Reviews of the Wonder of the World by Roy Abraham Varghese

Reviews of The Wonder of the World (con't)

Outstanding! Excellent! Roy Varghese has outdone himself yet again. This book delves into the "dialogue" between the mind of God and modern science; and issues like spiritualist and materialist monism, Tao-of-Physics thinking, atheism, and relativism, and on and on. Varghese does a masterful job of defending theism and a dualistic view of the universe. He argues that the origins of life, mind, and reproduction are inexplicable without the direct creative acts of God: "It is simply incoherent to assert that a universe of pure matter, with no purpose, no intellect, no consciousness, no will whatsoever, can give rise to conscious, thinking, willing agents." His insights into Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism are extremely important. Undoubtedly the best book I have ever read on the subject as a whole. The Wonder of the World is a must read for anyone interested in the most important journey the mind can make!
— Terry L. Miethe, Ph.D., Ph.D., D.Phil. (Cand. Oxon.)
Internationally known Philosopher and Theologian
Author of 21 books

The integrated humanistic vision evolved in this unique book is harmonious with the vision of global spirituality that emerges from the vision of the Vedas, especially as interpreted by Madhavacharya and, later, by Maharshi Dayanand, the founder of the Arya Samaj.
— Swami Agnivesh
Religious and social leader in India

Roy Abraham Varghese's The Wonder of the World is what the subtitle proclaims: A Journey from Modern Science to the Mind of God. Varghese has been making this journey for a good number of years, pursuing in book after book the data and arguments that lend credence for, or offer obstacles to, belief in a vision of the world as the creation of an infinitely intelligent mind. Varghese maintains, with considerably plausibility, that the greatest thinkers of the four major world religions, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, jointly and severally crafted the metaphysical matrix that underlies modern science. This infrastructure, this matrix, is a meta-scientific Theory of Everything that enables scientific Theories of Everything. Yet, Varghese does not dwell unduly on these thinkers. The reader encounters not only Avicenna, Maimonides, Aquinas, and Madhvacharya, but a good number of contemporary contributors to science in physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science.

In some respects, Varghese's Wonder bears favorable comparison with Stanley Jaki's Gifford Lectures, The Road of Science and the Ways to God. While lighter on the history of Western Science than Jaki's Road, Varghese's Wonder contains more detail on the current situation in science, and it has the added advantage of being much better informed about Eastern thought. It would be difficult to find a comparable investigation accessible to a general audience. Setting out the pros and cons in dialogue form, Varghese manages to keep the argument moving briskly along in language any educated, attentive reader can follow. It would be hard to find anything in contemporary literature quite like this lucid, wide-ranging exploration of the central issues.
— Professor Thomas Sullivan
Philosopher, University of St. Thomas St. Paul, Minnesota