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Frank Tipler

The physics of immortality

You might think that if you wanted to live forever then it would be better if the universe didn't collapse to a singularity within a finite time. In The physics of immortality Frank Tipler argues otherwise, that if we manipulate the collapse then we can allow an infinity of events to happen, thus providing the opportunity of eternal life for all. The first part of the book provides that wonderful speculation which, when done by someone such as Tipler who knows his science, will leave a lasting impression in your mind. Unfortunately, after that comes some pseudo-theology of the worst kind.

I enjoyed reading the first two hundred pages of the book. There are some minor quibbles - consensus opinion now seems to be that the universe won't collapse to a singularity. Also, Tipler uses some rather dubious arguments, using the irreproducability of quantum states to link such states with our consciousness - but then we find that quantum states can be reproduced after all and - hey presto - it's possible to resurrect our conscious minds. But I accepted these as part of the speculation. It was the later parts, where Tipler looks at the religions of the world and tries to shoe-horn them into his scheme, that turned me off the book. I couldn't help feeling that if that's what immortality had in store then I would rather be mortal.

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Paperback 560 pages
ISBN: 0385467990
Salesrank: 391453
Weight:0.95 lbs

Published: 1997 Anchor

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Hardcover 528 pages
ISBN: 0385467982
Salesrank: 445038
Weight:1.55 lbs

Published: 1994 Doubleday

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Paperback 560 pages
ISBN: 0385467990
Salesrank: 29718
Weight:0.95 lbs

Published: 1997 Anchor

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Product Description
Is there a higher power in the universe? What happens to us when we die? Leading physicist Frank J. Tipler tackles these questions and more in an astonishing and profoundly important book that scientifically proves the existence of God and the physical resurrection of the dead.

Product Description

Is there a higher power in the universe? What happens to us when we die? Leading physicist Frank J. Tipler tackles these questions and more in an astonishing and profoundly important book that scientifically proves the existence of God and the physical resurrection of the dead.

A perversion of science, an insult to faith. *
A well-meaning relative saved this book from a box of books destined for a landfill, and she thought that as a physicist I might be interested in reading this book. I usually try to avoid books that try to justify faith through science since demanding proof is itself an insult to faith, but decided to give it a chance while waiting for my carpool one evening, I pulled it out and checked the table of contents. Two things caught my eye that I wanted to see his take on: The first was how he proposed that one solves the Halting problem. The gist of the argument is this: he proposes that one starts with a mechanical Turing machine, then adds energy to the parts until they travel at relativistic speed. He proposes then that one could perform an infinite number of calculations in a finite time, and avoid the halting problem entirely by checking to see if the program was finished. There are two problems obvious to someone with even an elementary understanding of physics and computation theory: One, this plan requires an infinite amount of energy. More energy than exists in the universe. Two, supposing one was able to do this, it would require one to go on a speed of light voyage and return to the computer later. The problem is that to do this would not actually solve the Halting problem. In fact, it would just allow one to conclude that the computer had or had not stopped for some extremely and possibly even asymptotically large period of time--even if this intractable voyage was possible, it still wouldn't solve the problem. To his credit, the author says that this is merely a proposal and does not say whether it is an actual solution to the Halting problem. However, if he had asked any of his students or peers they certainly could have told him that his understanding of computation theory, relativity, and the nature of mathematical infinities (namely, that all infinities are equal) are seriously questionable. The next proof of interest was his proof that a resurrection must occur in the future. Apparently, the universe wants to conserve all of the information in it (notwithstanding no satisfactory physical definition of information exists as of my writing this). The universe will run out of space to store said information as it nears its ultimate fate. Therefore, the universe must resurrect every human that ever lived in order to store its information. Some truly bold assumptions exist here: That the author has a suitable definition of information, that the universe actually seeks to somehow conserve it, that information can only be stored at an appropriate density in humans (I don't know about you, but my memory really isn't optimal or spectacular. The universe should try resurrecting some hard drives.), and that it should take exactly every human that ever lived to store said information. At this point I wasn't sure whether I should be laughing or should be concerned that the author intended people to take these bold, half-baked "proofs" seriously. The author makes undergraduate-level mistakes in subjects that he is ostensibly an expert of. If you want to learn about faith, may I recommend a popular book known as the Bible. If you want to deconstruct the arguments in the Physics of Immortality, I would recommend the undergraduate textbooks, Griffiths "Introduction to Electrodynamics", Griffiths "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics", or Sipser's "Introduction to the Theory of Computation". Myself, I hid this book behind a series on superconductors, and Jackson's Classical Electrodynamics in case I feel like another laugh when waiting for the carpool.

