Bernard Haisch

Bernard Haisch is a German-born American astrophysicist and author. He is most well known for his "God theory" which is a form of pandeism.

Scientific work
Haisch is an astrophysicist and author of over 130 scientific publications. He is also known for developing a theory which proposes that a hypothetical "zero-point-field" may provide a physical explanation for the origin of inertia.

The God Theory
Haisch claims that Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and other atheists are only partially correct in rejecting God and theism. He writes that there is an underlying intelligence built in to the universe itself which he terms "God". In his book The God Theory: Universes, Zero-point Fields, And What's Behind It All (2006) he rejected theism and atheism and put forward his theory of pandeism, the belief that God became the universe.

Haisch rejects intelligent design and fully embraces evolution. His "God theory" relies on fine-tuned universe arguments and his ZeroPoint energy theory mixed with arguments from higher consciousness studies and mysticism. Haisch has also written a sequel book titled The Purpose-Guided Universe: Believing In Einstein, Darwin, and God (2010). In the book Haisch writes there is purpose behind the universe and that this view is supported by evolution, Big Bang, discoveries in physics and mysticism. Haisch was influenced by Teilhard de Chardin and the perennial philosophy of Aldous Huxley.

Reception
Even though Haisch is a scientist and has used evidence from quantum mechanics, Big Bang, Newton's laws, inflation theory, superstrings and many other scientific paradigms in an attempt to help explain his God theory he has also used some dubious and pseudoscientific material in his books such as advocating reincarnation and aliens.

Christians and other religious reviewers have criticised the book as they claim Haisch's theory is incompatible with monotheistic religion. Others have described his "God theory" as a book for the average person dissatisfied with organized religion but also wanting something more beyond science. His book has become popular amongst New agers and spiritual philosophers. His book The Purpose-Guided Universe has also received some mixed to negative reviews by scientists as Haisch proposed that quantum theory, general relativity and natural selection were all created by the mind of God yet most scientists disagree with this view.