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Reviews:
LIGHT: Author blends religion, science
Author brings light to pages of latest book
By Denise Favro Schwartz , dschwartz@repub.com Interview and Book Review,
Sunday Republican Newspaper
WESTHAMPTON-In a sunroom that receives so much light that geraniums tumble over their containers in full bloom in late winter and the "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" plant's purple and white blossoms infuse the air with their jasmine-like scent. Bernard J. Fleury sits at a table set with plates of warm blueberry muffins and applesauce cake.
A few of Fleury's books are on the table including his latest, Called into Life by the Light. A statue of St. Francis of Assisi, arms stretched out in a blessing, watches over the room from its place amid the plants. Fleury's wife, Lida, a painter of still life compositions and landscapes, brings coffee and humor to the room that seems to vibrate with energy.
A curious combination of intellectual activity ? constant deep thinking ? and religious calm drenches the room. Dressed in a gray cardigan, a cross at his neck, Fleury seems like a cross between Mister Rogers and the no-nonsense philosophy professor you had in college ? on fire with creativity, but gentle and caring at the same time. A "Hal Holbrook" type, Lida calls him affectionately.
Fleury mixes the words "religion" and "science" in conversation with no qualms. He is a religious man, a Catholic, a deacon in his parish. He once administered a parish in the Cayman Islands when the monsignor was away.
"Religion frames my life," he said. "In our present age, God is missing, but not missed. He is viewed as an add-on. My position is opposite. God is an integral part of all that is."
As a teacher of history, English and Latin, as professor emeritus of Philosophy and Educational Administration at Westfield State College, Fleury has constantly thought about life, human beings and evolution.
When asked to develop a model for teachers, he said he thought hard about the questions that teachers needed to answer as they looked at their classrooms of questioning students. "I came up with, 'What is man?' and I mean that as man and woman," he said. "I looked at the answers that had been given in western education and I found five major theories, those of Teilhard de Chardin, Martin Buber, John Dewey, Jean Paul Sartre and B. F. Skinner. When I was introduced to Chardin, I started thinking more about the aspects of light. That started me on the road to my book."
He said that he noticed that humans are always attracted to light, that light was referenced constantly in the Scriptures, and that scientific theory "always came back to light." He was intrigued by the fact that science and religion have asked the same questions about the existence of humankind and our relationship with light and he "didn't see a conflict between the two."
"Light is a something and a Someone," he said.
"Evolution is the ascent to consciousness. But as you go backwards, physicists generally agree that energy, or light, is the heart of everything, the force that causes things to happen. De Chardin and others, said that matter is crumpled light." (purpose driven evolution)
The central place that light occupies in the collective experience of humankind became the focus of "Called into Life by the Light." The book synthesizes the views of Thomas Aquinas, de Chardin and other "New Vision" thinkers who see science, theology, mysticism, religion and ecology as fundamentally interrelated.
Its chapters entice with titles such as "Light: Foundational Energy of the Universe," "The Medicine of Light" and "Out of Darkness Into the Light" ? an examination of the near-death experience.
Fleury said he was driven to write the book because with everything he learned, with all of the research he did, he saw that "God, Light, is at the beginning."
"This book puts in writing what I'd come to understand mentally and emotionally," he said. "I needed to share this message. "
"We are all drawn to light. It captivates our attention and imagination. It is as if light is built into each being. It is a symbol for goodness, joy and happiness. It is basic to physical, mental and spiritual life," he said, ever the teacher desiring to help a student understand. "And at the heart of everything is a Being Who is The Light." --------------------------------------------------------------
Fleury's book is an invitation to explore light (the Light of Christ) and its effects more deeply....his exploration of light is a scientific as well as a spiritual one.
In his book's (six) chapters....through Scriptures, references to Catching the Light by specialist in quantum physics Arthur Zajonc, accounts of historic studies on the impact of light on mental and physical health, in stories on the presence of light in near-death experiences, Fleury develops and strengthens his thesis regarding the relational and life giving quality of light....at the heart of things is the Light: a loving, compassionate, providential, all powerful Being...
-- Catherine Homrok SSJ, Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Communications Corporation. Catholic Observer -------------------------------------------------------------- I found it (Called into Life by the Light) to be an intriguing and fascinating reflection on light and its centrality in our lives. What was particularly significant was your blending of theology/religion and science. Since I share your Roman Catholic perspective, such an essay into points of commonality is in the best tradition of our faith. -- Rev. Dr. Richard A. Bondi, S.T.L., D. Min., Roman Catholic Community of St. Theresa of Lisieux. -------------------------------------------------------------- Seekers of Wisdom - Called into Life by the Light by Bernard J. Fleury is a comprehensive and very readable approach to the theme of Light that should appeal to all modern seekers of wisdom. In about 170 pages, Fleury tackles an elusive subject in a practical, step by step way, providing an historical background, past and current research and good Endnotes for each aspect of a theme - e.g. scriptural, scientific, medical, etc. It should have an especial appeal to both beginners and seasoned seekers of modern methods of religious practice. As a holistic retreat and spiritual director, I am eager to follow up on some of the references to current research. I would rate the book as outstanding. -- Ruth McGoldrick, SP (genesis@westfield-ma.com), a retreat and spiritual director, Barnes & Noble.com, Rating ***** --------------------------------------------------------------
The Healing Power of Light - Having read Dr. Bernard Fleury's absorbing book, Called into Life by the Light, I can only say that anyone desiring greater wisdom concerning the melding of science, philosophy, and religion must read this book several times. The depth of this material cannot be skimmed; it must be digested. As a practitioner and teacher of light therapy, (healing light energy) I found his text to be the foremost exposition of the healing power of light that I have had the pleasure of reading.
-- Earl H. Lizotte, O.D., Light Therapy practitioner/teacher, Barnes & Noble.com, Rating *****
-------------------------------------------------------------- Light: The Meaning of Life - Being a vision therapist and knowing the importance of light, I have found that after reading this book I have gained even greater insight/understanding of the importance Light has in our lives. I particularly liked the way the author repeated brief explanations of previously cited complex key terms and ideas as he proceeded from chapter to chapter so that the reader did not have to go back to find the explanations of such terms and ideas where they were first cited. I highly recommend this outstanding book to everyone who wants a greater insight and understanding of the role Light has in all our lives. -- Barbara Lawrence, an Optometric Technician, Barnes & Noble.com, Rating ***** --------------------------------------------------------------
"Light is the foundational stuff of the universe....a pretty broad statement, a pretty bold statement too....I suspect this is a stand alone book....unique in its approach."
-- Rich Ryder, WBTN RADIO, Bennington, Vermont - Radio Interview -------------------------------------------------------------- In Called into Life by the Light, Fleury offers an overview of the ways people know the phenomenon of light - and evidence of religious belief, as a physical reality and as a backdrop for a range of hard-to-describe human experiences....Fleury surveys how scholars and theologians have responded....While he doesn't seek to evangelize through the pages of the book, Fleury does feel that the themes he addresses support his faith. "Sharing the good news is part of me....Light is our beginning and Light will be our end." -- Larry Parnass, "Arts Almanac." Daily Hampshire Gazette. -------------------------------------------------------------- CCTV, Concord, New Hampshire:
Presentation and Review
(Click the videos below to see the television interview)
Called Into Life By The Light
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The Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection
in the Medicine of Light Designs For Health Clinical Rounds Teleconference,
January 3, 2007
(Click above to hear CD recording)
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