The Universe Is a Green Dragon: A Cosmic Creation Story (Paperback)

~ Brian Swimme Ph.D. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Seldom, if ever, within the scientific tradition, has the excitement of the universe been expressed in such memorable phrasing."
(Thomas Berry, Creation magazine )

Product Description

Communicating his ideas in the form of a classical dialogue between a youth and a wise elder, cosmologist Brian Swimme crafts a fascinating exploration into the creativity suffusing the universe. His explication of the fundamental powers of the cosmos is mystical and ecstatic and points directly to the need to activate one’s own creative powers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Bear & Company; Unknown edition (June 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939680149
• ISBN-13: 978-0939680146
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #139,617 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #45 in

  Books > Science > Astronomy > Universe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable teaching resource, April 16, 1999

By A Customer

There is probably no better way to introduce the non-scientist to the philosophical implications of the emerging 'quantum' worldview. As a mathematical cosmologist, Brian understands the details behind the amazing revelations of the 'new physics' and with unique talent weaves a wonderful tale of the complementary meaning we must see in these details. I have used this book as a primary text in courses I have taught in science and society and years later had students recall with great fondness the sense of awe, spirit and personal vision it awakened in them. This is not another work of the nice but limited science-and -religion-are-the-same school, but a truly deep and accessable presentation of the new scientific worldview that combines technical understanding with spiritual meaning. A true gem that educates and inspires hope!

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awe-inspiring explanation of life, meaning, and existence., January 1, 1999

By A Customer

As a supplement to the thoughts of Lonergan, Ursula Franklin, Thomas Aquinas, and Plato, this book serves to put into poetic terms the dance of physics, biology, cognitive thought, creation, evolution, spirituality, psychology, love, life, death, meaning, and essentially everything else this universe holds. It was interesting to see this work done in the matter of the dialogues - it worked for the Greeks for teaching difficult topics. The book holds much more meaning if you have already studied concepts of life, such as those expressed by Lonergan. The reader is really forced to think in a completely different manner in order to understand Swimme's thoughts. You look at everything differently after reading this; you gain a new love of life and in the process become more human. I would whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in life and existence, no matter what your background knowledge is. Best thing out there!

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars . . . and we are the dragon's fire., June 9, 2001

By	G. Merritt (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I arrived at this book after reading Swimme's more recent book, THE UNIVERSE STORY (1994). Both books reimmersed me into the enchanting wonders of a child gazing up into the stars. This book is written in the classical form of a philosophical dialogue between two speakers, "Thomas" and "Youth." Swimme's book is dedicated to his more recent collaborator, Thomas Berry "and the cosmological tradition he celebrates, stretching back from Erich Jantsch and Teilhard de Chardin through Thomas Aquinas to Plato" (p. 19). The other speaker, "Youth," serves as a reminder that, "having only just arrived on this planet, we are still learning what it means to become fully human" (p. 87).

"The universe bestows on us fire from the beginning of time, simultaneously evoking our profound reverence for this fire" (p. 169), Swimme writes. He uses the green dragon metaphor "to avoid lulling [us] into thinking we have the universe in our grasp, like a stray dog shut up in its kennel" (p. 25). "It is outrageous to compare the universe to a green dragon," he writes, "but I hope this will express some of my astonishment at what we now know about the universe" (p. 26).

"The universe continues to unfold, continues to reveal itself to itself through human awareness" (p. 31). Simply stated, Swimme's premise is that "the universe is a single multiform event. There is no such thing as a disconnected thing. Each thing emerged from the primeval fireball, and nothing can remove the primordial link this establishes with every other thing in the universe, no matter how distant" (pp. 59-60). The same dynamics that forged the fireball and the trillions of stars are also at work within us (p. 109). We are dragon fire.

"The universe is enchantment" (p. 94), and Swimme's profound book is liberating. As the universe unfolds, it demands our response: "Do we awake, dedicating ourselves to a vision of beauty worthy of our fire's origin?" (p. 169).

G. Merritt