Panpsychism. Go Mental!

Theology is pragmatic, that is, it can be tested by life experiences. In light of this, theology is a kind of science.

Science rests on the conviction that the universe (the whole thing) rests on and embodies principles that are accessible to human enquiry, that the Logos is at least partly mirrored in the human mind. This is historically and I think also logically dependent on particular religious options. So of course science and God are compatible.

The coexistence of God and science, with spirituality recognized as a facet of modern science, is not only plausible but necessary for a holistic understanding of existence. The apparent divide between these domains arises from their methodologies and purposes: science seeks to explain the "how," while spirituality and the concept of God address the "why."

John Hawkins You astutely note that spirituality has gained recognition within scientific discourse, particularly through fields like quantum mechanics, neuroscience, and cosmology. Science increasingly acknowledges that human consciousness, intuition, and interconnectedness—often regarded as spiritual phenomena—cannot be fully explained by physical laws alone. For instance, the role of observer consciousness in quantum theory suggests that mind and matter are intricately linked, opening doors for science to engage with questions traditionally left to spirituality.

Paul Kuei-chi Tseng Your emphasis on the moral implications of spirituality aligns with the growing recognition of ethics and purpose in scientific progress. Spirituality, when combined with science, provides the moral compass necessary to guide technological advances toward the betterment of humanity. Without a grounding in higher principles like empathy, interconnectedness, and reverence for life—core tenets of spirituality—science risks becoming detached and potentially harmful.

Stephen ClarkYour concern about scientific empiricism conflicting with the metaphysical nature of God is valid but surmountable. Modern science increasingly embraces uncertainty, paradoxes, and non-material dimensions, as seen in theories like string theory and dark energy research. These developments suggest that the "God question" might lie beyond the scope of empirical measurement but remains critical to understanding the larger framework of existence.

When spirituality, science, and the idea of God converge, they create a triad of understanding. God, as the ultimate source of all that exists, represents the unifying principle behind the material and immaterial. Science deciphers the mechanics of creation, while spirituality connects us to its essence. Together, they point toward a universe that is not only logical but also deeply meaningful.

Humanity's next great leap will come from integrating these paradigms, raising collective consciousness to a level where science and spirituality enrich each other, leading to harmony, balance, and progress. True enlightenment emerges when we accept that science and God are not adversaries but complementary forces unveiling the infinite tapestry of existence.

By embracing this unity, we pave the way for profound innovation, ethical growth, and personal transformation—making this not just a philosophical idea but a practical necessity for the future of humanity.

Regards,

Sandeep

God and science have traditionally occupied distinct realms, each holding its own significance. While spirituality can be examined through scientific methods, such studies often face limitations due to the expansive nature of the concept itself, which encompasses a wide range of beliefs and experiences. Science fundamentally relies on empirical data and measurable phenomena, whereas spirituality predominantly pertains to non-physical elements. This fundamental difference can restrict the depth and breadth of scientific inquiry into Spirituality.

If Deism is true, science and God are indeed compatible, without needing to invoke apologetics, including apologetics that involve spirituality. Spirituality is just an optional theoretical add-on.

Dear Festus Adeyemo, Karl Pfeifer and ResearchGate Community,

Your contributions have enriched this dialogue significantly, and I’d like to expand on the conversation with a few focused insights.

1. Science and Its Limits in Understanding Reality:

• Medical Sciences: The placebo effect continues to puzzle researchers. Patients often experience real physiological improvements from inert treatments, suggesting that belief and the mind play roles that go beyond biochemical explanations. This underscores the intersection of subjective experience with objective phenomena.
• .Psychology: Repressed and recovered memories demonstrate how complex and sometimes inexplicable human cognition can be. While memory science has made strides, phenomena like spontaneous memory recall or dissociative identity disorder challenge current paradigms and hint at unknown mechanisms shaping our mental landscapes​.
• Everyday Life: Instances of intuition, such as inexplicably knowing a loved one is in danger, defy conventional explanations yet resonate universally. These experiences, often dismissed as anecdotal, suggest realms of connectivity or consciousness beyond physical interactions.

