SCIENTIST ATTEMPTS TO PROVE IN NEW BOOK THAT GOD EXISTS

Writer tries to prove theory in his book "Transcendental physics."

JACKSON -- Dr. Ed Close proposes nothing less than to prove scientifically the existence of God.

That is the task Close undertakes in "Transcendental Physics," a new book which entertains "the possibility of restoring purpose and meaning to science and society by a radical shift to a transcendental scientific paradigm."

This radical shift turns scientific materialism, the belief that consciousness evolved from energy and matter, on its head. Through a series of scientific deductions, Close's "Transcendental Physics" attempts to prove that consciousness must have existed first.

"Consciousness precedes matter, not the other way around," he says.

Close, who has a Ph.D. in environmental engineering and degrees in physics and math, provides a number of proofs that lead him to the conclusion. The arguments are technical, citing George Spencer Brown's "Laws of Form," the Einstein-Bohr debate, the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, Bell's theorem, the Copenhagen interpretation and the Aspect experiment. Close recognizes that these ideas are mostly unknown to the layman but are generally accepted by scientists.

His hope is to convince scientists that any view that separates reality from consciousness is false.

The underlying theme of all these ideas is that reality cannot be separated from the perceiver. Close deduces that reality must spring from a "primary ground" of consciousness, which is another way of saying God.

"Scientists who assume you can't prove the existence of God assume there's no such thing," he says.

Close and his wife Jacqui, who also is a writer, operate an environmental consulting firm in Jackson. He is a member of MENSA and has taught math, physics and hydrogeology in California, Colorado and Missouri. He also has taught meditation.

Close has sent copies of the book to other scientists. Some have offered encouragement. One called the book "heresy."

"The only way out of this for a materialistic scientist is to just deny it," Close says.

But Dr. Henry Swift, the physicist editor of the Albuquerque, N.M.-based newsletter "Science Within Consciousness," recently paid Close a visit and is enthusiastic about his ideas. When the Massachusetts-based magazine What Is Enlightenment? published his letter to the editor, he disagreed with the contention that modern science is unable to answer questions like What is reality?, What are we? and Why are we here?

He says modern science can answer those questions if it changes the basic assumption: that reality exists independent of consciousness. Because this assumption cannot be tested, proved or disproved, he writes, it doesn't even qualify as a scientific hypothesis.

"There is no way to investigate reality without consciousness."

Close has been at work on the book for about 10 years, although he says many of its ideas occurred to him back in the 1950s. He shopped the manuscript around to a number of publishers, some of whom were interested but finally declined. He suspects they didn't think the book would sell, so he self-published the work.

He previously has published the books "The Book of Atma" and "Infinite Continuity."

The reception to the book has been better from the clergy. He has spoken to church groups that welcome his ideas, says Close.

The divinity of life is one conclusion that should be drawn from "Transcendental Physics," he says.

"The violence on our streets is there because we have lost our belief in any divinity. And materialistic science is largely responsible."

Scientists replaced the clergy as figures of authority centuries ago, Close says. People have confidence in science because they can see it works, Close says.

"I hope the message will be, There is something more than matter and energy. And human life is valuable," he said.

"This is what religions have told us all along."