Synopsis

“Large Circles and Bold Lines is about a quest for meaning in the life of a Quaker scientist. It is my reconciliation between science and decidedly non-traditional Christian theology and it shows how my identity as a Quaker is the offspring of that union. Don’t expect esoteric jargon and arcane mathematical equations. The Introduction is about Quakerism because this subject involves a lot more than William Penn and Quaker Oats. Then comes an exploration of the connection between physical and spiritual reality. Reflections on the nature of God follows with better options than an omnipotent being up there above the clouds. Other essays probe the mysteries and miracle of human consciousness and the evolution of a religious identity. The circle is the metaphor used to proclaim the moral rightness of inclusive interaction among diverse peoples. Bold lines are what we need to draw when discriminating between the trivial and the essential in our value systems. Finally, a personally challenging topic that has to do with the eternal question: Why do bad things happen to good people?” — S. Cherim