There has been a horrible trend promoted by some skeptics and believers to portray science and faith in God as areas of study that are hostile to each other. This journal is dedicated to an opposite point of viewÄthat true Christianity and true science are friends and support one another in a symbiotic relationship. We always relish finding people who share our viewpoint on this issue and like to make our readers aware of their material.

Robert Lafavi is a graduate of the University of Florida and got his Ph.D. from Auburn University in health sciences. He is the founder of the Oasis Center in Savannah, Georgia, which is a counseling and service center that operates on a spiritual and nonprofit basis. This book is very different in its thrust. While it contains a great deal of science, the book tries to move from a spiritual approach to a scientific approach instead of the other way around.

Dr. Lafavi starts by describing his own spiritual experience which, instead of being a blast of light in the night, is a hand in the night. I would be fearful that most skeptics and some believers would not go beyond that because it is a turnoff for a person looking for an academic scientific approach. That would be unfortunate because there is some good material that follows.

Lafavi's basic theme is that there is a journey of spiritual awareness available to man in our modern world. He starts out by defining and trying to develop spiritual consciousness in the reader. He then shows that a failure to deal with spirituality is a cause of atheism. The book shows the fruits and futility of atheism well.

Starting in chapter 3, a series of scientific issues are developedÄ creation, evolution, design, time, and relativity are discussed in a coherent way. An interesting blend of Gerald Schroeder's relativistic time explanations and theistic evolution are used to bring a coherent picture of how science and Genesis 1 can be harmonized. The last 90 pages explore spirituality and health with strong criticisms of both atheists and religious special interest groups.

This is a useful book. There are some controversial positions taken that you may not agree with, but the approach to spirituality and science is new and useful. Approach it with an open mind, and you will learn some things. 

Back to Contents Does God Exist?, JanFeb00.