Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science and Spirit Meet, co‑authored by Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake.
Overview & Themes
The Physics of Angels, first published in 1996 and reissued in 2014, brings together a theologian (Fox) and a biologist (Sheldrake) to explore the concept of angels through the lenses of both spirituality and science. The authors draw on Christian mysticism—from figures like Dionysius the Areopagite, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Hildegard of Bingen—to reinterpret angels not just as spiritual beings, but as expressions of cosmic processes and consciousness.
They aim to “restore dignity, meaning, and joy” to the age-old belief in angels, invoking scientific ideas like evolutionary theory and modern physics to ground their reflections in contemporary thought.
Spiritual Depth Meets Scientific Curiosity
According to a review on Spirituality & Practice, the book “links these celestial beings to the processes of human thought, the unfolding of evolution, the challenges of conscience, the sun and the stars, the expansion of deep ecumenism, and the future of the planet.” It highlights how creativity and insight emerge when science and spirituality intersect, ultimately calling for a “resacralization of the world.”
Practical Implications & Contemplations
Fox and Sheldrake suggest that opening our hearts through justice, truth, and spiritual ritualic practices can foster an attunement with angels. Fox shares that acts like environmental activism or ritual observances can be transformative and even angelic experiences.
In contemplative musings inspired by their work, the idea of a “nested hierarchy” or “holarchy” emerges—where angels inhabit a cosmos animated by morphic fields, suggesting a universe rich with spirit and intelligence at every level.
Core Approach: Blends mystic Christian theology with modern scientific frameworks
Key Sources: Dionysius Areopagite, Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas Aquinas
Main Themes: Angels as cosmic consciousness, integration of science and spirituality
Takeaway: A call to enliven the sacred through justice, creativity, and deep ecumenical awareness
The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science and Spirit Meet, co‑authored by Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake.
Overview & Themes
The Physics of Angels, first published in 1996 and reissued in 2014, brings together a theologian (Fox) and a biologist (Sheldrake) to explore the concept of angels through the lenses of both spirituality and science. The authors draw on Christian mysticism—from figures like Dionysius the Areopagite, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Hildegard of Bingen—to reinterpret angels not just as spiritual beings, but as expressions of cosmic processes and consciousness.
They aim to “restore dignity, meaning, and joy” to the age-old belief in angels, invoking scientific ideas like evolutionary theory and modern physics to ground their reflections in contemporary thought.
Spiritual Depth Meets Scientific Curiosity
According to a review on Spirituality & Practice, the book “links these celestial beings to the processes of human thought, the unfolding of evolution, the challenges of conscience, the sun and the stars, the expansion of deep ecumenism, and the future of the planet.” It highlights how creativity and insight emerge when science and spirituality intersect, ultimately calling for a “resacralization of the world.”
Practical Implications & Contemplations
Fox and Sheldrake suggest that opening our hearts through justice, truth, and spiritual ritualic practices can foster an attunement with angels. Fox shares that acts like environmental activism or ritual observances can be transformative and even angelic experiences.
In contemplative musings inspired by their work, the idea of a “nested hierarchy” or “holarchy” emerges—where angels inhabit a cosmos animated by morphic fields, suggesting a universe rich with spirit and intelligence at every level.
Core Approach: Blends mystic Christian theology with modern scientific frameworks
Key Sources: Dionysius Areopagite, Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas Aquinas
Main Themes: Angels as cosmic consciousness, integration of science and spirituality
Takeaway: A call to enliven the sacred through justice, creativity, and deep ecumenical awareness
