BOOK REVIEW

Robert Perry is one of an increasing number of people who are spiritually attuned yet think in terms of scientific evidence. Trained in experimental psychology, he has been a leading teacher of A Course in Miracles (1976). In his book Signs, he asked the provocative question, ‘‘What if God is talking to us, but nobody’s listening?’ ’ However, Perry’s provocative point need not be put in theistic terms. One could as easily rephrase it as, ‘‘What if there is a moral order to the universe that we have overlooked?’’ The idea of guidance from a higher source is not new; it is an assumption of virtually every religion. But Perry suggested that people no longer have to take this assumption on faith. His premise is that meaningful coincidences in everyday life provide objective, empirical evidence of this guidance, evidence that is both scientifically verifiable and accessible to anyone. People usually interpret the meaning of an experience based on intimate feelings associated with the event. But how do they know they are not fooling themselves? In tackling this question, Perry came up with objective criteria for helping us decide how seriously to take the notion that a coincidence reflects a greater intelligence and purpose