Reviews

CCTV Video Presentation and Review:

Presentation and Review

(Click the videos below to see the television interview)

Called Into Life By The Light

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The Mind, Body, and Spirit Connection

in the Medicine of Light

Designs For Health Clinical Rounds Teleconference,

January 3, 2007

(Click above to hear CD recording)

LIGHT: Author blends religion, science

Author brings light to pages of latest book

By Denise Favro Schwartz , dschwartz@repub.com Interview and Book Review,

Sunday Republican Newspaper

WESTHAMPTON-In a sunroom that receives so much light that geraniums tumble over their containers in full bloom in late winter and the “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” plant’s purple and white blossoms infuse the air with their jasmine-like scent. Bernard J. Fleury sits at a table set with plates of warm blueberry muffins and applesauce cake.

A few of Fleury’s books are on the table including his latest, Called into Life by the Light. A statue of St. Francis of Assisi, arms stretched out in a blessing, watches over the room from its place amid the plants. Fleury’s wife, Lida, a painter of still life compositions and landscapes, brings coffee and humor to the room that seems to vibrate with energy.

A curious combination of intellectual activity, constant deep thinking and religious calm drenches the room. Dressed in a gray cardigan, a cross at his neck, Fleury seems like a cross between Mister Rogers and the no-nonsense philosophy professor you had in college, on fire with creativity, but gentle and caring at the same time. A “Hal Holbrook” type, Lida calls him affectionately.

Fleury mixes the words “religion” and “science” in conversation with no qualms. He is a religious man, a Catholic, a deacon in his parish. He once administered a parish in the Cayman Islands when the monsignor was away.

“Religion frames my life,” he said. “In our present age, God is missing, but not missed. He is viewed as an add-on. My position is opposite. God is an integral part of all that is.”

As a teacher of history, English and Latin, as professor emeritus of Philosophy and Educational Administration at Westfield State College, Fleury has constantly thought about life, human beings and evolution.

When asked to develop a model for teachers, he said he thought hard about the questions that teachers needed to answer as they looked at their classrooms of questioning students. “I came up with, ‘What is man?’ and I mean that as man and woman,” he said. “I looked at the answers that had been given in western education and I found five major theories, those of Teilhard de Chardin, Martin Buber, John Dewey, Jean Paul Sartre and B. F. Skinner. When I was introduced to Chardin, I started thinking more about the aspects of light. That started me on the road to my book.”

He said that he noticed that humans are always attracted to light, that light was referenced constantly in the Scriptures, and that scientific theory “always came back to light.” He was intrigued by the fact that science and religion have asked the same questions about the existence of humankind and our relationship with light and he “didn’t see a conflict between the two.”

“Light is a something and a Someone,” he said.

“Evolution is the ascent to consciousness. But as you go backwards, physicists generally agree that energy, or light, is the heart of everything, the force that causes things to happen. De Chardin and others, said that matter is crumpled light.” (purpose driven evolution)

The central place that light occupies in the collective experience of humankind became the focus of “Called into Life by the Light.” The book synthesizes the views of Thomas Aquinas, de Chardin and other “New Vision” thinkers who see science, theology, mysticism, religion and ecology as fundamentally interrelated.

Its chapters entice with titles such as “Light: Foundational Energy of the Universe,” “The Medicine of Light” and “Out of Darkness Into the Light” , an examination of the near-death experience.

Fleury said he was driven to write the book because with everything he learned, with all of the research he did, he saw that “God, Light, is at the beginning.”

“This book puts in writing what I’d come to understand mentally and emotionally,” he said. “I needed to share this message. “

“We are all drawn to light. It captivates our attention and imagination. It is as if light is built into each being. It is a symbol for goodness, joy and happiness. It is basic to physical, mental and spiritual life,” he said, ever the teacher desiring to help a student understand. “And at the heart of everything is a Being Who is The Light.”

An Invitation to Explore Light

Fleury’s book is an invitation to explore light (the Light of Christ) and its effects more deeply….his exploration of light is a scientific as well as a spiritual one.

In his book’s (six) chapters….through Scriptures, references to Catching the Light by specialist in quantum physics Arthur Zajonc, accounts of historic studies on the impact of light on mental and physical health, in stories on the presence of light in near-death experiences, Fleury develops and strengthens his thesis regarding the relational and life giving quality of light….at the heart of things is the Light: a loving, compassionate, providential, all powerful Being…

– Catherine Homrok SSJ, Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Communications Corporation. Catholic Observer

A Fascinating Reflection on Light

I found it (Called into Life by the Light) to be an intriguing and fascinating reflection on light and its centrality in our lives. What was particularly significant was your blending of theology/religion and science. Since I share your Roman Catholic perspective, such an essay into points of commonality is in the best tradition of our faith.