A perversion of science, an insult to faith. *

A well-meaning relative saved this book from a box of books destined for a landfill, and she thought that as a physicist I might be interested in reading this book. I usually try to avoid books that try to justify faith through science since demanding proof is itself an insult to faith, but decided to give it a chance while waiting for my carpool one evening, I pulled it out and checked the table of contents. Two things caught my eye that I wanted to see his take on:

The first was how he proposed that one solves the Halting problem. The gist of the argument is this: he proposes that one starts with a mechanical Turing machine, then adds energy to the parts until they travel at relativistic speed. He proposes then that one could perform an infinite number of calculations in a finite time, and avoid the halting problem entirely by checking to see if the program was finished.

There are two problems obvious to someone with even an elementary understanding of physics and computation theory: One, this plan requires an infinite amount of energy. More energy than exists in the universe. Two, supposing one was able to do this, it would require one to go on a speed of light voyage and return to the computer later. The problem is that to do this would not actually solve the Halting problem. In fact, it would just allow one to conclude that the computer had or had not stopped for some extremely and possibly even asymptotically large period of time--even if this intractable voyage was possible, it still wouldn't solve the problem. To his credit, the author says that this is merely a proposal and does not say whether it is an actual solution to the Halting problem. However, if he had asked any of his students or peers they certainly could have told him that his understanding of computation theory, relativity, and the nature of mathematical infinities (namely, that all infinities are equal) are seriously questionable.

The next proof of interest was his proof that a resurrection must occur in the future. Apparently, the universe wants to conserve all of the information in it (notwithstanding no satisfactory physical definition of information exists as of my writing this). The universe will run out of space to store said information as it nears its ultimate fate. Therefore, the universe must resurrect every human that ever lived in order to store its information.

Some truly bold assumptions exist here: That the author has a suitable definition of information, that the universe actually seeks to somehow conserve it, that information can only be stored at an appropriate density in humans (I don't know about you, but my memory really isn't optimal or spectacular. The universe should try resurrecting some hard drives.), and that it should take exactly every human that ever lived to store said information.

At this point I wasn't sure whether I should be laughing or should be concerned that the author intended people to take these bold, half-baked "proofs" seriously. The author makes undergraduate-level mistakes in subjects that he is ostensibly an expert of.

If you want to learn about faith, may I recommend a popular book known as the Bible.
If you want to deconstruct the arguments in the Physics of Immortality, I would recommend the undergraduate textbooks, Griffiths "Introduction to Electrodynamics", Griffiths "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics", or Sipser's "Introduction to the Theory of Computation".

Myself, I hid this book behind a series on superconductors, and Jackson's Classical Electrodynamics in case I feel like another laugh when waiting for the carpool.

Physics is theology is physics ***
Let me summarize as best as I can. Theology is a branch of physics. All things (including people) are reducible to their physics. Humans could and will be recreated and indistinguishable from the original as universal Turing machines when computing power is sufficient (Tipler writing in 1994 claims a 30-year horizon for this). At the Omega Point, the boundary between time and infinity, an infinite state machine with boundless knowledge and all the resources of the universe, will be able to recreate (resurrect, says Tipler) all past humans as universal Turing machines, emulations in the computer. The Omega Point is God, the emulation is the resurrection spoken of in the Bible, and the rest of infinity will be heaven. That's pretty much it. Even though Tipler quotes the Bible, and other religion's scriptures, he explicitly is atheist in that he does not believe in the Creator God of the Bible, but does believe that his Omega Point theory provides a basis in physics for a belief in the standard Christian world view of God, eternity, resurrection and heaven. While I questioned his sanity at first, by the end of the book I came to believe he is quite serious, basing his science on quantum physics and recent scientific and mathematical theories about infinities (things--equations, theories--do act strangely as they approach infinite boundaries). The theories, even in layman's summaries, are sometimes hard to follow, and he includes a lengthy Appendix for Scientists which includes page-long equations. He left me, and will most readers, shaking my head and questioning his standing amongst "real" physicists. Compare this to my review of Barrow's Pi in the Sky: Counting, Thinking, and Being.

