . . . We have the biological potential to interact with the universe at any time during our lives.'

Based on research with electrically stimulating different parts of the brain, scientists have located the Sylvian fissure in the right temporal lobe (just over the ear) as the site of these spiritual experiences. Take a healthy person, put some electrical current there and near-death experiences will follow. Scientists have studied these near-death experiences further, and can tell that these experiences are distinct from mental illness and hallucinations. Dr. Morse also reports that you can access these same experiences through prayer and meditation.

He outlines 10 things you can do to have these experiences more often. (1) 30 minute of enjoyable exercise daily (2) pay attention to your life patterns through a journal and meditation (3) build relationships with your family and others (4) trust your inner vision and intuition (5) provide service for others (6) create a financial plan to have more peace of mind (7) improve your diet (8) pray and meditate daily (9) learn to love more (10) develop your spirituality to reconnect with all parts of the universe.

One interesting connection he makes is to the theory of morphic resonance (see The New Science of Life). By postulating that there seem to be legitimate cases of reincarnation, he wonders what reincarnation experiences (if real) could mean about the nature of reality. He concludes that 'universal memory is best understood as a morphic field.' He cites the examples of how rats in succeeding generations can go through a maze for the first time in ever shorter periods of time . . . as though they are sharing knowledge from prior generations indirectly.

From these pieces of evidence, he hypothesizes that we have two sources of memory. Short-term memory is in our physical brains, and long-term memory is outside of our brains. The right temporal lobe then operates as a memory receiver and transmitter to access this external memory that is available to all. This description reminds me of Napoleon Hill's writing in Think and Grow Rich about how to create abundance in our lives.

He also describes many experiments that successfully show remote viewing can be done, physical objects can be changed with the mind, children have eliminated warts with hypnosis, the placebo effect cures some diseases, and spiritual healing methods reveal large transfers of electricity between healer and patient. He uses this evidence to argue that the quantum nature of reality takes a holographic form when it comes to the mind and what we observe. By changing the waves in our brain, we affect the waves that are the reality that we observe around us. One of the funniest examples of this phenomenon comes in the form of people who give off so much energy that they can make machines break down all around them.

Dr. Morse provides 10 ground rules for getting the best results from morphic reality:...

This is one of the most enlightening books on mystical, or spiritual, experiences and their meanings I have read. The approach Dr. Morse takes is extremely humane, sensitive, and honest. He manages in an interesting and meaningful way to examine near-death experiences, healings, apparitions, and other unexplained phenomenon in terms of the human brain. It seems our brains may at times function in a particular way to connect us with realities we normally are not aware of.

I had enjoyed reading Dr. Morse's previous books, where he related the stories of children's near-death experiences, and described the evidence of the transforming nature of these experiences. In this book, Dr. Morse goes much further in developing his theory of the importance of the right temporal lobe in allowing us to experience the external reality of these experiences.

As a speech-language pathologist, I know a little something about the brain and how it works. The right hemisphere of the brain processes information very differently from the left. We have generally known a great deal more about the left hemisphere, which is where our language center is in most people. However, what Dr. Morse has to say about the right hemisphere and its possible role in NDEs and other experiences connecting us to a "universal memory", or mind, makes a great deal of sense, especially to anyone who has ever had even a minor extra-sensory type of experience.

I especially enjoyed Dr. Morse's personal stories in this book. It was brave and honest, and made the book real to me. After all, one of the big questions raised to him has been, "What is the good in having a near-death experience, anyway?" I appreciated that Dr. Morse attempted to apply some of the lessons he learned to his own life. It made a poignant story.

My husband's book describes the secrets of living that he learned from studying children who had near death experiences. He used these secrets to get himself off of five medicines for asthma and high blood pressure, heal his own life threatening illness, and discover his own spirituality for the first time. I have seen him transformed over the years from an arrogant critical care physician who thought he knew everything to a gentle man willing to spend an extra minute with a patient, or an extra hour helping a grieving parent.

His studies document that there is an area in our brain which allows us to communicate with god. This is the same area responsable for intution, telepathy, remote viewing and mind-body healing. He has discovered that there are real angels guiding our lives. He presents a case of a well documented miraculous cure of one of his own patients who had a fatal liver disease, a cure facilitated by spiritual intervention.