2. A Science Beyond Science and Spirituality:

• Science excels in describing “how” things happen but often struggles with “why.” For instance, the finely tuned constants of the universe—the exact conditions required for life to exist—point to an underlying order that some attribute to divine intelligence. St. Thomas Aquinas’ Five Ways, especially the arguments from motion and causation, remain compelling frameworks for considering God’s existence as the initiator of all processes​.
• The mysterious link between consciousness and quantum physics, such as observer effects in quantum mechanics, further blurs the boundary between science and metaphysics, suggesting deeper layers of reality that are yet unexplored.

3. The Greatest Evidence for God: The sheer improbability of the universe’s parameters aligns with the notion of intelligent design. Whether one considers the Earth’s ideal conditions for life or the precise physical constants that allow the universe to exist, the argument for a purposeful creator emerges as a rational hypothesis.

4. Looking Beyond Spirituality: Even spirituality, as we currently understand it, may only be a stepping stone toward greater truths. Just as science evolves, so too might our understanding of spiritual realities, leading to even higher dimensions of awareness and being.

In embracing these mysteries, we find not contradictions but opportunities for growth, unity, and profound discovery. When viewed holistically, God and science are complementary: science provides the structure, spirituality imbues it with meaning, and together they enable humanity’s evolution.

What binds them is not opposition but synthesis. Humanity’s quest must not be divisive but integrative. By raising our consciousness and embracing a paradigm where empirical inquiry aligns with spiritual wisdom, we elevate not just knowledge but existence itself.

In this era of enlightenment, let us strive for this synergy, paving the way for a world where science expands our horizons, God provides the moral compass, and spirituality bridges the two, leading to a harmonious and prosperous existence for all.

This vision, achievable through unity, is our shared destiny—and through it, humanity will thrive.

Warm regards, Sandeep Jaiswal Consultancy of the World

Religion, science, and technology are the result of the same Homo Sapiens capability: his possibility to conceptualize what he names, and that's the very engine that produces religion if you wonder about the origin of the world, science if you wonder how the world work, philosophy if you wonder how the human mind can cope with ethics, good and evil, etc. It would be best for you and your curiosity to get closer to the Romanian organization IFIASA which tries to bring together "religious spirituality," "scientific spirituality," and "artistic spirituality." Attached is the case of Charlemagne.

Dear Jacques Coulardeau,

Your profound observation on the shared origin of religion, science, and philosophy as conceptual expressions of Homo sapiens' unique intellectual capacity is compelling. Indeed, the ability to question, hypothesize, and theorize has been humanity's defining trait, enabling us to seek meaning in diverse dimensions of existence—whether through the spiritual lens of religion, the empirical rigors of science, or the moral introspection of philosophy.

Your mention of the Romanian organization IFIASA and its efforts to unify "religious spirituality," "scientific spirituality," and "artistic spirituality" is especially fascinating. Such initiatives serve as a reminder that the boundaries we often draw between these realms are artificial constructs. In truth, each is an attempt to grasp the infinite, albeit from different perspectives.

Consider this: science often seeks to answer the "how," religion grapples with the "why," and philosophy navigates the "should." Together, they form a trinity of human understanding. If we dare to align them, as IFIASA attempts, we could uncover a more integrated worldview, one that resonates not just with reason but with the soul and the creative spirit.

Charlemagne's case, as you attached, reminds us of a time when leadership integrated spirituality, education, and governance into a cohesive vision of human progress. Perhaps, as we face the challenges of our time—climate change, inequality, and moral crises—we too must seek such a synthesis, bridging the scientific and the sacred.

Finally, I echo your insight that our ability to conceptualize is humanity's greatest strength. But beyond conceptualization lies an even greater responsibility: to transcend divisions, embrace unity, and chart a course toward collective enlightenment—a state where God, science, and spirituality coexist in harmony, not as adversaries but as partners in humanity’s eternal quest for truth.

