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Let There Be Light
Modern Cosmology and Kabbalah:
A New Conversation Between Science and Religion
by
Howard
Smith, PhD
View
the Full Cover
THE
UNIVERSE BEGAN
out
of nothing 13.7 billion years ago and has expanded in an evolving
process that resembles one that Jewish mystics envisioned centuries
ago. In Let
There Be Light,
astrophysicist Howard Smith clearly explains the modern scientific
understanding of the cosmos and explores how it complements
Judaism’s
ancient mystical theology, Kabbalah. He argues that an underlying
harmony exists between science and religion, and he uses cosmology and
Kabbalah as detailed examples to show that a dialogue between the two
sheds light on ethics, free will, and the sanctity of life. At the same
time he rejects fundamentalist misinterpretations and the pseudoscience
of creationism.
Accessible
yet based on the most current scientific research, this extraordinary
book investigates the intriguing parallels between the Big Bang theory
and biblical images of creation as developed in Kabbalah. Along the
way, the author explores modern quantum mechanics, relativity, dark
matter, and cosmic acceleration. Smith delves into complex ideas
without resorting to jargon or mathematical equations, creating a
lyrical, authoritative work that brings new and surprising insights to
the deepest mysteries of the cosmos.
Reviews
“A profound and
perceptive
discussion of science and religion by a
thoughtful and knowledgeable
scholar of both, written with depth but in a style understandable to the general public.”
CHARLES
H. TOWNES,
PhD, Nobel laureate in
physics, winner of the Templeton Prize, and professor of physics at the
University of California, Berkeley.
“Read this book
if you
want to discover how religion and science can interact harmoniously,
how ancient Kabbalah and modern cosmology intersect, and how both of
these approaches together can enlighten us.”
DANIEL
C. MATT, author of God and
the
Big Bang, and The Zohar: Pritzker
Edition.
“More than
a literate
and frequently mind-blowing
synthesis of Jewish
mysticism
and the science of astrophysics, Smith’s book offers us a
compelling
and instructive glimpse into the
mind and
the soul of a man
of science
who is also deeply religious. There is something amazing or awesome on
almost every page.”
RABBI
LAWRENCE
KUSHNER, author of Kabbalah: A
Love Story, and Jewish
Spirituality: A Brief Introduction for
Christians.
"The
reader is rewarded throughout with gems of insight. Using simple yet
technically correct terms...Smith evokes a sense
of
wonder, and
deeper appreciation
of this glorious
universe, and its Creator."
- Jewish
Book World, Spring 2007
"Perfect for science-minded yet religious readers....Packed with
interactions between ancient Kabbalah and modern astronomy
[it] forms an important bridge between the two. Learn how science and
religion interact harmoniously..."
- Midwest
Book Review,
2007
"
! ! ! ! ! Must Read "
- Today's Books, Public
News Service, January 2007
"Masterful ... Illuminates the
timeless quest for
ultimate knowledge and meaning. Let There
Be Light is a book of both deep
understanding and wisdom...."
--- Rabbi Benjamin J.
Samuels
"Amazing - A 'Must-Read.'
Absolutely great! [Five
stars] ...In this book, Smith masters the complex task of
communicating technical material to the general public. It is a must
read for anyone interested in science, religion or both."
-- Ivonne Kinser (Dallas TX)
"Stimulating
analysis of Science and Theology [Five
stars]...A must
read for anyone who is concerned about the claim that Science disproves
the existence of God."
-- Skip (VA)
"Spiritually
Uplifting [Five stars]...I've always loved
science and have recently become more religious. This book is a great
fusion of Kabbalah and Physics."
-- N. Krasnoff (Austin, TX)
"Sophisticated and lucid [Five
stars]... 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."
-- The Book Doctor (Boston, MA)
HOWARD
A. SMITH, PhD, is
Senior Astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian
Center
for Astrophysics, a member of the Harvard Astronomy
Department, and is the former chair of the astronomy department at
Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum
in Washington, DC.
A well-known research scientist
with several hundred scholarly publications, he has served as a
visiting
astronomer at NASA headquarters. Active in public education, he has
been recognized
by Harvard for excellence in teaching. He is a traditional, observant
Jew, and has lectured on cosmology and Kabbalah for over
twenty years.
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(February, 2008) Live web-
course on "Let There Be Light."
RECORDINGS OF THIS COMPLETED SERIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
You can find information about obtaining digital copies
of the series from: http://www.Ourlearningcompany.com
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