Wolfgang Smith, drawing upon a rare combination of expertise in mathematical physics, philosophy and traditional metaphysics, has written extensively on interdisciplinary problems relating to these respective domains. The present book has evolved out of a key ontological recognition consonant with time-honored metaphysical doctrine. In keeping with a realist view of cognitive sense perception, it rejects the Cartesian dichotomy of res extensa and res cogitans, and obviates what Whitehead referred to as the fallacy of bifurcation. In an earlier book (The Quantum Enigma, 1995) the author established two facts: first, that a consistent non-bifurcationist interpretation of physics can be formulated; and second, that this eliminates at one stroke the various forms of "quantum paradox" resulting from superposition and the so-called collapse of the state vector. The crucial ingredient of the new approach, mandated by the aforesaid recognition, is an ontological distinction between the physical domain, accessed via measurement, and the corporeal, accessed by way of cognitive sense perception. In the present book the author extends this metaphysically-based interpretation from fundamental physics to contemporary cosmology. With the aid of a few additional conceptions consonant, say, with the Thomistic doctrine-such as the concept of what he terms "the extrapolated universe", or the notion of "vertical causation" relating to intelligent design-he treats a broad range of issues from a unified metaphysical point of view. Not surprisingly, his conclusions tent to be radically at odds with the prevailing interpretations of scientific data, regardless of whether these are based upon naturalistic or scientistically theistic presuppositions. The author's approach may thus be characterized as the third alternative: the sole option, it appears, consistent with the Aristotelian and Platonist traditions, and with the wisdom of Christianity, as delineated especially in the Patristic writings.

The Wisdom of Ancient Cosmology: Contemporary Science in Light of Tradition

Politics & Social Sciences

Smith, Wolfgang

Philosophy

Foundation for Traditional Studies

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama spoke with Iranian philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo in May 2007 for this issue of Sophia on a wide range of topics including Buddhist tradition, compassion, and September 11, 2001. Other articles include Wolfgang Smith on "Transcending the creatio ex nihilo: A Kabbalistic Exegesis," Timothy Scott on the Annunciation in Renaissance art, Eugene Myshkin on "Becoming an Icon of God," and articles on Catholic attitudes towards Islam, perennial philosophy and the study of religion, and poems by Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Brian Keeble.

Sophia Volume 13, No. 1

Religion & Spirituality

Nasr, Seyyed Hossein

Dalai, Lama

Buddhism

In this particularly rich issue, internationally renowned author Nasr discusses with penetrating insight the relation between the Divine Word and Islamic art. Additionally, metaphysician Wolfgang Smith turns to Christian mysticism to shed light on the writings of Meister Eckhart.

Sophia Volume 14, No. 1

Christian Books & Bibles

A major and substantial step toward better Christian/Muslim relations was taken in 2008 the effects of which continue in ever-widening circles today. The initiative, called A Common Word Between Us and You, began with a desire to create a pathway to peace through focusing the attention of leaders of the Islamic and Christian faiths, faiths whose adherents comprise over half of the world's population, on their shared values and beliefs-especially the love of God and the neighbor, rather than on their differences. Because of its exceptional significance, Sophia has chosen to celebrate this dialogue by printing several documents that have become part of A Common Word initiative. Included are: the Open Letter, His Holiness Benedict XVI's address to the Vatican Conference, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams' response to the Open Letter, HRH Ghazi bin Muhammad's essay on the theological motives and expectations behind the initiative as well as his address to Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of His Holiness's historic visit to Jordan in 2009, two articles by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, an article by Miroslav Volf, Reza Shah-Kazemi's paper on "God as 'The Loving' in Islam," an overview of the Vatican Conference by Ibrahim Kalin, the Turkish theologian who was the Muslim spokesperson, and the Final Declaration of the Vatican Conference.

A Common Word

In this thought-provoking issue of Sophia, internationally renowned author and authority in Islamic Studies Seyyed Hossein Nasr discusses the many aspects of the spiritual dimension of Islam. Drawing upon his profound understanding of the French Islamic scholar Henry Corbin, Tom Cheetham, in his "The Test of the Veil," eloquently traces a path through the perilous alternations of darkness and light we face in this life. Acclaimed authority on numerology and harmonics Ernest McClain, in "Children of Abraham," posits that, from an ancient musical perspective, the tension among Jews, Christians and Muslims can be traced in part to the effort of Bible authors to illuminate three very different aspects of the Deity. In "Sketching the Perennial Religion," Patrick Laude writes with deep understanding of the metaphysical and spiritual reality at the core of traditional religions to which this term refers. Other articles include John Herlihy's "Elixir of the Heart," Charles Christopher's "The Purposes of Time," Michelle Kimball's "Shaykh Ahmadou Bamba's Nonviolent Jihad of the Pen," and "Esoterism and Exoterism in the Sermon on the Mount" by Mateus Soares de Azevedo.