His book is oddly practical. He shares with us extremely moving stories of children who have faced death, and learns from them that the secrets of living are to pay off our credit card debt, give money to charity, and to go jogging in the morning with our 12 year old son.

My husband shares with the readers his own spiritual experience, something I was shocked to learn that he had. He had never discussed it with even his own family. He is the sort of guy who watches football on Sundays and likes to say that he doesn't have a spiritual bone in his body. When I asked him about it, he said he wanted to share his experience with his readers because "if I can learn to use my right temporal lobe to have a spiritual vision, anyone can learn to use it. Why wait until we die to have the experience?".

I was a little mad to read the review stating that his book was boring. There is nothing boring about his book! He presents a new theory of how our brains link to the universe, and explains how angel encounters, ghostly visions, paranormal talents and mind-body healing can actually work! He explains how anyone can tap into the power of the near death experience to transform their lives. Even our sex life is better after we applied the ten secrets of the near death experience to our daily life.

It is a science book, but very easy to read with lots of stories. He has hundreds of scientific references he put in the back of the book so people can delve deeper into the topics he presents. He has already published in scientific journals that main concepts in his book and he is always being invited to conferences all around the world. I won't let him go because we have five children, so if you want to learn about why near death experiences are important in your life, you will have to read his book.

This book consists of a series of case studies into Near Death Experiences (NDE's) and identifies the right temporal lobe as the place where the individual interfaces with a greater consciousness. The author calls this "the God spot" and claims that this region is instrumental in facilitating mind-body healing, is responsible for mystical visions, psychic powers and vivid spiritual experiences.

His study of NDE's has revealed that we have the biological potential to interact with the universe at any time in our lives. It is thus important to learn how to activate the right temporal lobe. The author's studies demonstrate that children who have had NDE's are more balanced in their physical, mental and spiritual lives. They feel a purpose in living and do not fear death. Trusting their intuition, they feel that they can again connect with the divine presence without brushing with death again.

These children develop certain habits later in life that the author calls the ten secrets of happiness: exercise, pay attention to your life patterns, family and relationships, trust your intuition, service to others, financial planning, healthy diet, meditation/prayer, learning to love and spirituality.

He also discusses the scientific theories of people like Dr Karl Pribram, Michael Talbot and others and looks at cases of reincarnation that defy easy explanation, synchronicity and spiritual healing and comes to the conclusion that consciousness ripples throughout reality like a pebble in a pond.

Morse believes that early humans were too dominated by the right temporal lobe so that individuality was not fully expressed. Modern man is too left-brain dominated so that people become too isolated. NDE's remind us that we are interconnected spiritual beings as well as unique individuals. He concludes with an appeal to us to learn to use more of our mind in order to transcend the five senses and reach for an expanded human consciousness, a type of sixth sense.

Much helpful advice is given on how to become well and stay balanced and optimistic. The voluminous bibliography consists of separately listed books and articles under the following headings: Scientific and Medical References, References Concerning Death-Related Visions, The Scientific Study Of The Paranormal, Scientific Perspectives On Religion, Spirituality and Consciousness, Mind-Body Healing, Memory and Past-Life Memories, Religion and Spirituality, and Miscellaneous References.

This book covers much familiar terrain in consciousness research. Readers who appreciate Where God Lives will also find much of interest in old classics like Richard M Bucke's COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS: A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind and modern works like Roger Coghill's The Dark Side of the Brain: Major Discoveries in the Use of Kirlian Photography and Electrocrystal Therapy, Drury's Inner Visions: Explorations in Magical Consciousness (Arkana) and Sheldrake, McKenna and Abrahams' Chaos, Creativity And Cosmic Consciousness.

Dr. Melvin Morse gives us one of the best books that I have ever read. Thought provoking and detailed. How do humans connect to God? Is it through the brain? What of near death experiences and how are they similar? Is there proof of past lives? Do they connect? What is our link to the universe, or our position? Many topics are explored in this book in detail.

This book has to rate as one of the best on the subject of Paranormal Science. A must read for anyone who has an interest in the subject, or to someone who may be curious as to what this subject is all about. But this book, open your mind.

This is an insightful book that could only be produced by two people who have been on the cutting edge of Near Death research.

