What's the Difference Author:Peter Wilson What's the Difference explains how belief in God is entirely rational, and does not conflict with what is known about the material world. Spring-boarding from a lucid account of both classical and quantum mechanics, Phoenix author Peter Wilson argues that many traditional spiritual beliefs are in fact compatible with modern physical theory. Care... more »fully chosen analogies render the book both comprehensible and convincing. The "difference" that the title addresses is the question of the difference between the theistic and atheistic explanations of how the universe "runs." The theistic explanation is that God is making everything happen, while the atheistic explanation is that everything just happens by itself. After reading the book, you should understand that the later explanation is not the least bit better than the former. Theism is just as valid a belief as atheism. This conclusion rests on two fundamental arguments: first, all purely physical explanations ultimately rest on some kind of "magic" that might just as well be called "God." Secondly, the world is not purely deterministic. This leaves open a means, or pathway, of communication between the spiritual and the physical. Therefore, reports of communication with the spiritual world, for example, visitations by angels, cannot be dismissed out of hand. The cover features a stereogram (hidden image) of an "angel," as an analogy for how spirits may have an objective reality that is nonetheless invisible to ordinary scrutiny. A casual glance at the artwork reveals not the slightest hint of a face. The "angel" can only be seen by looking at it in a certain way, which must be learned. (The eyes must be slightly "uncrossed," that is, aimed behind the book while staying in focus) The back appears much the same as the front. The "angel" is missing from the back cover, however, to show just how subtle the coming and going of spirits may be.« less