The Universe within Us : A Guide to the Purpose of Life

The Universe Within Us is a mixture of science, religion and personal experience that offers a new understanding of our place and purpose in the universe - an understanding that leads to the conclusion that every human being possesses a spiritual nature. Author Jan E. Harper offers insight into a new way to look at life. She argues that answers to questions about the purpose of life have long been the domain of priests and clergy, and, more recently, scientists. Often the answers have been less than satisfying. The religious answers often leave the intellect out and defy what the rational mind can accept. The scientific answers satisfy the intellect at the expense of the heart and soul. We come away unsatisfied from either explanation. Drawing on the resources available from the sciences, from the world's sacred scriptures, and from personal observations and experiences, she offers a unique map of the universe, and an explanation of life's purpose that is truly satisfying.

Contents: Introduction -- Universe -- Dividing the universal pie -- A new model -- Worlds apart -- Human development : the physical stage -- Human development : the emotional cognitive stage -- Human development : the intellectual stage -- Human development : the virtuous stage -- The four criteria for human development -- Virtuous educators -- ... and do good -- Reward and punishment -- Divine revelation -- Oneness -- God -- Response