Warm regards, Sandeep

That's the way I read Buddhism I studied in Sri Lanka, and it is the way the reference to Confucius by the Chinese and Président Xi. Bring together all the actors and let's try to make them work together for a better present. But this is difficult, so difficult.

Have a good day, since you are already tomorrow.

Jacques

Dear Jacques Coulardeau,

Thank you for your thoughtful and deeply reflective reply. Your nuanced perspective on the interplay between religion, science, and philosophy highlights the profound intellectual curiosity that drives meaningful discussions on these vital topics. I greatly appreciate your open-mindedness, as it is rare among scientists today to even entertain the existence of a higher power, let alone acknowledge it. This belief places you among the fortunate few who are capable of perceiving realities beyond the empirical—a gift not everyone is blessed with.

It is inspiring to learn of your connection to Buddhism, your understanding of Chinese philosophical traditions, and your association with IFIASA, an organisation fostering insightful discussions across domains like science, spirituality, arts, and religion. These fields, though seemingly distinct, converge on a shared pursuit of higher truths and the greater good. Ultimately, all paths—whether scientific inquiry, spiritual devotion, or philosophical exploration—lead toward one ultimate destination: God. God is not merely a being but the universal consciousness, the source of morality, ethics, bliss, and the harmony we strive for in our lives and beyond.

As you likely know, even Confucius subtly acknowledged a higher power, emphasising harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity. This theme resonates even today, subtly influencing leaders like President Xi Jinping, who, while promoting atheism and secular governance, might still carry an unconscious acknowledgment of higher-order principles rooted in Confucian ideals. Similarly, Buddha’s teachings, though agnostic on God’s existence, guide humanity toward inner peace, ethical living, and transcendence, aligning with the broader idea of God as the ultimate goal.

For those seeking evidence of God’s existence, I propose the unparalleled intricacies of the universe itself as the most compelling proof. Consider the precise fine-tuning of the fundamental constants of physics, such as the cosmological constant or the strength of gravity, which make life possible. The probability of these values occurring by chance is so astronomically low that it strongly hints at an intelligent force behind their design. Similarly, the complexity of DNA—the blueprint of life—carries an undeniable signature of intent and creativity, far beyond the scope of random processes.

Jacques, it is encouraging to see you bridging the realms of science, spirituality, and philosophy in a way that fosters enlightenment and intellectual growth. I look forward to further engaging with you and exploring these profound questions that touch upon the very essence of our existence.

Warm regards, Sandeep Jaiswal

God and science can indeed co-exist. Science enriches our understanding of the creation, allowing us to appreciate the divine order in which we reside. Meanwhile, spirituality offers us a sense of purpose, grounding our scientific pursuits in the context of our moral responsibilities. Both paths lead us toward a greater understanding of the truth, revealing the harmony that exists between the divine and the natural world.

God, as the ultimate source of all truth, cannot be in conflict with true knowledge, whether that knowledge comes from religious thought, philosophical inquiry, or scientific discovery. The universe, as created by God, operates according to specific laws, which we can study and understand through the lens of science. These laws reveal the wondrous order of creation, reflecting the divine wisdom behind all existence.

Let us Sandeep Jaiswal pursue knowledge with humility and reverence, always seeking to enhance our appreciation of both the Creator and the creation.

Stephen I. Ternyik Jacques Coulardeau Karl Pfeifer Festus Adeyemo Stephen Clark Paul Kuei-chi Tseng John Hawkins

The coexistence of God and science is not only plausible but essential for humanity's quest for ultimate truth. Science answers the "how" of the universe's workings, while God and spirituality address the profound "why." Modern intersections, such as the observer effect in quantum mechanics or the measurable impacts of mindfulness and prayer on the human brain, illustrate how the boundaries between the material and the metaphysical blur as we explore deeper truths.

True understanding, however, lies beyond these dualities. The ultimate science is the science of self—the profound realization that the knowledge of the universe outside us mirrors the universe within. By turning inward and exploring the depths of our consciousness, we can attain the most profound truth: the realization of God within us. This is the ultimate truth, the most secret of secrets, the culmination of all knowledge we know and do not yet know. Through self-realization, we perceive not only the divine but also the interconnectedness of all existence.

