Author: Wilber, Ken

One of the first attempts to bring an integral approach to sociology, this scholarly book introduces a system of reliable methods by which to make testable judgments of the authenticity of any religious movement. It is a concise work based on Wilbur's 'spectrum of consciousness' theory, which views individuals and cultural development as an evolutionary continuum. By using this integral view, Wilbur hoped society would be able to discriminate between dangerous cults and authentic spiritual paths, and why this distinction is crucial in understanding spiritual experiences and altered states of consciousness.