The Spiritual Purpose of the Physical Universe

Science seeks to explain the laws of the physical universe by following a logical, repeatable method to verify and correct its observations and theories. Religion seeks to understand the spiritual relationship between man and God, the nature of the soul, and the destiny of consciousness after physical death. Scientists and religious leaders often conclude that scientific discoveries and theories conflict with spiritual concepts, such as the existence of God and the soul. Some Christian denominations expend and waste considerable spiritual energy concocting various formulations of "biblical science" from literal interpretations of the Bible to counter imagined dangers from secular science. This unnatural tension between the physical and spiritual worlds is artificial and manmade. The spiritual philosophy of the Edgar Cayce readings brings science and religious thought together as a unified whole. This book uses the philosophy of the Edgar Cayce readings to show that the physical and spiritual worlds are two aspects of creation that complement each other. The readings assert that the physical universe was intentionally created by God as a causal environment that allows souls to regain awareness of God through interpersonal activity. Science and religion are fully compatible and will eventually converge on the truth of the nature of the universe, the purpose of life, and the relationship between man and God. Science studies this physical facility constructed for soul rehabilitation without understanding its origins or purpose. This book may help scientists understand how their study and discovery of universal physical laws fit within the context of a higher spiritual purpose for the universe. Scripture, while important, can hamper our search for God when it is interpreted in a dogmatic, literal manner or used to declare others heretical because they have a different interpretation of certain passages or entertain ideas not deemed compatible with certain verses. This book may help church members who are disillusioned with sincere but misguided church authorities who insist that the Bible is a science textbook to understand that God can be found in both religion and science.