Among the most interesting areas of exploration presented in this thin but comprehensive work is the notion that healing experiences and our communications with God and the Universe comes to us through our right temporal lobe. And, it is also implied that we can sensitize our right temporal lobe to better enhance communications with the divine.

If you are interested in research that meld brain, mind and mysticism, you should certainly read this book.

I found this book to be important, especially for medical doctors, scientists, and anyone who has great doubt that we CAN receive answers from God, "if we would only listen."

Dr. Morse's approach in this book is largely based in medical and scientific data, particularly with his vast experience as a pediatrician with NDE (near death experiences) among his patients. Educated at Johns Hopkins University for his Medical education, Dr. Morse later discovered that the right temporal lobe is the "God Spot" as he calls it in the book where people can access Universal information.

However, he gives the book a great touch with his own personal experiences of prayer, and "hearing" the answers within his mind. Additionally, Dr. Morse gives many, many examples, case studies, patient experiences, as well as covering subjects such as remote viewing, synchronicity, becoming your own healer, trusting your feelings, along with beneficial suggestions to greatly enhance your life in all areas, especially for the areas in which you feel less than pleased about.

All in all, I feel that his contribution to this field is direly needed, especially coming from a scientific/medical background. This book will greatly help to bridge the gap between science and spirituality, in scholarly terms, yet can certainly be understood by anyone.

I recommend it for anyone who is skeptical about this area, as well as for anyone who would just like some more "facts."
It is written with sincerity and truth.
Thank you Dr. Morse for your important contribution to humanity!

Barbara Rose, Ph.D., author of Know Yourself and If God Hears Me, I Want an Answer!

I enjoyed this book very much. It discusses NDE's and speculates about the nature of human consciousness and brain biology. His hypothesis is that we have a "god spot" in the right temporal lobe of our brains. When it is activated we have an experience of transcendence or connection to divinity. He further speculates that this "god spot" in our brains may be the connection between our consciousness and something called "universal memory" (all events which have ever happened or will happen in an unbroken time continuum), and that our memories are not actually stored in our brains but actually are accessed via this "god spot" connection, similiar to the manner of one's computer connecting to web sites via a modem. These ideas give new perspectives on concepts such as ghosts, psychic healing, reincarnation, etc. as forms of connection with "universal memory" rather than as commonly conceptualized. (For example, "past life" memories are actually from a past life, but not one's own past life, just experienced as with seeing a movie.) Morse introduces some speculative concepts and then treats them as established fact, but otherwise this is a very interesting book.

If one studies quantum physics and string theory in an effort to understand the fundamental particles of matter, it is interesting to relate Morse's concepts to the knowledge that all matter is fundamentally composed of superstrings (see THE ELEGANT UNIVERSE by Brian Greene), and also to the latest findings of neurology (read PHANTOMS IN THE BRAIN by V.S. Ramachandran). Morse's book tantalizes us with new perspectives connecting these concepts, which may provide fruitful ground for further research and study regarding the fundamental nature of human consciousness, mental experiences, and interaction with Divinity.

The book also contains a beneficial 10-point list of strategies to modify your own thinking, health, and life satisfaction. Whether his concepts are valid or mere placebo, nevertheless I found them valuable to ponder.

After reading this book at the library, I plan to buy my own copy to reread, annotate and highlight.

Melvin Morse has taken a personal turn with this book that I very much enjoyed. The subject matter focuses on the right temporal lobe, and it's possible role in mystical experiences. Amidst this focus, though, we learn about Morse's life, how his research impacted his faith, his health habits, his family interactions, and even his blood pressure. If you like personal narrative from intelligent people about mystical/spiritual topics, this is worth a look.

I would say that I have waited for a book of this magnitude and depth on near death experiences for the last five years. This book is NOT the story of one man, but the story and conclusions of many, especially NDE children. Finally someone has reviewed case upon case of near death episodes and come to some dramatic conclusions that are of great worth to the general public. Not only does this book discuss the multitude of ways that near death experiences transform their lives, the author also presents the opportunity for everyone to jump start the same area of the brain responsible for near death experiences and other spiritual happenings. Also of great importance is the disussions regarding intuition, spiritual healing, ghosts. Even more interesting is that the author connects these topics with many theories of modern day quantum physics. If you don't believe that this is scientific evidence enough for the validity of spiritual experiences than I don't know what is!