A Spiritual Hypothesis

Daniel Punzak’s ambitious tome, A Spiritual Hypothesis, addresses a wide range of subjects, including mental illness, spirituality, near death experiences and paranormal phenomena. The concept of the soul in Native American, Eastern and Judeo-Christian philosophies plays a central role in how the author links these disparate topics into a single hypothesis: that “more than one spiritual form resides within the physical body.”

Punzak’s ultimate goal is to understand “abnormal behavior and to attempt to correct… various mental illnesses and criminal behavior.” While touching on mood disorders and schizophrenia, the mental illness Punzak primarily focuses on is dissociative identity disorder. He includes a history of DID’s conceptual evolution and case studies and suggests that more therapists utilize the concept of an “inner self helper” (the best of the spirit forms within a patient) in treating their patients. He dispenses with the field of medical psychiatry in a few pages, positing that “only a spiritual theory of the world, consciousness, and human behavior can account for the real world of the abnormal and paranormal.”

Punzak’s background is engineering, rather than psychology or theology, as readers might expect. Although the author has researched his subject matter industriously and includes an extensive bibliography and index, his writing lacks a first-hand perspective of working in a therapeutic context and is unlikely to be seriously considered within that field.

It’s more likely to interest spiritual seekers and those fascinated by accounts of near death and mystical experiences. The author includes numerous stories, including that of a man who "died" of pneumonia and then interacted with living people, other spirits and a "man of light" who guided him through transcendental realms until Ritchie reawakened in his own body. Within Punzak’s broad view of science and philosophy, a smaller gem of a book could be extracted for a more specific audience.

Ultimately, the book’s large scope may impede its ability to reach readers. Those who have extensive knowledge of psychology or theology will find his exploration of the topics accurate but incomplete, whereas average readers are likely to be intimidated by this book’s breadth. Nonetheless, this work weaves together an interesting mix of spirituality and psychic phenomena, and the clarity of Punzak’s writing reveals the inner workings of a passionate, smart, inquisitive mind.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.

A Spiritual Hypothesis is a unique and compelling look at the dual nature of the human spirit.

For some, spirituality is linked to religion as a meditative means to communicate with a higher power. Othersregard spirituality as a series of mental reactions to real-world stimuli, a way to make the complexities of life moreunderstandable. In A Spiritual Hypothesis, Punzak is interested in both articulations, asserting that all humans areequipped with a dual nature, both a spirit and a soul.

This distinction of duality is important, helping broaden limited understandings of the deep reaches of thedivine human psyche. Pulling from a wealth of diverse religious concepts and scientific fields, Punzak guides readersthrough a comprehensive exploration of the ways that the “spirit” and the “soul” guide our every move. From creativityto mental illness, each aspect of life is determined by the makeup of one’s duality, he asserts.

Featuring a wealth of complex ideas, the text does a good job of introducing crucial points slowly, expoundingon concepts in depth during later chapters. For example, the book begins with a rumination on the religiousconnotations of spirituality.

Then, instead of focusing on one definition or denomination for too long, Punzak places the concept ofspirituality into secular terms, comparing the notions of soul and spirit to what he calls a spirit body, or a physicalmanifestation of human spirituality. This early distinction is important, as the book touches on these core ideasnumerous times.

Spanning nearly a thousand pages, the volume may seem overwhelming at first glance. Topics from psychicresearch, near-death experiences, pharmacology, and the astral plane, just to name a few, are broached.Each topic is given equal weight in relation to spirituality. While not every connection is clear, and manytangents to the central assertion are presented, the book maintains an almost conversational tone, allowing for someof its ideas to be absorbed more easily.

The volume is also chock-full of research used to help support prevalent assertions. At times, however, it isdifficult to understand the positioning of some data in relation to Punzak’s claims.

A lengthy series of appendices are available as a helpful means to clarify more complex declarations, from“Abbreviations and Acronyms” to “Native American Spiritual Violations.” Though not always as clear as may beintended, the text should be applauded for its willingness to approach existential questions with a sense of probing curiosity.

Absolutely sweeping in scope and vision, Daniel Punzak’s A Spiritual Hypothesis is a rumination on thecomplex duality of the human existence, approached from every possible angle.

A Spiritual Hypothesis: An Inquiry into Abnormal and Paranormal Behavior is aneducational and enlightening look at the spirit and the soul. Author DanielPunzak has written an incisive book which looks at the different ways the spiritcan be expressed in life and even in the afterlife. This thought-provoking bookwill challenge readers’ thoughts about spirituality.

Punzak writes about the different supernatural forces which can affect peoples’lives, from exorcism in Catholicism to ancient Native Hawaiian kahunas (spiritualhealers). Punzak also examines near-death experiences and what happens inspecific instances in which people inhabit both worlds; the living and the dead.He writes about how mental illness can possibly be caused by evil spirits,advocating prayer as a spiritual response to those who struggle with their“demons.”

Punzak’s writing reflects his forty years of studying spirituality. A SpiritualHypothesis has controversial and unorthodox opinions, however he has supportfrom many studies, psychologists and scientists to substantiate his claims. Hereferences specific Bible verses to support his beliefs about spirituality and thesoul. Punzak’s writing is well researched and has documented support frommany respected authors and academic researchers.

A Spiritual Hypothesis is a widely ranging book which can reach a large audienceof readers who have diverse spiritual beliefs in concepts such as reincarnationand past lives. It is an intriguing book for conservative religious readers whobelieve in the battle between good and evil spirits, as well as readers who arecurious about the line between life and death.

A Spiritual Hypothesis would be best for readers who enjoy spiritual books aboutnear-death experiences, such as with the book Heaven is Real by Todd Burpoand Lynn Vincent. Readers who like books about spiritual awakenings from ascientific perspective like Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander will enjoy thisbook. While some of the book’s hypotheses may be controversial, the text isvery insightful. I believe the book is ideal to be used as the foundation for studyin classes about religion or supernatural forces.

A Spiritual Hypothesis will take readers on a journey from Earth to Heaven andbeyond. Punzak’s book will inspire readers to think differently about matters ofthe spirit – it certainly has changed my perspectives about life and death.

"I use the word “spirit” as the name for an immaterial duplicate human being that resides (overlaps and penetrates) inside an individual’s physical body during life and continues to exist after the body dies."

In his book, Punzak explores the belief that there are two spiritual forms inside each human being. The first, Punzak argues, is the soul, and the second is the spirit. Occult practices, levitation, and paranormal phenomena are only a few of the topics discussed in this well-written spiritual tome. Punzak presents a variety of thought-provoking and organized theories about human behavior. Including theories from both scientists and philosophers alike, the book offers something for everyone. Often citing from the Bible and other religious writings, the author shows a deep respect for all types of faith. There is no subtle persuasion or hidden agendas inside the pages. Instead, the author presents his topics without bias.

After researching spiritual and psychological theories for more than 45 years, Punzak’s focus in this book is to find a better understanding of abnormal human behavior. Curing and preventing mental illness and violent behavior, both of which cause great monetary and personal hardship, need not only require expensive and often harmful medications, Punzak suggests. An understanding of the human spirit is also necessary. Punzak argues that the High Self in every spirit body is the fundamental source of creativity and expression. From this idea, he theorizes that creativity is a natural state of human behavior, and when creativity is stifled or left unrecognized human strife results. Life after death and even communication with the dead are also discussed. Expertly written and thoroughly engaging, this is an extraordinary book on the complicated and magical concept of the human spirit.