– Rev. Dr. Richard A. Bondi, S.T.L., D. Min., Roman Catholic Community of St. Theresa of Lisieux.

Seekers of Wisdom

Seekers of Wisdom – Called into Life by the Light by Bernard J. Fleury is a comprehensive and very readable approach to the theme of Light that should appeal to all modern seekers of wisdom. In about 170 pages, Fleury tackles an elusive subject in a practical, step by step way, providing an historical background, past and current research and good Endnotes for each aspect of a theme – e.g. scriptural, scientific, medical, etc. It should have an especial appeal to both beginners and seasoned seekers of modern methods of religious practice. As a holistic retreat and spiritual director, I am eager to follow up on some of the references to current research. I would rate the book as outstanding.

– Ruth McGoldrick, SP (genesis@westfield-ma.com), a retreat and spiritual director, Barnes & Noble.com, Rating *****

The Healing Power of Light

The Healing Power of Light - Having read Dr. Bernard Fleury’s absorbing book, Called into Life by the Light, I can only say that anyone desiring greater wisdom concerning the melding of science, philosophy, and religion must read this book several times. The depth of this material cannot be skimmed; it must be digested. As a practitioner and teacher of light therapy, (healing light energy) I found his text to be the foremost exposition of the healing power of light that I have had the pleasure of reading.

– Earl H. Lizotte, O.D., Light Therapy practitioner/teacher, Barnes & Noble.com, Rating *****

Light : The Meaning of Life

Light: The Meaning of Life – Being a vision therapist and knowing the importance of light, I have found that after reading this book I have gained even greater insight/understanding of the importance Light has in our lives. I particularly liked the way the author repeated brief explanations of previously cited complex key terms and ideas as he proceeded from chapter to chapter so that the reader did not have to go back to find the explanations of such terms and ideas where they were first cited. I highly recommend this outstanding book to everyone who wants a greater insight and understanding of the role Light has in all our lives.

– Barbara Lawrence, an Optometric Technician, Barnes & Noble.com, Rating *****

A Stand Alone Book

“Light is the foundational stuff of the universe….a pretty broad statement, a pretty bold statement too….I suspect this is a stand alone book….unique in its approach.”

– Rich Ryder, WBTN RADIO, Bennington, Vermont – Radio Interview

An Overview of Ways People Know the Phenomenon of Light

In Called into Life by the Light, Fleury offers an overview of the ways people know the phenomenon of light – and evidence of religious belief, as a physical reality and as a backdrop for a range of hard-to-describe human experiences….Fleury surveys how scholars and theologians have responded….While he doesn’t seek to evangelize through the pages of the book, Fleury does feel that the themes he addresses support his faith. “Sharing the good news is part of me….Light is our beginning and Light will be our end.”

– Larry Parnass, “Arts Almanac.” Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Impressed With Work Done on Phenomenon of Light

I am truly impressed with the work you have done on the Phenomenon of Light. Your website is outstanding. I will let others know about you and the wonderful research you are engaged in. Thank you for sharing your insights and wisdom with a wider audience!

– Fr. Warren J. Savage, Adjunct Professor, Elms College

The Divine Reality of Light

Dr. Fleury’s book is part of a larger discussion being carried on at present as to how to integrate the findings of spirituality, science, and the human sciences in understanding what is the essence of reality. His thesis revolves around the phenomenon of “light”. He develops this theme in his analysis of the theology of T. de Chardin, medicine, modern physics, and the Near-Death Experience. In every part of his discussion is the positive experience of light. Light can be perceived as an experience of spiritual “enlightenment”, intellectual insight, encounter with the Divine. Also, light is being used for treatment of medical and emotional illness in people….

Dr. Fleury does raise two important aspects of the NDE, the experience of the life review and the effects of the NDE on the NDEer. The “life review” seems to act like an invitation to take responsibility for one’s life in order to use one’s time to advance in love and knowledge. It reminds us that what we do with our lives is important! We do not live or die into nothingness! We are also reminded that what we do in life – lives on in eternity….

Overall, this is a book I heartily recommend reading for it propels us into the discussion of modern science, medicine and spiritual seeking. As a Roman Catholic Clergy person and theologian I am intrigued by all of these developments pointing to the Divine reality of “light”. Light is the first act of creation in Genesis, it is the Word being made Flesh in John’s Gospel, it is the way St Paul experiences the Risen Christ as described in Acts of the Apostles. Light is the truest and most frequent expression foir the ultimate purpose and future of humanity and the creation. We will need to meditate on these developments and its implications for the way we run our world. Who are We? People, creation, called into life by the light!

— Rev. Dr. Robert M. Pallotti, Newington, Ct, USA Amazon Rating *****