We Are That We Are
$12.99
Theism, Spiritualism, Naturalism, and a Path to Spiritual Existentialism
by Charles Troe
Is it possible to reconcile personal spiritual experience long attributed to belief in and reliance on a higher power, with realization that the laws of nature, especially modern physics, do not accommodate the existence of a god unbound by those laws? The author discusses the Christianity of his youth, a long period of agnosticism, and his spiritual awakening in connection with recovery from alcoholism. A comfortable spiritual home for nearly 40 years then fell to the inescapable realization that a supernatural god cannot exist in our universe. The author reviews the history and substance of the philosophical and scientific building blocks that lead to his understanding and embrace of naturalism. He describes Spiritual Existentialism, a philosophy based on human action defining human essence. Human experience includes phenomena we call spiritual experience that, although real, occur only in and among human beings whose amazing brains and emergent consciousness have enormous capacity for communication and empathy. Life can be every bit, even more, meaningful, fulfilling and wonderful without, as it would be with, the existence of a supernatural god.
Available in Paperback for $12.99 and Kindle for $9.99
Description
- Publisher : Independently published (October 19, 2019)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 315 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1089172966
- ISBN-13 : 978-1089172963
- Item Weight : 14.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.71 x 9 inches
REVIEWS FROM AMAZON
An Exceptional Tale of a Spiritual Journey
If you have read some books explaining philosophy and science, particularly modern physics, to the non-specialist public, and thought about how the information you have read relates to your own beliefs, you should enjoy this book very much. If you have not yet dipped into that wonderful body of knowledge, but would like to, this is an excellent starting point. An if on top of that you are an alcoholic with problems about the religion in AA, you really, really should give this a go. Personally, I was amazed in the first couple of chapters that the author and I have been reading the same books and thinking along the same lines for several years. The rest of the book did not disappoint. Mr. Troe takes us through the main main thoughts of several philosophers, gives a synopsis of his own beliefs over the years, and an insight into his experiences with Alcoholics Anonymous. Then it is off to physics, quantum and macro, the elegant logic of emergent theories, Bayesian thinking, domains of applicability, time, evolution, and the question of consciousness. All of these subjects, for me as for him, have had a profound impact on my world-view, especially with regard to religion and my existence in the world. This book is not an attempt to convert anyone to any point of view. It is an intensely personal journal of thought over the years, from the starting point to the result. AA is inextricably woven in, but only as part of the thought experience–you won’t find any drunkalogues here, nor prescriptions for following the steps. I view this as a post-recovery work, of which there are all too few. The writing is excellent and the trains of thought are tight and easy to follow, but it is by no means an easy read. This is serious stuff he is discussing, and he does it very well.
Mr. Troe tackles the matter at hand with equally fierce intelligence and passion.
Charles Troe, trained as an attorney, makes a compelling, airtight case against the notion of an interventionist deity but then delivers on an equally compelling version of humanism that he brands Spiritual Existentialism. For anyone floundering in the murky waters of “God as you understand Him” (note the misleading reference to a masculine deity), We Are That We Are: Theism, Spiritualism, Naturalism, and a Path to Spiritual Existentialism is more than just a deconstruction of the old-time religion that Alcoholics Anonymous is based upon; it offers an articulated vision of “something more than human power” that is yet human, albeit necessitating a larger conception of our everyday sense of the word. Mr. Troe tackles the matter at hand with equally fierce intelligence and passion.
Fabulous reflection on the big questions of life!
I greatly enjoyed this book analyzing the themes of spirituality and the many philosophical approaches to the matter. I learned a lot and was inspired to follow up by reading some of the quoted authors. A few personal touches make the otherwise overwhelming subject fun to discover and ponder upon.
Leave a Reply