Physics is theology is physics ***

Let me summarize as best as I can.

Theology is a branch of physics. All things (including people) are reducible to their physics. Humans could and will be recreated and indistinguishable from the original as universal Turing machines when computing power is sufficient (Tipler writing in 1994 claims a 30-year horizon for this). At the Omega Point, the boundary between time and infinity, an infinite state machine with boundless knowledge and all the resources of the universe, will be able to recreate (resurrect, says Tipler) all past humans as universal Turing machines, emulations in the computer. The Omega Point is God, the emulation is the resurrection spoken of in the Bible, and the rest of infinity will be heaven.

That's pretty much it. Even though Tipler quotes the Bible, and other religion's scriptures, he explicitly is atheist in that he does not believe in the Creator God of the Bible, but does believe that his Omega Point theory provides a basis in physics for a belief in the standard Christian world view of God, eternity, resurrection and heaven.

While I questioned his sanity at first, by the end of the book I came to believe he is quite serious, basing his science on quantum physics and recent scientific and mathematical theories about infinities (things--equations, theories--do act strangely as they approach infinite boundaries). The theories, even in layman's summaries, are sometimes hard to follow, and he includes a lengthy Appendix for Scientists which includes page-long equations.

He left me, and will most readers, shaking my head and questioning his standing amongst "real" physicists.

Compare this to my review of Barrow's Pi in the Sky: Counting, Thinking, and Being.

This book made me a theist *****
This book convinced me, or more correctly the arguments presented in this book convinced me, to become a theist, a position I had abandoned many years earlier and which I had never, before reading this book, had either a reason to reconsider, or imagined I would ever change much less reverse. This is one of a very few books that has literally changed my life. Peter H. Christiansen M.Div. Former Senior Minister First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles Mt. Diablo (Walnut Creek CA) Unitarian Church

This book made me a theist *****

This book convinced me, or more correctly the arguments presented in this book convinced me, to become a theist, a position I had abandoned many years earlier and which I had never, before reading this book, had either a reason to reconsider, or imagined I would ever change much less reverse. This is one of a very few books that has literally changed my life.

Peter H. Christiansen M.Div.
Former Senior Minister
First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles
Mt. Diablo (Walnut Creek CA) Unitarian Church

Insurmountable Blabberdash *
A collection of poorly edited lines of arguement that go off at a tangent to each other. The relationships between the different ideas are barely demonstrated and proven properly before the synthesized new idea is used as a launching-pad for another discussion on another 'breath-taking' idea. He does not address many of the fundamental issues of religion. He also does not elucidate his definition of 'God', which handicaps my understanding of his point of view, and therefore, the intention of the whole book.

Insurmountable Blabberdash *

A collection of poorly edited lines of arguement that go off at a tangent to each other. The relationships between the different ideas are barely demonstrated and proven properly before the synthesized new idea is used as a launching-pad for another discussion on another 'breath-taking' idea. He does not address many of the fundamental issues of religion. He also does not elucidate his definition of 'God', which handicaps my understanding of his point of view, and therefore, the intention of the whole book.

Very well-educated, full-tilt lunatic *
This book is different. Its author is a very well educated scientist. He makes what appears, page to page, to be a logical and scientific argument in favor of the immortality of the soul. The book has many entertaining moments, and it is certainly an intriguing brain teaser. However, I am sorry, in the end, it is just a really up-market version of Elvis in the UFOS. This guy is flat out nuts. And his argument does not really connect science with religion in any recognizabler manner. Rather, it is a weirdly personal vision of how, at end of the Universe, when everything is crunching into the opposite of the Big Bang, giant computers in the sky will virtually replicate all of us, as software on their infinite hardware. Kind of the Book of Revelations, re-written by a geek, with all the poetry taken out of it. Like I said, the guy is nuts. He makes one logical leap after another, and goes off to a conclusion that just makes no sense. He is absolutely ignorant of the religious and theological literature. What he is basically doing is making a highly personal argument, based upon his own speculations which were loosely inspired by some of science's recent findings. Not really worth reading, unless you have a taste for well educated lunatics making weird arguments.

Very well-educated, full-tilt lunatic *

This book is different. Its author is a very well educated scientist. He makes what appears, page to page, to be a logical and scientific argument in favor of the immortality of the soul. The book has many entertaining moments, and it is certainly an intriguing brain teaser.

