Mind Body Spirit Literary Awards Winner Uses Science to Prove the Existence of God

 Two works incorporating cutting edge science have won this year’s Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Mind Body Spirit Literary Awards in a tough field described by judges’ convenor, Adonia Wylie, as the highest in calibre since the awards began 12 years ago.

Canterbury Anglican Minister, Ron Hay, (right), won the book category, for Finding the Forgotten God published by Daystar Books.

“...this work among other things provides in depth information regarding the recent advances made by science, advances that lead toward where the mystics have sat for thousands of years. It is in short, an original and valuable resource book and one that will stand the test of time,” says Ms Wylie.

Rohana Ulluwishewa, an Honorary Research Associate at Massey University – Palmerston North, won the Unpublished Manuscript category for Spirituality Demystified: Understanding Spirituality in Rational Terms.

Ms Wylie says Mr Ulluwishewa’s work is mind blowing in its simplicity.

“If one were to only read one book in one's lifetime, this is the one.  Its clarity, its cogent use of words, its ability to cover the most abstract of topics seamlessly while staying fully grounded, completely clear and coherent makes it a brilliant work.”

The winners of the awards each took home a $10,000 prize. They were announced at a ceremony in the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust’s own building, Hopetoun Alpha in Auckland City this evening.

Ms Wylie says the extraordinarily high quality of both category works made the judging not only a very lengthy but difficult task.

“The genre itself is challenging and requires great intellect, an in-depth understanding of the subject, together with the ability to communicate clearly often very abstract ideas and philosophies.”

The winners were selected from 11 finalists; six in the book category and five in the unpublished manuscript category.

Ms Wylie says the finalists, each in their very different ways, were each accomplished in a clear, original, coherent and consciousness raising manner. 

“Choosing very different pathways and philosophies, yet while still fully addressing the overall genre they completed works that are not only capable of raising awareness, are uplifting and positive, sometimes challenging, but always professional. All the works are extremely informative and even passionate and on many levels make for educative, enlightening and rewarding reading.”

Awards director, Tim Eddington says the awards attract remarkable stories written by people from all walks of life and from all over New Zealand.