DO WE KNOW WHO HUMANS ARE, REALLY?
With over six billions of us on
Earth, you'd think we should know. But, the fact is that we don't know
where we came from, what we're doing here, or how we fit into the "big
picture."
Some
think humans are accidents in a chance-driven universe. Others think
this universe is a natural result of activities in another universe or
cosmos, but have no idea of how that one got started. Others believe we
and our universe are the results of causative force, but attributions
of "purposefulness" to this "causative force" reflect an almost
infinite diversity of worldviews.
Different groups assert that
they have "The Truth" about reality and defend it, often even with force
and to their death. Long-standing personal and inter-group conflicts
result from these belief systems that are only based on tenuous
scientific or religious assumptions.
The violent chaos in the
present global society exists because such belief systems do not evolve
on the basis of real-world experience:
- Scientists avoid dealing with anomalous aspects of human experience and nature.
- Believers fear to examine the origins of their doctrines.
- Educators indoctrinate instead of helping students to become self-learners.
- Institutions defend beliefs with arrogance and force.
Paul
challenges us to question orthodoxy (wherever it is found) and to
test its assumptions against the evidence that seems to deny them. His
long career and current work promotes:
- An interdisciplinary cosmology that includes various types of epistemology.
- Awakening to the multidimensional nature of human consciousness and subtle senses.
- Re-examination of our religious and scientific views about the nature of nature.
- Public dialogues about the assumptions that underlie our divergent belief systems.
Paul
intends this site to challenge his own thinking and that of others to
maintain skeptical, but open minds about basic existential questions
like the following:
- What do I really know about the birth of life and the origin of my species?
- Does my life experience to-date suggest that human life serves a larger purpose?
- What do I assume about reality beyond my physical senses?
- What evidence suggests the possible existence of nonhuman life-forms?
- How do other species relate to my own?
- If the universe has multiple dimensions, how do they affect my life?
- What role do humans have in our apparently self-evolving universe?
DO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS INTEREST YOU?
Conventional cosmologies, whether scientific or religious,
leave out much of what and who humans really are. (Click on the "Books" button
to the left to learn more about Paul's Gods, Genes, &
Consciousness and Our Solarian Legacy.) His books, based on as many
fields of knowledge as possible, bring a profoundly new perspective to
questions that most people have been culturally conditioned NOT to ask.
The comments of one 2007 reader of Gods, Genes & Consciousness captured the importance of confronting uncomfortable ideas:
"As
I began reading your book my mind put up numerous barriers to what you
were saying. More than once I decided to put the book down and label
you a "crackpot" but for some reason I kept picking it back up and have
since completed it. I realize now that it was my earlier "brainwashing"
by my parents and society that at first made your book repulsive to me.
I found your book enlightening and logical. Thank you for helping me to
break down my mental barriers so that the light of reason could finally
shine through." Warm Regards, Jon C. Gilbert.
HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY KNOW?
Paul
believes any credible attempt to develop a viable worldview for the
21st century must fully integrate any epistemology available to humans to enhance their knowledge of the universe. Consequently, he works systematically with quantum
theory, subtle energies, biological evolution, string theory, genetics,
creationism, religion, spirituality, history, archaeology and
anthropology, consciousness studies, mind-body interactions, UFO/ET
studies, frontier and esoteric science, and other areas of research to
synthesize a continually evolving human story.
A brief essay prepared by Paul for a group studying materials allegedly channeled from advanced beings (ABs) can be read and downloaded at Human/AB Interactions. It gives his view on how humans and other conscious entities can interact for mutual benefit. Read Michael Murphy's poem Of ETs/ABs, Gods & Resource Wars a similar view of human physical and intellectual interactions with ABs.
Many individuals -- in their unique ways -- epitomize the questioning mind and and solid research that expands the envelope of human understanding of our place in the cosmos. One such independent scholar was Stan Hall (1936-2008), a man who dared challenge the conventional history of ancient civilizations and the place of South America in that history. His solid geological and archeological research, combined with a "puzzle-master" approach to comparative linguistics and indigenous languages, has radically changed the map and time-line of world history. Check out his discoveries in Ecuador at the website Tayos Gold maintained by his architect and conservationist daughter Eileen Hall.
