--- product_id: 302884405 title: "The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God" brand: "carl saganadrienne c. mooreann druyanann druyan - editorbrilliance audio" price: "VT8541" currency: VUV in_stock: false reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/302884405-the-varieties-of-scientific-experience-a-personal-view-of-search store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God **Brand:** carl saganadrienne c. mooreann druyanann druyan - editorbrilliance audio **Price:** VT8541 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God by carl saganadrienne c. mooreann druyanann druyan - editorbrilliance audio - **How much does it cost?** VT8541 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/302884405-the-varieties-of-scientific-experience-a-personal-view-of-search) ## Best For - carl saganadrienne c. mooreann druyanann druyan - editorbrilliance audio enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted carl saganadrienne c. mooreann druyanann druyan - editorbrilliance audio brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God ## Images ![The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gTzrSz90L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating! *by T***R on Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2006* Science's esteemed friend Carl Sagan died prematurely in 1996. What a pleasure it is to read more of his crystal clear prose. In these transcripts of his 1985 Gifford Lectures on Natural Theology at the University of Glasgow, he gives us his rich insights on the relationship between science and religion. William James had a turn in the early 20th century and turned his lectures into the acclaimed "Varieties of Religious Experiences." "Varieties of Scientific Experiences" is edited by Sagan's widow and collaborator Ann Druyan and she acknowledges his admiration for James in the title of this book.Starting with cosmology, Sagan leads us through a naturalistic view of the universe - meaning except for the most extreme liberal interpretation of God, He is not part of the equation. But the believer who desires the bigger picture should not be scared off - this eloquent book is more considerate and gentle than the recent books on religion by Dawkins, Harris, and Dennett. As usual with Sagan, it is also a treatise on why we should view our world with a scientific, rational mind-set. Sagan's bottom line was always: "Show me the evidence." In an interview, Sagan was once pressed by a reporter for a premature conclusion. When asked, "But what's your gut feeling," Sagan replied, "I try not to think with my gut."I spent a whole day being stimulated and intrigued by this book and there is not a dull page. An 11th century Hindu logician presented the following proofs for the Hindu "all-knowing and imperishable but not necessarily omnipotent and compassionate God":1. First cause - sounds familiar2. Argument from atomic combinations - bonding of atoms requires a conscious agent3. Argument from suspension of the world - somebody has to be holding it up4. Argument from the existence of human skills5. Existence of authoritative knowledge - Vedas, the Hindu holy booksSagan compares them to the Western arguments:1. First cause - otherwise known as the cosmological argument.2. Argument from design3. Moral argument - attributed to Kant4. Ontological argument - Man is imperfect, there must be something greater that is perfect, therefore God exists5. Argument from consciousness - I have self-awareness, therefore God exists6. Argument from religious experiencesSagan briefly discusses each item on these somewhat similar lists, ending with, "I must say that the net result is not very impressive. It is very much as if we are seeking a rational justification for something that we otherwise hope will be true." About the moral argument, he says, "It does not follow if we are powerfully motivated to take care of our young or the young of everybody on the planet, that God made us do it. Natural selection can make us do it, and almost surely has."After each of the nine lectures, Sagan took selected written questions from the audience - most of them from believers and one of them signed by God Almighty himself. He answered them all with wit, grace, and poise and this 37 page segment is not to be missed - the whole book is not to be missed and gets my highest recommendation. Whether or not you've previously read Carl Sagan, you're in for a treat. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite. *by A***A on Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2012* According to Wikipedia, the Gifford Lectures were established on 1887 to "promote and diffuse the study of Natural Theology (supported by science and not dependent on the miraculous) in the widest sense of the term -- in other words, the knowledge of God."The lectures are given at several Scottish universities and a Gifford lectures' appointment is one of the most prestigious honors in Scottish academia. They are normally presented as a series over an academic year and given with the intent that the edited content be published in book form. A number of these works have become classics in the fields of theology or philosophy and their relationship to science.On 1985 the University of Glasgow invited one of my heroes: Professor Carl Sagan, to give these lectures. Carl Sagan succumbed to cancer on 1996 and never published the corresponding book. However, his wife, Ann Druyan, found the transcripts and published them as: "The Varieties of Scientific Experience" on 2006, which I just finished reading a couple of days ago.I have always been a devote of the critic and secular thinking, and in consequence have read as much as I have been able to on the subject. Most of the different perspectives I have stumbled upon, however, are not ideas themselves, but attacks (smart, irrefutable, creative, admirable attacks) to a specific or general religious concept, tradition or congregation. One recent example is the book "God is not Great" by Stephen Hitchens. Brilliant, revealing and widely applauded, but also very violent.This book is different. This book is not an attack to the sacred... it conveys an idea of its own. Not a reaction, but a proposal. A mental and spiritual exercise on these aloof (yet critical) subjects. A wise, respectful and patient discourse of theology based on science, history and a profound knowledge of the religions of the world.I guarantee this book does not contain practical solutions to your daily problems, nor will it help you make better business decisions or fix your personal life. It will merely give you a pause to think of the things we never think about, and a different perspective on what is important.By far, my favorite on this subject! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Sagan's lecture transcriptions are beyond compare *by W***O on Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2006* The first Carl Sagan book I ever read was "Demon Haunted World," when I was about 23 years old. Not having been raised religious, I always wondered if I was missing out on something... I felt that perhaps I was not "in on" the truth that those Christians around me seemed so certain of knowing. In my heart, however, I always seemed to feel that religious teachings and arguments just didn't sound truthful. I was, and still am, open to evidence that a god or supreme creator exists, yet I haven't found compelling evidence that can't be described in natural ways congruent with reality. But after reading "Demon Haunted World" I finally read arguments that seemed to express the same conclusions I had come to, but didn't posess the words to express those ideas. So after reading "Demon Haunted World" I started to grow more and more comfortable with identifying with the atheist perspective.Since reading "Demon Haunted World" I have been a big fan of Carl Sagan's and was very happy to see this new book come out ten years after his death. I read this book over the course of just a couple of days and I really, really enjoyed it. Carl had a real humanity about him. Isaac Asimov said he was one of two people he had ever met that was smarter than him, and I agree. Carl's lectures in this book are very illuminating, and rationally examine the arguments purporting the existence of "God" as western religions profess the existence of. It is so refreshing to read his words again. I highly recommend this to anyone with an open mind, or anyone that is grappling with issues regarding the existence of God, and the implications of not finding evidence for the existence of God. Great reading, we miss you Carl! --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/302884405-the-varieties-of-scientific-experience-a-personal-view-of-search](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/302884405-the-varieties-of-scientific-experience-a-personal-view-of-search) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-07*