Ken Wilber, A Theory of Everything: An Integral Vision for Business, Politics, Science, and Spirituality (Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc, 2000).  189 pages, hardback. Reading level 12^th grade.

The book cover promises:

• A leading model of human evolution called “spiral dynamics;”
• Wilber’s ground-breaking “all quadrant, all level” approach for integrating the realms of science and religion;
• Maps of the Kosmos that bring together the most influential worldviews that have developed throughout the ages;
• A discussion of “integral transformative practices” that combines meditation and sophisticated psychological techniques to help readers develop this integral vision in their own lives.

Briefly, Wilber extends evolutionary ideas to social and spiritual dimensions. The Gnostics (early Roman religious sects) believed themselves to be in special possession of knowledge that allowed them to transcend the restrictions of physical life. Wilber similarly makes assertions that a proper understanding will unleash spiritual enlightenment and new freedoms for individuals and society.

Further details:

Page 2 provides a thesis sentence for the book: “And, of course, if we succeed in developing a truly holistic or integral view of reality, then we will also develop a new type of critical theory—that is, a theory that is critical of the present state of affairs in light of a more encompassing and desirable state, both in the individual and the culture at large.”

Notice that I have underlined the important words “if we succeed in developing.”  This theory of everything is developed, not discovered or received.  There are very important distinctions between the three concepts of development, discovery, and reception. In contrast Christian doctrine was not developed, or even discovered, rather it was received:

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty…for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:16, 21)

Page 3 does use the terms “good” and “bad” but typical of humanistic viewpoints people are not considered intrinsically sinful but rather in need of education, cultural development, or self development.

Page 4 He gives a definition of “boomeritus:” partial truth blown out of proportion by overestimation of the power and importance of the self.  Wilber makes some very valid observations about the 60s and 70s culture here. I consider this one of the strongest points of the book.

Pages 5-7 he presents Clare Grave’s “spiral dynamics” eight stages or memes. Again evolutionary assumptions are made that we can spiritually develop individually and collectively, not through God’s help but through our efforts. He further expands upon these and later he presents worldview stages that form the basis of the book:

Wilber thus understands human culture to have evolved through various and necessary stages. Primitive cultures are lowest (presented at the top of Figure 2-1) in development and they emphasize survival and magic. Organized religion is then the next step in the “mythic” worldview. Science and rationality forms the next step with relativism being a progression beyond that. Similarly individuals could follow the same path: egocentric and belief in magic (early age), then attend a church and believe(pre-teens), with education move on to “scientific understanding” (teens), later understand and embrace multiple viewpoints, etc.

Here is chart in which he synthesizes all the world’s philosophies and religions:

In essence he maintains that all the religions are pointing in the same direction, acquiring the understanding that he has articulated in the book.  These levels of selfhood parallel the worldviews he presents in Figure 2-1.

The book falls short in many aspects. By assuming that man can discover reality and then improve upon it Wilber is engaged in the same fault he criticizes in his term “boomeritus:” taking a partial truth and then overestimating the power of the person. Christians however, realize their total dependence upon God for the definition of reality, its revelation, and then His working power to improve their condition.

Comments by Terry B. Ewell (August 2006)