However, I am sorry, in the end, it is just a really up-market version of Elvis in the UFOS. This guy is flat out nuts. And his argument does not really connect science with religion in any recognizabler manner. Rather, it is a weirdly personal vision of how, at end of the Universe, when everything is crunching into the opposite of the Big Bang, giant computers in the sky will virtually replicate all of us, as software on their infinite hardware. Kind of the Book of Revelations, re-written by a geek, with all the poetry taken out of it.

Like I said, the guy is nuts. He makes one logical leap after another, and goes off to a conclusion that just makes no sense. He is absolutely ignorant of the religious and theological literature. What he is basically doing is making a highly personal argument, based upon his own speculations which were loosely inspired by some of science's recent findings. Not really worth reading, unless you have a taste for well educated lunatics making weird arguments.

A visionary approach following a Strong Anthropic Cosmology ****
As a physicist, I can say that I found Tiplers book most interesting. It has received some critical comments from other cosmologists but also some very eminent theoretical physicists have argued that it could provide a useful model to work with as a philosophical backdrop(eg D Deutch). Personally,I find it an excellent medium for enthusing physics students with the study of the theoretical aspects of cosmology and quantum theory and I see no reason to be critical of, what might be considered a visionary approach. Einstein himself often used this method along with philosophical considerations generally to develop new physics and I am sorry that some workers in the field have been rather over critical of what I believe to be courageous work on the part of Tipler. Heaven help us if the scientific community shuns new and visionary approaches as once did the church! One of the positive aspects of the work is, that if one adopts such a strongly anthropic approach then it prompts new questions. For example, for an adequate resurrection programme, it would require the extraction of a significant amount of information from the past light cone. Tipler argues that a "brute force" method would work simply on the grounds that every individual can, in principle, be replicated in the virtual space which means ALL possible variants! There seems a considerable amount of redundancy in all this. Every possible me along with all me's at all possible stages of the me's lives would have to be replicated to ensure that the one me that actually did exist in the past is resurrected. However, an infinite amount of information could be processed allowing for this possibility. Now Tipler also adopts the many worlds interpretation of Quantum Mechanics which in some respects might obviate the need to worry about this problem, but although one may be forced to adopt some form of this interpretation, it still seems like a shame that the me's that never existed in the past should have to be brought into existence to ensure the continuity of my person-hood. It is true that nature can be very wasteful - one only has to look at the way evolution operates or how many perfect seeds must be cast to ensure that some get sown etc. but I would like to see if such a strong Anthropic Principle might suggest that there are as yet some hidden physical laws yet to be found. The EPR effect allows "Information" to be passed between particle pairs over spacelike separations without actually violating relativity - perhaps this might also lead to the discovery of a similar effect between identical structures over timelike separations. This would be equivalent to a non-local field which is effectively modulated in some way by a complex structure and which could be detected by the said identically tuned structure in the future. i.e. one could "tune" the replicated me to pick up my memory from the original me that existed in the past. The same principle applies with radio waves which are picked up by tuned circuits in the receivers which give appropriate selectivity. I am currently working on developing a mathematical theory which might describe such a process but clearly since the field is non-local, space derivatives cannot be included which makes wave equations difficult! Even David Bohm's Idea of a quantum potential(causal theory), which would have the required non-local properties does not seem to really show too much promise - I have tried looking into this but it has not proved very fruitful as yet. Moreover, I feel that the so called tuning might well depend on more global system variables of the structure(person). Perhaps plants and biological structures generally, grow not just because of stored genetic information but also because of information obtained from past similar plants with similar system structure variables - there would be no violation of relativity here and it reinforces an old idea concerning the existence of morphogenic fields. If this Strong Anthropic principle holds, then I feel sure some form of past - future, non-local connection exists and if Tiplers book prompts researches like myself to try avenues to find it, then that alone will be a tribute to Tiplers efforts. I would highly recommend the book to scientists -especially with minds that are still open and who are not afraid to use possibly incorrect theory as a prompt to search into new areas(just how correct are any of our "good" theories anyway? - they are all only models that can be tested and refuted as Popper suggested of such a good theory). We should not forget that visionary work can be, and usually is a bridge to new discoveries.

