Introduction

The following text is presented in a reversed order from most academic treatises in that the results of a study are presented first, and the sources from which they came are presented last. The reason for treating the material in this manner is that people have become “hardened” by many basic concepts which result from a society that separates religion from science or fact from belief. Science has buried the mystical nature of some of its most cherished and fundamental building blocks, while religion argues that it cannot be judged by scientific methods nor even by common sense or experience.

To write an integrated book on the science of early religious writings certainly requires a different style of writing than is used by either institution since both religion and science generally deny the possibility of the science of religion.

This book, therefore, starts with concepts and personal experiences and adds support from outside references as the text proceeds. The documents from which the concepts are derived are printed at the end such that the reader may be able to read them with a more objective and holistic viewpoint. If the reader, however, wishes to start with the referenced documents, it is suggested that the Thirty Verses of Transcendence in Chapter Fourteen and its commentaries be read first.

The book is written on the basis that: 1) its content makes sense and fits with personal experiences; 2) there once was a general acceptance of these simple, observable yet spectacular ideas; and 3) that the thinking of modern scientists in many fields can now support these simple concepts.

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