Einstein's insight, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind,” perfectly captures this synthesis. Traditional science might serve as the path to understanding the universe's mechanics, but the science of self leads to the ultimate realization—God, divinity, and boundless wisdom. Once we achieve this awareness, there is nothing else to learn because all paths converge into this singular, transformative truth. In this, science as we know it becomes the stepping stone to the science beyond science—the eternal pursuit of divine enlightenment.

Cheers,

Sandeep

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see my article "Compatible View of Information and Natural Laws from a Scientific and Biblical Perspective

see my contribution "Glaubenssachen"

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see my article "on the Current State ... "

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Friedhelm Manfred Jöge

Dear Prof. Jöge,

Thank you for sharing your insightful works, particularly “Compatible View of Information and Natural Laws from a Scientific and Biblical Perspective” (BJSTR.MS.ID.009443) and your contribution to “Glaubenssachen” on NDR Kultur. Your interdisciplinary approach enriches the ongoing dialogue on the coexistence of science and spirituality.​

Historically, the relationship between science and religion has fluctuated between conflict and collaboration. The Pew Research Center notes that this dynamic has evolved over centuries, reflecting diverse perspectives across cultures and eras.

​

In contemporary discourse, there's a growing recognition of the potential harmony between these domains. For instance, the Vatican's chief astronomer, Brother Guy Consolmagno, advocates for a truce between science and religion, emphasising that both can coexist without contradiction. ​

Furthermore, the integration of spirituality into scientific pursuits is gaining attention. A study published in Personality and Social Psychology Review suggests that engaging with science through a spiritual lens can enhance learning, well-being, and a deeper sense of meaning.

Your work aligns with these perspectives, proposing that scientific inquiry and spiritual understanding are not mutually exclusive but can complement and enrich each other. This holistic approach encourages a more profound exploration of existence, acknowledging both empirical evidence and spiritual insights.​

I look forward to delving deeper into your articles and hope this dialogue continues, fostering a collaborative journey toward a more integrated understanding of science and spirituality.

Warm regards,

Sandeep Jaiswal

see my book "Advances in Exploration of Dark Energy - Modern Physics and Christian Faith"

Bibelstellen (1)

Bibelstellen (2)

The perceived divide between science and spirituality—often framed as a conflict between empirical inquiry and transcendent experience—reflects a historical oversimplification. While science seeks to explain the mechanisms of the universe, spirituality addresses questions of meaning and connection. Yet emerging research suggests these domains may not be mutually exclusive but complementary lenses for understanding reality.

see my attached article "Glaube und Wissenschaft factum"

Sergio Leal Ramirez

Sergio—beautifully put. I agree the “science vs. spirituality” split is mostly a historical artefact. Here’s a crisp framework that keeps the strengths of both without diluting either:

1) Define the lanes (so we don’t talk past each other)

• Science = a method for generating reliable, publicly checkable knowledge about the world (prediction, measurement, replication).
• Spirituality = a domain of experience and value (meaning, self-transcendence, compassion, awe) that people reliably report—and which can be operationalised and studied without reducing it to mere chemistry.

They’re not rivals; they’re orthogonal. One asks “What’s true and how do we know?” The other adds, “Why does it matter and how shall we live?”

2) Where the lenses meet (and stay testable)

• Experience → Measurement: States like awe, contemplative absorption, and self-transcendence can be indexed with behavioural markers (generosity, cooperation), psychometrics (e.g., validated self-transcendence/awe scales), physiology (HRV, cortisol), and neural signatures (DMN dynamics, precision-weighting shifts in predictive-processing terms).
• Practices → Outcomes: Practices historically called “spiritual” (contemplative prayer, mindfulness, gratitude, communal ritual) are ideal interventions to test causal effects on wellbeing, pro-sociality, and even health behaviours—while keeping standards like pre-registration, active controls, and open data.
• Meaning → Behavior: Meaning frameworks powerfully shape motivation and resilience. Science can model the mechanisms; spirituality curates the narratives that help people use those mechanisms wisely.