A visionary approach following a Strong Anthropic Cosmology ****

As a physicist, I can say that I found Tiplers book most interesting. It has received some critical comments from other cosmologists but also some very eminent theoretical physicists have argued that it could provide a useful model to work with as a philosophical backdrop(eg D Deutch). Personally,I find it an excellent medium for enthusing physics students with the study of the theoretical aspects of cosmology and quantum theory and I see no reason to be critical of, what might be considered a visionary approach. Einstein himself often used this method along with philosophical considerations generally to develop new physics and I am sorry that some workers in the field have been rather over critical of what I believe to be courageous work on the part of Tipler. Heaven help us if the scientific community shuns new and visionary approaches as once did the church!

One of the positive aspects of the work is, that if one adopts such a strongly anthropic approach then it prompts new questions. For example, for an adequate resurrection programme, it would require the extraction of a significant amount of information from the past light cone. Tipler argues that a "brute force" method would work simply on the grounds that every individual can, in principle, be replicated in the virtual space which means ALL possible variants! There seems a considerable amount of redundancy in all this. Every possible me along with all me's at all possible stages of the me's lives would have to be replicated to ensure that the one me that actually did exist in the past is resurrected. However, an infinite amount of information could be processed allowing for this possibility.

Now Tipler also adopts the many worlds interpretation of Quantum Mechanics which in some respects might obviate the need to worry about this problem, but although one may be forced to adopt some form of this interpretation, it still seems like a shame that the me's that never existed in the past should have to be brought into existence to ensure the continuity of my person-hood. It is true that nature can be very wasteful - one only has to look at the way evolution operates or how many perfect seeds must be cast to ensure that some get sown etc. but I would like to see if such a strong Anthropic Principle might suggest that there are as yet some hidden physical laws yet to be found. The EPR effect allows "Information" to be passed between particle pairs over spacelike separations without actually violating relativity - perhaps this might also lead to the discovery of a similar effect between identical structures over timelike separations. This would be equivalent to a non-local field which is effectively modulated in some way by a complex structure and which could be detected by the said identically tuned structure in the future. i.e. one could "tune" the replicated me to pick up my memory from the original me that existed in the past. The same principle applies with radio waves which are picked up by tuned circuits in the receivers which give appropriate selectivity.

I am currently working on developing a mathematical theory which might describe such a process but clearly since the field is non-local, space derivatives cannot be included which makes wave equations difficult! Even David Bohm's Idea of a quantum potential(causal theory), which would have the required non-local properties does not seem to really show too much promise - I have tried looking into this but it has not proved very fruitful as yet. Moreover, I feel that the so called tuning might well depend on more global system variables of the structure(person). Perhaps plants and biological structures generally, grow not just because of stored genetic information but also because of information obtained from past similar plants with similar system structure variables - there would be no violation of relativity here and it reinforces an old idea concerning the existence of morphogenic fields.

If this Strong Anthropic principle holds, then I feel sure some form of past - future, non-local connection exists and if Tiplers book prompts researches like myself to try avenues to find it, then that alone will be a tribute to Tiplers efforts. I would highly recommend the book to scientists -especially with minds that are still open and who are not afraid to use possibly incorrect theory as a prompt to search into new areas(just how correct are any of our "good" theories anyway? - they are all only models that can be tested and refuted as Popper suggested of such a good theory). We should not forget that visionary work can be, and usually is a bridge to new discoveries.

WOW ! *****
The title of this book grabbed me and I had to read it - I am sooo glad I did. This is one of the best books I have every read. Anyone who is interested in science and religion should definately read this book. It may be a difficult read for non-scientific people, but it would be well worth it. Tipler presents some of the most mind-blowing theories I have ever encountered, and what's more, he is very convincing in making us believe that his prophecies may come true. This book could turn any scientific-atheist into a believer. This book is Science asking for Religion's hand in marraige, and it leaves the reader hoping and praying that Religion will say "yes".

WOW ! *****

The title of this book grabbed me and I had to read it - I am sooo glad I did. This is one of the best books I have every read. Anyone who is interested in science and religion should definately read this book. It may be a difficult read for non-scientific people, but it would be well worth it. Tipler presents some of the most mind-blowing theories I have ever encountered, and what's more, he is very convincing in making us believe that his prophecies may come true. This book could turn any scientific-atheist into a believer. This book is Science asking for Religion's hand in marraige, and it leaves the reader hoping and praying that Religion will say "yes".

