The content in this work is fiction, fiction in the sense that the main character through which the eyes of this metaphysical and philosophical journey is viewed, Charlie, is not a real character, nor are his counterparts and foils through which he explores various topics such as love, the meaning of existence or the origins of the cosmos and how our understanding of these abstract ideas have evolved since the dawn of civilization. But like any work of fiction, the characters do have some basis in real experience, from which of course nothing can be created. The intent of the work is to explore the foundations and evolution of knowledge and the boundaries between reason and faith, boundaries which from the author's perspective are not quite as clear as some might have us believe. And the point of going through the exercise, the purpose as it were, is not only for the author to come to a better understanding of how all our modern branches of science hang together, how they have come to be given their socio-political and historical context, but also for others to share in his journey and perhaps learn something along the way. Since the birth of language and thought even, going back thousands of years and even prior to the dawn of civilization itself, mankind has attempted to answer two fundamental questions, questions that have spurred countless creative forces and branches of thought over the centuries; namely who we are and from whence we came. The answers to these questions, no matter what race, religion or creed the seeker might be, or what philosophy or religion they might adhere to, are inextricably linked to each other. This journey of trying to understand our place in the world, and the origins of the universe itself, is an ageless quest that in many respects distinguishes mankind from the rest of the creatures on the planet. Furthermore, this very same quest to answer the same questions fuels not only scientific development but also is the basis for theology and religion, both approaching the same set of questions with a different set of tools and with a different mindset but both trying to answer the same set of basic questions as to who we are and how we got here. From the author's perspective, in order to answer these questions effectively in the Information Age, we should have at least some understanding of the history of our answers to these questions as they have evolved over time. For we all build our collective knowledge on those that have come before us, whether we recognize this or not. And in turn, that in building this bridge, a common metaphor used throughout the work, we must leverage the tool of metaphysics, a term originally coined by Aristotle but in the context of this work implies a level of abstraction that sits above physics as we understand it in today's world but also provides a conceptual underpinning to all of the branches of knowledge that collectively make up our ?understanding? of the world and out place in it. In doing so, it is the author's hope that we can not only come to a more complete and fuller understanding of the answers to these basic human questions that have plagued mankind since time immemorial, but also at the same time perhaps develop a deeper understanding of the problems of life in the Information Age and how we might best approach them, or cope with them, in way that not only benefits ourselves as individuals but to society as a whole, to which our individual well-being depends upon whether or not we recognize it or not.

This book is for the reader who takes interest in an age-old issue that remains contemporary with every succeeding generation. When, how, and why we are here are questions that have caused countless generations of thinkers and laymen alike to intuitively seek at the very least the semblance of an answer to questions that have become more of an outlook than a science, and in turn spring up among the problems of modern life as opposed to allowing for a resolution to that which was intended to clarify instead of further complicate. Free from the shackles and bias imposed by the various schools of religious, scientific and philosophical thought, the examinations offered herein are rooted in systematic analyses of the scientific, philosophical, ethical, social and finally the religious; which in turn allows for the explanation and justification of concepts that enable the reader to adopt a perspective relevant to the distinctions of absolute truth and relativistic assumptions. Our age is accurately referred to as the age of advancement and technology and for good reason. The rapid pace of progression over the last century in the life sciences has contributed to a broadened understanding of knowledge itself and its relation to the psychological and sociological aspects of our existence. As a result of the significant expansion of the sciences, the desire for an understanding of "self" and simply of "why" has in many ways been diluted, thus negating the never ending questions that once tugged at man's conscious in the middle of the night for thousands of years. Today's amazing achievements have laid the foundation for a whole series of newer problems and questions that threaten mankind as never before. The medical and biological sciences have enabled us to have a life expectancy beyond that of prior generations, however coupled with that are the problems of population explosion, which in the not too distant future will give rise to serious concerns. We have the ability to harness the power of the atom, yet along with it comes the ability to destroy all that we hold sacred. Taking into consideration the advanced age we live in, how does one account for the remarkable complexity extant throughout the known universe? Is one to assume that our consciousness coupled with our overwhelming sense of purpose can be attributed solely to "random chance" alone? The law of causation deals with the need for a preceding event leading to the outcome, and despite the fact that this scientific age has left its handprint on every facet of life today, it has failed to satisfy the innate question of simply, .............................................. why?

HOW MEDITATION CAN HELP YOU ESTABLISH A DIRECT CONNECTION TO GOD

"CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY" Colossians 1: 27 (NIV)

The Bible states in the Scriptures that God has placed the Christ Spirit within each one of us. In John 14:20, Jesus says "On that day you will realize that I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." Author Allen C. Liles, an ordained non-denominational minister, wants us to consider using the daily practice of meditation to help establish a direct link between us and the Divine.

Rev. Liles shares the wisdom, guidance, insight and support that he received from God and the Christ Spirit within us over a full year of sitting in the silence every morning. He claims no special relationship with God. Rev. Liles believes that each of us can access the Holy Presence by becoming open and receptive to sitting with God in meditation on a regular basis. His struggles during the year included the illness of his wife, retirement from a ministerial career, aging, caregiving, family issues with adult children, financial concerns, and finding the courage to take life one day at a time. No matter what your problems or concerns, Rev. Liles's experiences in meditation offer hope for a happier, fulfilled and more peaceful life in a time of turmoil and change.

Real Men Do Cry captures the wisdom of Nehemiah for the twenty- first century.

Learn how God intervened to restore a remnant of his people in Israel in the fifth century BC, a time when the nation's existence had reached a desperation point. God's ways have not changed. He still acts on behalf of those he is calling to follow him. As an absolute sovereign, he expects complete obedience to his will.

See how God overruled the dominant powers of that time to fulfill his purpose in the world. This practice has not changed. God is still King; however many circumstances and the boasts of the ungodly may seem to mask that fact.

Understand the true basis for prayer as God's people in any age relate to their true King and persist in their obedience to him.

Are you sick and tired of the Enemy who plans to destroy your life, your family, relationships, your health, and your dreams, through fear, doubt, unbelief, and the insecurities brought on by rejection and unworthiness? The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy and rob you of the promises of God given to his redeemed. Jesus died on Calvary to forgive our sins and to make and bring peace to us, and he took our punishment so that we could be healed and receive every blessing in heavenly places.

In this book, you will receive biblical principles that, when studied and applied, will bring the Word of God to life for you. You will learn to walk by faith and talk faith in every area of life. You will see that healing is God's will for his people. You will see how the Enemy lays traps of unbelief to hinder you. You will see that Jesus defeated Satan, and his power is broken.

My prayer for you is that you will receive understanding and that the Lord Jesus will be glorified in your life in every area. Having faith is having confidence that God will do what he promises he will do. God never changes; his word remains the same. We are changed from glory to glory

Matthew Robert Payne has thousands of followers on Facebook and has written more than thirty books, available on Amazon. You might want to know more about him and what he believes. You might want to reassure yourself that his theology is sound so that you know that you can trust him. One day as he was reading a really insightful book about heaven, he came across a statement of beliefs that some elders in heaven produced for a visitor to heaven. For the first time, Matthew found a list of doctrinal statements that he could back and support. In this short book, Matthew briefly outlines his beliefs so that you know what makes him tick. Read what he believes about the Godhead that he serves with all of his heart.