In Pursuit of a New Science

Amit Goswami, Ph.D. Photo courtesy of bluedot productions.

“The Quantum Activist” (2009). Cast: Amit Goswami, Ph.D.; Directors: Ri Stewart and Renee Slade.

Every cause needs its activists. Be they political, social, artistic or philosophical, movements don’t materialize without advocates to move them forward. One such initiative that’s currently attracting ever-increasing ranks of proponents is the exploration of the relationship between science and spirituality. It’s a bold undertaking with wide-ranging implications, one that’s prompting us to take a new look at who we are and the place we occupy in the universe. And with our fundamental view of reality at stake, it’s crucial that we seek out sources of wisdom and enlightenment to help guide us along the path of this brave new territory. That’s why films like “The Quantum Activist” are so important.

This engaging new documentary explores our evolving knowledge of the relationship between science and spirituality and how that understanding, in turn, is affecting our take on the nature of existence. It does so through the teachings of Indian-born quantum physicist Amit Goswami, Ph.D., a longtime professor of theoretical physics at the University of Oregon, Eugene, and the author of numerous books on the subject. Those outside the scientific and educational communities may best know him as one of the featured commentators in the conscious creation/law of attraction primer “What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?” (2004).

Photo courtesy of bluedot productions.

Having been born into a traditional Hindu upbringing, Goswami looked beyond the limitations of what conventional religion had to say about the nature of reality by taking up the study of quantum physics, a subject in which he would eventually become an expert. Ironically, however, the further Goswami explored this subject, the more he began to see uncannily clear parallels between its theories and the lessons taught in established spiritual practices, including those of his own religious background. Over time, Goswami (and a select group of peers, such as Fritjof Capra) began coming to the conclusion that many time-honored spiritual and religious writings were, in actuality, metaphorical texts for illustrating the principles of quantum physics. Granted, the language in those ancient writings may have been more flowery or esoteric than what one would have typically found in contemporary scientific literature, but the underlying principles were, in many respects, the same.

As Goswami became more convinced of this connection, he also became an active proponent for the advancement of a new science, one committed to exploring the links between the two long-separated disciplines of traditional science and conventional spirituality. His willingness to embrace this view was a bold move, too, since professing such ideas often meant professional suicide for many of Goswami’s predecessors and peers. However, because he was unable to ignore the compelling body of evidence in support of his ideas, Goswami and like-minded colleagues forged ahead, steadily drawing bands of followers, including many fellow scientists.

“The Quantum Activist” chronicles the path Goswami took to reach this point and details his teachings through intercut clips from interviews and filmed lectures. Through this narrative, Goswami covers a wide range of topics, including how spiritual teachings can be seen as illustrations of the principles of quantum mechanics (and vice versa), how consciousness and beliefs are thought to affect the unfolding of the quantum process, and the implications of all this in areas as diverse as human biology, the materialization of our physical world and the inherent connectedness (quantum entanglement) of everything in the universe. These concepts are inventively illustrated using clips from vintage movies, glossy graphics, and innovative fusions of film and animation, all accompanied by Goswami’s articulate voice-over narration. Topics that potentially could be thought of as painfully tedious are made engaging by this effective combination of cinematic attributes and by Goswami’s warm, gentle humor.

This film is a must-see for law of attraction/conscious creation practitioners, because it shows how quantum physics principles drive this process on an underlying “mechanical” level. Since these concepts are inherently at work in everything we manifest in our respective realities, it’s essential that we be aware of them in order to become ever more proficient in this practice (and, one would hope, to produce results more to our liking). Knowledge of this subject truly opens up the infinite range of options available to each of us and enables us to achieve a deeper understanding of what Goswami so eloquently calls “the physics of possibility.”

“The Quantum Activist” is currently being shown at special screenings in select cities and is available for purchase on DVD. For ordering and screening information, visit http://quantumactivist.com.

Albert Einstein once observed that “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.” Today’s growing legions of quantum activists, like Amit Goswami, are building upon Einstein’s insight to show us the veracity of that wisdom in the hope that ultimately we may create better lives – and a better world – for us all.

Featured Contributor

Brent Marchant

A lifelong movie fan and longtime student of metaphysics, free-lance writer/editor Brent Marchant is the author of Get the Picture: Conscious Creation Goes to the Movies (Moment Point Press, www.momentpoint.com). His additional writing credits include contributions to beliefnet.com and to Divine Revolution and Reality Change magazines. Brent also maintains an ongoing blog about metaphysical cinema at www.getthepicturebrentmarchant.blogspot.com. He holds a B.A. in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and resides in Chicago. You can email him at brentmarchant@momentpoint.com.

Written by Brent Marchant

A lifelong movie fan and longtime metaphysics student, Brent Marchant is the author of “Get the Picture?!: Conscious Creation Goes to the Movies” and “Consciously Created Cinema: The Movie Lover’s Guide to the Law of Attraction,” both of which look at how conscious creation (a.k.a. the law of attraction) is illustrated through film. Brent also maintains a blog on the subject through his web site (www.BrentMarchant.com) and is a contributor to Smart Women’s Empowerment, New Consciousness Review. The Good Radio Network and Library Journal. Follow Brent’s writings on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, GoodReads and BookDaily.