Great ideas from a great mind! ****
Professor Tipler has a great mind, a lot of knowledge, but sometimes overreacts and over imposes his knowledge! I am in agreement with about 80% of what he says, and tries to prove in his book, but at a certain point, in my humble opinion, he starts flying up in the sky! He goes on trying to prove mathematically the virginity of Mary, and her lack of the original sin! On another way, his divagations over the Quanta Theory are very sound and easy to understand, and his conclusion that GOD = the Holy Spirit, I couldn't be more in agreement, as I had arrived to this same conclusion in one of my books, several years ago, and that just by logical reasoning and intuition. The fact that the Many-Worlds Interpretation is a mandatory conclusion from the Quanta Theory, I agree also at 100%, and can't see how one can believe in one without the other. I like how absolute he is about the number of possible visible Universes! 10^10^123! In his book, I saw for the first time two notions since long I felt needed, but rarely mentioned. The measure of a quanta unit for time and a measure of a quanta unit for space, units needed to finally be able to understand the famous Zeno Paradox. His idea of the resurrection of the dead by a hipper computer leaves me some doubts. How can the computer which is a part of the world at the final time, include and regenerate the total? May be I am wrong and didn't full grab his reasoning's, but it felt to me as a kind of Urubóro eating his own tail. I am unhappily more inclined to believe in the Indian and Buddhist fate of reincarnation. How much good it would be, to die and awake immediately in heavens, even if it takes some billions years to get there, but those billions years felt by one as just a second! It is a fascinating book to read and to follow the brilliant mind of Professor Tipler, even if one is not always in full agreement with his conclusions.

Great ideas from a great mind! ****

Professor Tipler has a great mind, a lot of knowledge, but sometimes overreacts and over imposes his knowledge!
I am in agreement with about 80% of what he says, and tries to prove in his book, but at a certain point, in my humble opinion, he starts flying up in the sky! He goes on trying to prove mathematically the virginity of Mary, and her lack of the original sin!
On another way, his divagations over the Quanta Theory are very sound and easy to understand, and his conclusion that GOD = the Holy Spirit, I couldn't be more in agreement, as I had arrived to this same conclusion in one of my books, several years ago, and that just by logical reasoning and intuition.
The fact that the Many-Worlds Interpretation is a mandatory conclusion from the Quanta Theory, I agree also at 100%, and can't see how one can believe in one without the other.
I like how absolute he is about the number of possible visible Universes! 10^10^123!
In his book, I saw for the first time two notions since long I felt needed, but rarely mentioned. The measure of a quanta unit for time and a measure of a quanta unit for space, units needed to finally be able to understand the famous Zeno Paradox. His idea of the resurrection of the dead by a hipper computer leaves me some doubts. How can the computer which is a part of the world at the final time, include and regenerate the total?
May be I am wrong and didn't full grab his reasoning's, but it felt to me as a kind of Urubóro eating his own tail. I am unhappily more inclined to believe in the Indian and Buddhist fate of reincarnation. How much good it would be, to die and awake immediately in heavens, even if it takes some billions years to get there, but those billions years felt by one as just a second!
It is a fascinating book to read and to follow the brilliant mind of Professor Tipler, even if one is not always in full agreement with his conclusions.

I feel sorry for this guy *
This book is a mind-numbing example of how one can use mathematics and logic to justify any crazy hypothesis. Tipler is well-meaning enough - but beyond all the math one only needs common sense to see through the fallacies of his arguments. He patently ignores any questions on the nature of consciousness. An emulation of a person is still not the same person. Were I "resurrected" according to Tipler's theory, the "me" that is inside me now, looking through my eyes, would not be the same future "me" looking through the replicant's eyes. In which case, I could not care less if a future me is resurrected, if the consciousness I am now will not be resurrected along with my "information." Tipler is obviously emotional in his arguments - his emotionalism seeps through on many occasions with his references to Hitler and the Nazis (read his dedication as to why this upsets him). Here is a man who has spent so much time in the halls of physics that he has become yet another stereotypical arrogant scientist. Tipler refutes any idea of an immortal soul because "science says so," and yet so obviously wants there to be God and immortality that he's stretched the boundaries of mathetical reason to concoct one. This book is just one great example of the problem with science: You can use mathematics and logic to justify anything, but just because you can logically "prove" something doesn't make it so. Conversely, just because something cannot be proved through mathematics and logic doesn't mean it is NOT so. Thus, the entire foundation of Tipler's argument is built on wet sand. Just because science cannot prove the existence of a God doesn't mean God does not exist. Conversely, Tipler's "proof" that an Omega Point God will exist doesn't mean it will definitely happen. Tipler's desperation to merge science and religion clouds his thinking. The ultimate irony is this: Were Tipler to simply shut up his overly-rational mind and simply do some meditating, he'd find the God he so desperately seeks.

