Destiny vs Choice: The Scientific and Spiritual Evidence Behind Fate and Free Will by Marie D. Jones

This book, by Marie D. Jones, confronts, in a way that is accessible to the non-scholar, the complex philosophical cogitations -- predestination and free will, two knotty concepts that have flum- moxed profound thinkers since time immemorial.

Ms. Jones presents, in her 223 page book, a cogent overview, alongside her succinct encap- sulations of views that others have needed tomes to explain.

She provides views about Fate and Choice from the early Greeks right up and into the modern thrusts of quantum physicists, such as Paul Davies, and includes ideas found in esoteric and arcane texts: The Upanishads for instance.

She covers Hindu theology, DNA studies, Relativity, and the finality of death, plus other relevant topics.

She also includes anecdotes from regular folks – happenings to footnote various aspects of free will and deterministic activity.

Her Chapter Three contains a catalog of divination techniques, interesting and useful for those who wish to “predict” the future or their own fate.

There is so much, presented so intelligently and clearly, that this reviewer was impressed by Ms. Jones erudition, presented in a comprehensive but cogent way.

Here’s an example from her Chapter – Cosmic Plans, Quantum Possibilities:

“Reality is up in the air, ever in a state of probability and superposition until a choice is made to “collapse” it into a fixed measurable, manifest form. Particles exist in a state of virtual reality, amid a sea of quantum foam, popping in and out of existence. Although the idea of the observer effect speaks of choice…, the quantum world appears to also allow for chance – pure chance – because of the possibilities of various outcomes and alternative histories.” [Pages 102/103]

Ms. Jones has a grasp of difficult scientific principles, and gives them a cleansing that makes them comprehensible to those of us often muddled by how science presents its own theories.

Aside from the philosophers and philosophies we all have touched or been touched by in our schoolings, she gives proper due and respect to a raft of current writers who deal with the topic(s) of free will, determinism, and life itself: Colette Baron-Reid, Mark Eckhardt, Robert Ohotto, Martin Rees, Oprah Winfrey, and a number of others.

What does Ms. Jones believe? I think her views are clear enough by her final words in the book:

“Funny how fate works, how destiny unfolds – and yet it always comes down to the choice to…open the door that is standing before you. And walk right on in.” [Page 214]

This is a good book for your library and edification.

It is sold through New Page Books, A division of Career Press, Pompton Plains, NJ and can be found at www.careerpress.com and www.newpagebooks.com, of at fine books stores all over the place, including Amazon.com of course.

RR