B.P. Lathi - Author
BP Lathi, Ph.D. is the author of nine books, four of which are currently in print: three bestsellers published by Oxford University Press, and one published by Cambridge University.
His latest work, not yet published, is titled The Modern Mystic: A Science-Based Approach to Spirituality.
Today, although people are defecting from “organized religion” in record numbers, they still consider themselves to be “spiritual.” Two-thirds of Americans not affiliated with traditional churches say they believe in God or a universal spirit.
The reason for these massive defections is that traditional religions do not meet the expectations of many modern-day believers. They see traditional religions as authoritarian with a supremacist God who divides humanity into “chosen people” and “cursed people.”
What is the nature of Ultimate Reality?
Scriptures were written in the days when humans knew very little of the laws of nature.
Rather than admit their ignorance, they advanced irrational superstitions and prejudices as explanations for the unexplainable. The spirit of these scriptures is very unlike that of science whose truths can be reproduced or verified any time. Results of science are based on empirical facts, not on faith. Disagreement is not threatened with punishment. Therefore, in the age of science, we need a new approach to spirituality that is not only ethical and humanistic but also universal, free of irrational prejudices, and mostly in agreement with common sense. Like science, its truth must also be reproducible or verifiable. But it cannot be a synthetic or concocted set of beliefs that satisfy these criteria. It must be an organic belief system with rational authority.
Such a system can be found in the vision of mystics.
Many of the world’s finest thinkers, including some notable scientists such as Einstein, Pauli, Schrödinger, Heisenberg, Eddington and Jeans have espoused mysticism, since mystics, like scientists, are interested in discovering the nature of Ultimate Reality. Science and mysticism address the same issue from different perspectives.
The issue they address is: What is the nature of Ultimate Reality?Critiquing traditional religion?
Although some of my writing may appear to be a critique of traditional religions, in reality it’s simply a commentary on some dysfunctional aspects of these religions. These religions have survived over the centuries because they have acted as valuable guides for sensible living. For example, practically all religions emphasize strong family values, morality and ethics. They also cultivate many virtues such as humility, charity, chastity, gratitude, temperance, patience, diligence, prudence, fortitude, and justice, and admonish against vices like vanity, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.
In fact, before the rise of science, traditional religions were what upheld societies. Unfortunately, their irrational prejudices against certain groups, coupled with their sectarian and supremacist nature, also caused many horrendous wars and made people question their value. This book does not require the reader to forsake their religion; however, letting go of certain aspects of it (e.g., intolerance, supremacist attitudes, irrational dogmas, etc.) would certainly be helpful.
Although mystics were born in all religions and cultures, the mystic vision found fertile ground in India. It was there that mystic-vision based religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and some others developed and flourished. With time many distortions and superstitions have crept into these religions as well. I have tried to remain faithful to the mystic vision in these religions.
I hope you enjoy my work.B.P. Lathi
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