Commendations

for Jeremy Griffith’s books

Professor Charles Birch

Emeritus Professor of Biology Sydney University, winner of the 1990 Templeton Prize
for his scientific contribution to “man’s understanding of God” and author of On Purpose.

‘In his book Beyond The Human Condition Jeremy Griffith makes the right emphasis when he identifies the order of the universe and its cosmic and biological evolution as the issue that brings science and religion together. Science shows an increasing complexity in order with cosmic and biological evolution but it finds no meaning to that increase in complexity. Jeremy Griffith finds that a religious vision brings an ‘integrative meaning’ to that order. Moreover it leads him to an ethical vision of integrating love and peace. In all this he gives us a genuinely original and inspiring way of understanding ourselves and our place in the universe. His vision is one I embrace with enthusiasm and commend to all those who are searching for meaning.’ (Oct. 1991)

Professor John Morton

Emeritus Professor of Zoology, University of Auckland; Lay Canon of Holy Trinity Cathedral,
Auckland; Fellow St. John’s Theological College, Auckland and author of Man, Science and God.

‘Beyond The Human Condition is a book about anthropology and the human future. So it is necessarily about Christianity and importantly relates it—as it must be related—to biology. I am sure it should be read by Christians, especially young ones in schools, and also taken home by them.

I believe it foresees the same vista as Teilhard de Chardin did in his more orthodox terms, which is in fact the consummation promised for humanity set free, in the Christian Gospel.

This book, though not in traditional Christian language should concern all Christians, because it will stir them to think, and its challenging message contains nothing out of line with a Christian world.’ (Oct. 1991)

Sir Laurens van der Post

Pre-eminent philosopher of the 20th century who was a close
friend of Carl Jung and author of 24 books, in letter to Jeremy Griffith.

‘Could you please send me an extra copy of your book? Yours to me is already out on loan because it was so appreciated, and I shall give it to my publishers to read and see whether they are as interested as we are’ (May 1988)

Letter received on 13/11/91 from the then

Prime Minister of Australia R. J. L. Hawke

‘Your book is certainly thought-provoking and will no doubt be the subject of much debate within the scientific and general communities. My congratulations.’ (Nov. 1991)

Caroline Jones

OAM and awarded Peace Prize citation for Radio, 1991.

‘Jeremy Griffith spoke about his concepts on my radio program The Search For Meaning and the interview received one of the most enthusiastic responses in the program’s [8 year] history.’ (Oct. 1991)

Swara

East African Wildlife Society magazine, Vol. 16 No.2, March/April 1993

“On 29/9/92, Jeremy Griffith presented his new book, Beyond the Human Condition, at a special Kenya Museum Society lecture. Once in a long while you come across an ‘aha’ book. Every few pages of Jeremy Griffith’s biological synthesis of human behaviour stretching back millions of years, I found myself, a scientific layman, saying, ‘aha, that makes sense!’”

Executive Woman’s Report

Vol. 1 No. 16, May 1988

‘Was Jeremy Griffith struck by lightning on the road to Damascus…Such was my cynicism reading the summary…Then whack! Wham! Reading on. I was increasingly impressed and then converted by his erudite explanation for society’s competitive and self-destructive behaviour.’

Arena

Macquarie University Student Newspaper, Issue 5 Vol. 22, May 1989

‘[This] is an excellent book, and despite its complexity, is easy to grasp…[the] ideas are so simple, and make such good sense, you’ll wonder why you didn’t put them to paper yourself. The reason why most of us wouldn’t write such a book, along with all the other questions and problems faced by humanity are answered in [this book].’

Sydney University Gazette

Sydney University Graduate Magazine, Dec 1988

‘[Jeremy Griffith’s] concept is revolutionary because it reverses the process assumed by most scientists who are still searching history to discover when man developed a soul…his book is worth reading.’

Undergraduate Student Comment

at The University of New England, 1995

‘Don’t read that book because it’s true.’