3) Avoid the two classic traps

• Scientism: “If it isn’t in a lab, it isn’t real.” (Category error—values and first-person significance still matter.)
• Fideism: “If it’s meaningful, it’s beyond inquiry.” (Unnecessary retreat—subjective doesn’t mean unmeasurable.)

Call it Commensurable Complementarity: first-person meaning and third-person method, each disciplined by the other.

4) Three precise, falsifiable propositions we can actually study

5) A concrete mini-agenda (open, rigorous, shared)

• Pre-registered trials: Awe/compassion/gratitude vs. matched cognitive tasks; publish nulls as well as hits.
• Multi-level measures: Psychometrics + behavior + physiology + neural indices.
• Cross-worldview sampling: Theistic, non-theistic, secular—so findings aren’t parochial.
• Open science: Shared code/data; adversarial collaboration to keep us honest.

6) Why this matters

People don’t just want mechanisms; they want orientation. Science gives us dependable maps; spirituality motivates wise navigation. Together they maximise explanatory power and human flourishing.

If this resonates, I’d love to co-host a short ResearchGate mini-forum with you on “Commensurable Complementarity”—three threads (methods, mechanisms, ethics), each anchored by a concrete, testable claim. We can also sketch a brief perspective piece inviting collaborators to run the preregistered studies above (I’ll share a living protocol and OSF repo).

Thanks for elevating the conversation, Sergio. Let’s build something rigorous and humane—together.

Sandeep

Thank you — your message is not only beautifully articulated but profoundly timely. You’ve distilled a vision I’ve long held into a framework that is both philosophically sound and empirically actionable. I wholeheartedly agree: the so-called “science vs. spirituality” debate is a relic of outdated epistemic dualism — a false war between modes of knowing that, when aligned, can powerfully serve human flourishing.

Your proposal for Commensurable Complementarity resonates deeply with my own work at the intersection of cognitive science, contemplative traditions, and meaning-making systems. It’s rare to encounter a framework that honors the rigor of scientific method without reducing the irreducible depth of lived experience — and you’ve done exactly that.

Let me respond in kind, point by point, with both affirmation and extension:

1) Lanes Clearly Defined — Yes, Orthogonal, Not Opposed

Precisely. Science thrives in the domain of empirical reliability; spirituality in the domain of existential coherence. One maps mechanisms, the other cultivates meaning. To conflate them is to risk reductionism or mystification. To separate them entirely is to fracture the human experience. Your distinction cuts through decades of noise.

I would add: science without values risks irrelevance; spirituality without discernment risks delusion. The dialogue begins when each acknowledges the limits of its language.

2) Where the Lenses Meet — The Interface is Fertile Ground

This is where the future lies. The operationalization of awe, self-transcendence, and contemplative absorption using multi-level metrics (behavioral, physiological, neural) is not only possible — it’s urgent. We now have tools like HRV for autonomic coherence, fMRI for DMN modulation, and predictive processing models to frame how practices alter perception and agency.

Your emphasis on practices as interventions is key. Mindfulness, gratitude, ritual — these are not just cultural artifacts but trainable capacities with measurable outcomes. And crucially, as you note, they must be tested with the same rigor as any clinical intervention: pre-registered, controlled, replicable.

I’ve seen too many studies fall into the trap of using passive controls (e.g., “waitlist”) when what we need are structurally matched active controls — e.g., comparing loving-kindness meditation not to no treatment, but to a matched cognitive empathy task. Otherwise, we’re measuring attention more than transcendence.

3) Avoiding the Traps — Scientism and Fideism as Epistemic Dead Ends

Well said. Scientism evacuates meaning from experience; fideism shields experience from inquiry. Both are forms of intellectual closure.

The middle path? Epistemic humility — the scientist acknowledging that not all truth is quantifiable, and the spiritual practitioner accepting that not all meaning is true.

This is where first-person methodologies (e.g., neurophenomenology, micro-phenomenology) become essential. They don’t replace third-person data — they anchor it. Without disciplined introspection, we risk measuring correlates without understanding what it feels like to undergo the change.