WORLDVIEWS SHAPE OUR PERCEPTIONS AND BEHAVIORS
Karl Popper wrote "Science must begin with myths, and with the criticism of myths." Our worldviews (implicit, largely subconscious, assumptions about the nature of reality) go far beyond what we really know to include the world of myths and assumptions that are based in faith. In interdisciplinary cosmology we question all of our assumptions, hypothesizing more plausible explanations and testing them against all available data.
Only by constant vigilance, taking into account new evidence, can our worldviews remain consistent with the ever-expanding scope of human knowledge and make possible achievement of the human potential. That achievement depends on the level and quality of peace among groups with different worldviews. Tom Hanson writes songs that points out peace only comes from change within. His skeptical view of the official U.S. story of the 9/11 attacks, reflected in a recent song, coincides with Paul's view of such self-protective government.
AB-INTERVENTION HYPOTHESIS
Paul's book Gods, Genes & Consciousness
analyzes evidence for the "intervention hypothesis," the theory that
beings more advanced than humans (ABs) have been, and to some extent
still are, involved in human development. He explores the "ancient
astronaut" theory as a plausible explanation for the existence of
artifacts that suggest civilizations more advanced than the Neolithic
Era people existed prior to the Earth-wide cataclysm of 11,500 BP. His
areas of research include the two new disciplines of exobiology and
exopolitics, respectively the search for extra-planetary life forms and
nonhuman cultures. (Access an overview of this perspective on this website page.)
A half-hour interview with Tony Pratt of Nashville's
community access television's channel 19 on Paul's views and research
on the intervention hypothesis provides an overview Gods, Genes & Consciousness Interview exploring material in the book.
While
quite a number of writers and researchers now focus on this hypothesis,
the group at OpenSETI stands out in taking a highly professional,
scientific, and interdisciplinary approach. Their site maintains open
forums (including one on Paul's work) on the evidence for nonhuman
intelligence. One researcher, who share's top billing in this field with Paul, is Lloyd Pye of Starchild Skull fame. His work complements Paul's in the areas of DNA, fossil record, and ancient artifacts.
REINCARNATION HYPOTHESIS
Another major area
of Paul's current research focuses on evidence for the historical belief in the reincarnation of individual, transcendent souls. He has developed an
Integral Model to test the reincarnation hypothesis. His multi-factor evaluation tool (either professional
or self-administered) assesses
confidence-levels for possible identification of individual past-life
connections. Click here for a brief television interview with Paul that gives an overview of this scientific approach. A self-developed case—corroborated by the Reincarnation Experiment—provides strong,
multifaceted evidence for present-day artist Peter Teekamp and business entrepreneur Michelle
Moshay being the reincarnations, respectively, of Paul and Mette Gauguin. See their
website at Teekamp/Gauguin.
Paul's new book, The Soul Genome:
Science and Reincarnation, based on primarily self-identified and
objectively evaluated cases of possible linear reincarnation was
published in March 2008. The book contains robust case studies that
illuminate areas of the human personality and behaviors that have not
been previously thought of in terms of reincarnation. It can be ordered
at Amazon.com, Wheatmark Books, or other online booksellers, and
through your local bookstore.
Individuals interested in learning
how to be a part of his ongoing research in this area may contact Paul
at the email address below. If you have a sense of a possible lifetime,
whether associated with a specific identity or not, the evidence you
have may help with scientific testing of the reincarnation hypothesis.
Other recommended books describing the collection of empirical data
related to reincarnation are Life Before Life by Jim B. Tucker, M.D.
and Marilyn Monroe Returns by Adrian Finkelstein, M.D.
QUESTIONING SUPERNATURAL ASSUMPTIONS
Paul's books raise questions about the validity and historical authenticity of claims made by religious institutions about the origins of their beliefs and how they came about. Gods, Genes & Consciousness particularly focuses on the origins of the three major Western supernatural religions. Occasionally Paul reviews the books of other scholars who bring new insights to the historical record. His review of Suzanne Olsson's book Jesus in Kashmir, which assesses the Eastern evidence for the life of a historical Jesus whose life included roots in Central Asia and years of ministry there after his departure from Palestine, can be read in this PDF.
See descriptions of Paul's books and his speaking schedule at Hampton Roads
Publishing or on the Reincarnation Experiment website
To purchase Paul's books Shop at Amazon.com or on this site.
Email Paul with your questions or comments through paul@vonward.com.
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