Home Contents Contribute Purchase Contact Links Blog   Metaphysics 1. Troubled Times 2. The Story of Human Evolution 3. Advancing Technology 4. The History of Ancient Israel 5. Ancient Greek Philosophy 6. The History of Christianity 7. The Rise of Modern Science 8. Hinduism and Buddhism 9. The History of Islam 10. Analysis of Ancient Beliefs 11. The Rise of Modern Democracy 12. Sexual Morality 13. Modern Materialism 14. Deepening Consciousness 15. Politics and Religion 16. Replacing Religion with Science 17. Evolutionary Metaphysics 18. Peace and prosperity   Philosophy Evolutionary theories of aging Evolution of sexual reproduction Evolution of sexual behavior Human sexual behavior Homosexuality Evolutionary psychology Cultural evolution Book Reviews

Chapter 1 ... Troubled Times A short summary of the cultural problems faced by the modern world. Ancient mythmakers, Scientific discovery, Industrial revolution, Modern democratic culture, Confusion, Hope Chapter 2 ... The Origins of Humankind An easy-to-read step-by-step explanation of natural evolution. The birth of the universe, The formation of the earth, Organic molecules, The first spark of life, Single cells, The process of evolution, Multi-celled animals, Sensory perception, Predators and prey, Plants, Reptiles, Mammals, Dinosaurs, Learned behavior, Cooperation and competition, The extinction of the dinosaurs, The evolution of mammals, Tree dwellers, The ancestors of humans, The power of speech, Human migration, The development of culture, Farming villages, The Bronze Age, The rise of empires, Ancient temples, The Iron Age, The art of writing Chapter 3 ... Advancing Technology Contemplates the existence of the universe, and questions whether it is possible for consciousness to have any kind of cosmic purpose. Growing up, Change, From steam power to electronics, Computers, Artificial intelligence, Genetic engineering, Consciously controlled evolution, Chaos and chance, Cosmic consciousness, The existence of God Chapter 4 ... The History of Ancient Israel Skeptical history of ancient Israel from the Iron Age to the war against Rome. The Sumerians, The Egyptians, The Phoenicians, The Philistines, Stories about gods, Biblical scriptures, Biblical mythology, Early history, Babylonian Exile, The Apocrypha, Destruction of Jerusalem Chapter 5 ... Ancient Greek Philosophy Greek and Roman philosophies leading up to the rise of Christianity. Homer, The Greek Gods, Athens, Greek science, Religious morality, Schools in Athens, Socrates, Philosophy, Epicurus, Stoicism, Rome, Roman emperors, Marcus Aurelius, Religious cults Chapter 6 ... The History of Christianity Christianity's rise to power followed by Europe's descent into a dark age. Jesus, Paul, The Jews, The Gospel stories, Other scriptures, The Trinity, Constantine, The Church, Augustine, Moral influence, Barbarian invasions, Charlemagne, The Middle Ages, The Crusades, Universities, Thomas Aquinas, The Great Schism, The printing press, The Protestant Reformation Chapter 7 ... The Rise of Modern Science The problems faced by scientifically-minded people as the western world struggled to emerge from the Christian dark ages. The city of Alexandria, Alexandria's destruction, Copernicus, Galileo, Descartes, Early science, Newton, The Enlightenment, Voltaire, Hume, Atheism, Christianity, Kant, Nietzsche, The Antichrist, Darwin, Moral evolution, Agnosticism, Einstein, Our sense of purpose Chapter 8 ... Hinduism and Buddhism A short history of eastern religion and the development of Hindu and Buddhist scriptures. Hindu scriptures, Buddhism, The Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 ... The History of Islam Tells Muhammed's life story and explains what he believed. Details of the spread of Islam through conquest. Muhammad, The Day of Judgment, The Koran, War against Mecca, Muhammad's final years, Early Arab conquest, Sunni and Shiite, Late Arab conquest, A new Muslim empire, The Hadith, Science and philosophy, Other sects, The decline of Islam, The Turks, The end of the empire Chapter 10 ... Analysis of Ancient Beliefs Outlines the historical patterns behind the formation of the traditional religions. Communal beliefs, Life after death, Judaism, Greek philosophy, Christianity, Islam, Asian philosophy, Conclusion Chapter 11 ... The Rise of Modern Democracy Covers the modern history of democracy from the American revolution to the current world crisis. Shows world politics to be little more than a greed-driven struggle for wealth and power. Feudal society, Gunpowder, English kings, Colonization, The American Revolution, The French Revolution, Thomas Paine, Slavery in America, Capitalism, The world spirit, Communism, The First World War, The Russian Revolution, Military dictatorships, The Great Depression, The Nazi party, Hitler's racism, The Second World War, The Cold War, The civil rights movement, The collapse of communism, The Middle East, The rise of political Islam, The Islamic Revolution, Power always corrupts, Democracy, Rising religious tensions, Education is the answer, The United Nations Chapter 12 ... Sexual Morality Condemns the traditional religions for their positions on women's rights and birth control. Sexual reproduction, Traditional morality, Population growth, Women's rights, Margaret Sanger, The Sexual Revolution, Freedom vs oppression, Population control, Religious morality, Democratic balance Chapter 13 ... Modern Materialism Looks at the modern political power struggle and the emergence of secular beliefs like existentialism and humanism. The Modern Age, The death of God, Existentialism, Humanism, The power struggle, Human rights, Conservatism, Progressivism, Democracy, The twentieth century, The Great Social Revolution, The price of freedom, Postmodernism, Materialism, Understanding Chapter 14 ... Deepening Consciousness Establishes a theoretical foundation for justice based upon the democratic decisions of free and educated people. Metaphysics, The accumulation of information, Information overload, Thinking computers, Consciousness, Opinion, Morality, Democracy, Religious reform, Your choice Chapter 15 ... Politics and Religion Explores the relationship between politics and religion leading up to the rise of the religious right in America and the emergence of political Islam. The clash of civilizations, Shattering the Sacred Myths, The rise of Christianity, The rise of Islam, Filling the moral void, The decline of Christianity, The Industrial Age, The rise of secular philosophy, The failure of secular philosophy, The rise of the religious right, The rise of radical Islam, Religious reform Chapter 16 ... Replacing Religion with Science Looks at the failures of Christianity and considers replacing traditional religion with the scientific worldview. The rise of Christianity, The decline of Christianity, The Great Social Revolution, Being anti-Christian, Relic from an age of ignorance, The scientific worldview, Natural evolution, No foundation for morality, The power struggle, The secular humanist tradition, The religious right, Conservative voters, Breaking down the percentages, Replacing Christianity Chapter 17 ... Evolutionary Metaphysics Contemplates the purpose of consciousness and discusses extending the theory of evolution to include the struggle for political power and the development of advanced technology. A question of purpose, Religious Ideologies, Secular Ideologies, God of the Gaps, Politics and religion, Evolutionary Metaphysics Chapter 18 ... Peace and Prosperity Speculates about the social and political reforms needed to bring about lasting global peace and prosperity. Peace and prosperity, Technopoly, Freedom, Space exploration Chapter 19 ... Wisdom

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