Sophia: The Journal of Traditional Studies

This inspiring issue of Sophia is dedicated to Christian-Muslim understanding. Taking as its point of departure a summary of the achievements of the first two years of the A Common Word initiative, written by HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad who is the motivating force behind the initiative, it includes two additional articles directly related to A Common Word-an address by Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and an article by Joseph Lumbard titled "The Uncommonality of A Common Word." "Bosnian Christians and Bosnian Muslims" by Rusmir Mahmutcehajic takes an in depth look at continuity and discontinuity of religious traditions in that country, while the Archbishop of Antioch, George Khodr writes of the "Oneness of God's Community" from an Orthodox point of view. Vincent Cornell's contribution, "Practical Sufism: An Akbarian Foundation for a Liberal Theology of Difference," draws upon Sufi sources to outline the need for and ways to achieve inter-religious respect and tolerance. "Crossing the Great Divide: Christian Responses to the Encounter of Religion" by Harry Oldmeadow calls for a genuine ecumenism that seeks the inner and ultimate spiritual ground underlying differences. German traditionalist Roland Pietsch shares his profound understanding of traditional doctrine in his "Religious Pluralism and the Transcendent Unity of Religions."

Sophia: The Journal of Traditional Studies, Volume 15, Number 2

Islam

Sophia dedicates this issue to the life and work of the revered scholar and philosopher, Huston Smith, marking nine decades of his remarkable and fecund life. Smith himself has contributed a new article on Evolution. Seyyed Hossein Nasr's article for the Beijing Forum, "Harmony of Heaven," William Chittick's article, "Navigating the Ocean of the Soul," and M. Darrol Bryant's article, "On Divine Self-Disclosure: Christianity amidst the World's Religions" are dedicated to Huston Smith. A wide-ranging interview with Smith conducted recently by Terry Moore allows the reader to glimpse his views on topics such as the balance between religion and science. Insightful discussions of Smith's life and the significance of his work are provided by Harry Oldmeadow, Phil Cousineau, and Zachary Markwith. The issue also includes a penetrating review essay by Peter Samsel on two recent publications dealing with the work and life of Frithjof Schuon as well as a review by Mohammad Faghfoory on the new book of interviews with Seyyed Hossein Nasr, In Search of the Sacred, that combines autobiography with the intellectual and spiritual trajectories of remarkable life.

Sophia Volume 16 Number 1

This issue of Sophia contains the much anticipated response to Stephen Hawkings' recent book, Grand Design, by the renowned traditional Catholic thinker, Wolfgang Smith. In his powerful essay, Smith sets forth Grand Design's key conceptions and the overall logic of its argument, offers a five-fold refutation, based upon both philosophic and scientific grounds, and, finally, places the phenomenon of Hawking's best-seller in perspective by reflecting upon the nature, motivation, and limits of the scientific enterprise as such. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, the revered Muslim author and philosopher, offers profound insights into the meaning of "The Self and the Other" and how they must be re-evaluated in light of the crossroads at which we find ourselves today, focusing particularly on Jewish/Islamic relations. Charles Upton gives readers a glimpse into Quranic verses pertaining to the world of nature in "Tafsir of the Natural World"; Thomas Block writes on the spiritual teachings tales that are found in both Sufism and Hasidism; Larry Rinehart shares his insights in "Apologia for a Lutheran Mystical Gnosis"; and in "The Transcendental Unity of Revelations according to Nicholas of Cusa" Jean Borella presents Nicholas of Cusa's concept of the transcendental unity of revelations and the implicit recognition of this unity in the medieval and ancient Christianity preceding him. Darrell Blakeway's review essay of HRH Prince Charles' book, Harmony: A New Way of Looking at our World, provides an in depth look at the dedicated work of Prince Charles, his urgent call for environmental renewal, and his view of the way forward to the realization of the goal of humanity living in harmony with nature.

Sophia Volume 16, Number 2

Upton, Charles

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