Who Knows?: A Study of Religious Consciousness

by Raymond M. Smullyan

Overview

Is there really a God, and if so, what is God actually like? Is there an
afterlife, and if so, is there such a thing as eternal punishment for unrepentant
sinners, as many orthodox Christians and Muslims believe? And is it really true that
our unconscious minds are connected to a higher spiritual reality, and if so, could
this higher spiritual reality be the very same thing that religionists call
"God"? In his latest book, Raymond M. Smullyan invites the reader to
explore some beautiful and some horrible ideas related to religious and mystical
thought. In Part One, Smullyan uses the writings on religion by fellow polymath
Martin Gardner as the starting point for some inspired ideas about religion and
belief. Part Two focuses on the doctrine of Hell and its justification, with
Smullyan presenting powerful arguments on both sides of the controversy. "If
God asked you to vote on the retention or abolition of Hell," he asks,
"how would you vote?" Smullyan has posed this question to many believers
and received some surprising answers. In the last part of his treasurable triptych,
Smullyan takes up the "beautiful and inspiring" ideas of Richard Bucke and
Edward Carpenter on Cosmic Consciousness. Readers will delight in Smullyan's
observations on religion and in his clear-eyed
presentation of many new
and startling ideas about this most wonderful product of human
consciousness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253109682
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	02/21/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	215 KB

About the Author

Raymond Smullyan, a retired distinguished professor of philosophy, has
authored over twenty books. He has had a remarkably diverse sequence of careers-as a
pianist, magician, mathematical logician, philosopher, and essayist. His widely
known writings are on such varied topics as mathematical logic, retrograde chess
analysis, stereo photography, Chinese philosophy, psychology, and religion. He
currently resides with his musician wife Blanche in the Catskill Mountains of upper
New York State.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Table of Contents:

Preface
I
Wherefore the Why's
II Through Dark Clouds
III Cosmic
Consciousness
Index