I feel sorry for this guy *

This book is a mind-numbing example of how one can use mathematics and logic to justify any crazy hypothesis.

Tipler is well-meaning enough - but beyond all the math one only needs common sense to see through the fallacies of his arguments. He patently ignores any questions on the nature of consciousness. An emulation of a person is still not the same person. Were I "resurrected" according to Tipler's theory, the "me" that is inside me now, looking through my eyes, would not be the same future "me" looking through the replicant's eyes. In which case, I could not care less if a future me is resurrected, if the consciousness I am now will not be resurrected along with my "information."

Tipler is obviously emotional in his arguments - his emotionalism seeps through on many occasions with his references to Hitler and the Nazis (read his dedication as to why this upsets him).

Here is a man who has spent so much time in the halls of physics that he has become yet another stereotypical arrogant scientist. Tipler refutes any idea of an immortal soul because "science says so," and yet so obviously wants there to be God and immortality that he's stretched the boundaries of mathetical reason to concoct one.

This book is just one great example of the problem with science: You can use mathematics and logic to justify anything, but just because you can logically "prove" something doesn't make it so. Conversely, just because something cannot be proved through mathematics and logic doesn't mean it is NOT so.

Thus, the entire foundation of Tipler's argument is built on wet sand. Just because science cannot prove the existence of a God doesn't mean God does not exist. Conversely, Tipler's "proof" that an Omega Point God will exist doesn't mean it will definitely happen.

Tipler's desperation to merge science and religion clouds his thinking.

The ultimate irony is this: Were Tipler to simply shut up his overly-rational mind and simply do some meditating, he'd find the God he so desperately seeks.

For once a mad scientist with a working method *****
Highly mentation-boggling work that left me gaping between the patent absurdities strewn through the text at the lurking consequences, not yet science, but potentially profound, of modern physics. In fact, I had no idea what to do with this book except enjoy it and found the account in action of the Omega Point theory, even if this take is wrong,from Barrow and Tippler's book on the Anthropic principle, to be awesome, almost sublime. At times the smoke seems to be coming out of Tippler's ears, a top physics brain overheating, but the experience is worth it. Better than science fiction (assuming it is not such). Have fun with this one.

For once a mad scientist with a working method *****

Highly mentation-boggling work that left me gaping between the patent absurdities strewn through the text at the lurking consequences, not yet science, but potentially profound, of modern physics. In fact, I had no idea what to do with this book except enjoy it and found the account in action of the Omega Point theory, even if this take is wrong,from Barrow and Tippler's book on the Anthropic principle, to be awesome, almost sublime. At times the smoke seems to be coming out of Tippler's ears, a top physics brain overheating, but the experience is worth it. Better than science fiction (assuming it is not such). Have fun with this one.

Physics people only ****
This book is quite good... but only for a Physicist I'm afraid. If you're looking for a "proof" of God, you won't find it in this book unless you're highly into Einstein's Physics. You have to realize that the author has a different paradigm than a majority of humanity. To a cosmologist, this is an intriguing and plausible hypothesis. To the average reader, it's undecypherable. To a clergyman, it's blasphemy. That being said, the book is not entirely wasted on the average reader. Tipler's ideas on embracing AI as a natural evolutionary development rather than fearing AI's dominance are rather intriguing to say the least. In general, however, most people buy this book to find proof of God, which unless you're a Physicist, you won't find.

Physics people only ****

This book is quite good... but only for a Physicist I'm afraid. If you're looking for a "proof" of God, you won't find it in this book unless you're highly into Einstein's Physics. You have to realize that the author has a different paradigm than a majority of humanity. To a cosmologist, this is an intriguing and plausible hypothesis. To the average reader, it's undecypherable. To a clergyman, it's blasphemy. That being said, the book is not entirely wasted on the average reader. Tipler's ideas on embracing AI as a natural evolutionary development rather than fearing AI's dominance are rather intriguing to say the least. In general, however, most people buy this book to find proof of God, which unless you're a Physicist, you won't find.