Book Review

Electromagnetism and the Sacred

Dr. Lawrence W. Fagg, a retired research professor in nuclear physics originally associated with The Catholic University of America, spent thirty-five years exploring the quantum frontier between spirit and matter. The results of his research findings were published in a book entitled: Electromagnetism and the Sacred, in 1999.

Dr. Fagg's general thesis is that electromagnetism underlies the very fabric of the physical world, from atoms, rocks and planets to minds and living organisms, and that the creative role of light in manifesting physical reality is analogous to the indwelling presence of spiritual light manifesting as the sacred throughout nature; a belief found in all major religions throughout the world - that God is Light.

Every form of electromagnetic radiation, from cosmic rays to visible light, heat and radio waves, are all composed of photons both real and virtual. Real photons, which are measurable, are responsible for illuminating the world around us. They are produced when charged particles are accelerated or when electrons collide. Virtual photons on the other hand, are not observable or measurable, yet they play a vital role as carriers of force responsible for all electromagnetic interactions, such as constraining electrons to specific orbital paths surrounding the nucleus of an atom thereby providing a stabilizing force required for structuring and sustaining the existence of all the molecules comprising our physical world. Without the active participation of virtual photons there would be no electromagnetic interactions and consequently no physical world at all.

Dr. Fagg begins by providing the reader with some essential background information on electromagnetism and its relation to the other three major forces of nature as well as clearly explaining the vital role that virtual photons play in all electromagnetic interactions that are involved in the manifestation of both mind and matter. He then examines electromagnetism and spirituality providing many references to light found in religious scriptures as well as the reported experiences of mystics themselves.

In an effort to establish a ‘Theology of Nature’ Fagg claims that the ubiquity of electromagnetic phenomena throughout nature constitutes a physical analogy to the ubiquity of God's immanence; an analogy he found useful in formulating a theology based on the presence of the sacred in nature. But, by assuming that only an analogous relationship exists between electromagnetism and the sacred. Fagg failed to take that final important step in recognizing the unity of all spiritual and physical manifestations of light, which are merely different aspects of the same thing.

In general, I found Lawrence Fagg’s book Electromagnetism and the Sacred a very informative and clearly written presentation of his personal exploration of the frontier of spirit and matter, providing the reader with an insightful introduction to electromagnetism, quantum physics and mysticism.