4) Falsifiable Propositions — This is How We Advance

Your three propositions are not only testable — they are elegant in their precision:

Awe → cooperation, controlling for mood and demand characteristics — critical to isolate the unique effect of awe from general positivity.

Contemplative practice → DMN/HRV shifts, with active controls — this could finally settle debates about specificity vs. non-specific benefits.

Meaning priming → health adherence, mediated by self-transcendence — a direct challenge to purely behavioral or informational models of health change.

These are not just hypotheses — they are invitations to collaboration.

5) Mini-Agenda — Open, Rigorous, Shared

I’m fully on board. A pre-registered, multi-site, cross-worldview initiative with open data and adversarial collaboration is exactly what this field needs. No more “sexy findings” in high-impact journals that fail replication. Let’s build a living evidence base — transparent, cumulative, self-correcting.

I’d be honored to co-host the ResearchGate mini-forum you propose. Let’s structure it as you suggest:

Thread 1: Methods — How do we measure the immeasurable without distorting it?

Thread 2: Mechanisms — What are the causal pathways from practice to wellbeing?

Thread 3: Ethics — Who owns spiritual practices? How do we avoid cultural extraction?

And yes — let’s draft that perspective piece together. Let’s make it a true open science commons.

6) Why This Matters — Orientation, Not Just Explanation

You said it perfectly: People don’t just want mechanisms; they want orientation.

Science tells us how the brain changes during meditation. Spirituality tells us why we might sit in silence every morning, year after year, to meet the world with more compassion.

Together, they don’t just explain — they liberate. They expand our capacity to know, to care, and to act wisely.

So yes — let’s build this. Not as a manifesto, but as a collaborative research program — rigorous, humane, and open to surprise.

I’ll reach out this week to begin drafting the forum and perspective. In the meantime, thank you for this gift of clarity and courage.

With deep respect and shared purpose,

Sergio Leal Ramirez

Sergio, your response isn’t just agreement — it’s the kind of rare intellectual resonance that signals we’re standing at the same inflection point in human thought.

You’ve framed Commensurable Complementarity with a precision and depth that reflects exactly what I’ve been working toward: dissolving the false wall between empirical rigor and existential meaning. Science gives us the “how” — the mechanisms, the measurable, the repeatable. Spirituality offers the “why” — the purpose, the orientation, the compass. Alone, each is incomplete. Together, they form the only lens wide enough to see reality as it truly is.

I believe — and your words affirm — that this is not merely an intellectual reconciliation; it’s a blueprint for the next evolution of human inquiry. Imagine a research ecosystem where awe, compassion, and meaning are studied with the same rigor as gravity waves, and where the data isn’t just peer-reviewed but life-reviewed, tested in the laboratory of lived experience.

You’ve also identified the traps: scientism that sterilizes wonder, fideism that resists verification. The escape route is epistemic humility — the courage to admit that not all truth fits in an equation, and not all meaning survives without one. This humility is not a retreat; it’s the launchpad for the kind of open, interdisciplinary, cross-worldview collaboration you’re calling for.

Your three testable propositions aren’t just hypotheses — they’re the first stepping stones toward a unified science of consciousness, behavior, and meaning. Let’s make them real. Let’s co-design the multi-site, pre-registered, open-data framework you outlined. Let’s gather scientists, contemplatives, and methodologists at the same table, not to debate which lens is right, but to look together through both.

Because here’s the truth: humanity’s deepest crises — ecological, social, psychological — are not just technical problems; they are meaning problems. We have the tools to survive, but not yet the wisdom to thrive. Science can sharpen the tools; spirituality can aim them. Our work is to ensure they never again aim in opposite directions.

Sergio, I’m ready to build this with you. If we do this right, it won’t just be another project — it will be the beginning of a research-driven, wisdom-anchored movement. And that movement could very well become the model for how the 21st century learns to think, feel, and act as one.

Let’s make it happen — not as a conversation, but as a living demonstration.

Regards,

Sandeep