My Spinoza: Heretic, Genius, Outcast, Visionary - Hardcover

by Charles J. Marcus (Author)

My Spinoza is the culmination of two decades of research by Charles J. Marcus into the life and philosophy of Baruch Spinoza. A renowned Western philosopher, Spinoza is revered by many from Carl Jung to Albert Einstein, who called him a spiritual genius and said, "I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the harmony of all that exists." In My Spinoza, Marcus explores revolutionary, nondual understanding of reality, blending a mix of theology, psychology, Eastern philosophy, and practical reasoning that reveals Spinoza to be a brilliant guide for all seeking to awaken to the highest state of being. Few philosophers have been so universally loved or reviled as Spinoza. While he has been honored as a Father of Enlightenment, some early critics branded his work to be utterly evil and "full of abominations." Whatever beliefs one holds, Spinoza simply cannot be ignored. Mystics respect Spinoza's advocacy of human intuitive faculties and belief in a person's innate ability to perceive God directly without an intermediary. Atheists admire Spinoza's logical dismantling of religious notions of God as a person, fatherly presence, and disseminator of reward and punishment. A true universalist, Spinoza captures the spirit of Judaism (the Lord is one), Christianity (I and my father are one), Buddhism (no separate self), and Hinduism (all selves are one self). When Spinoza was honored in The Hague, it was proclaimed that he held the "truest vision ever" of God.

Author Biography

Charles J. Marcus lives in Los Angeles and lectures on Eastern and Western philosophy, metaphysics and the experience of awakening.