Zombie Perennialism: An Intelligent Design for Psychology? A Further Response to Taylor's Soft Perennialism

Abstract

In a recent paper Taylor has suggested that perennialist models are or should be resurgent within transpersonal psychology.However, perennialist models such as those of Wilber and Taylor are metaphysical philosophies of spirituality typical of New Age religions; while such systems may be studied by a psychology that considers human spirituality, they are not and should not be proffered as psychology.Claims that Taylor's soft perennialism are partly evidence based are compared with invalid claims that the narrative of Noah's flood or the Christian-based idea of intelligent design are partly evidence based.Critiques of Wilber's integral perennialism and Taylor's soft perennialism are offered, Taylor's defenses of his work are answered, his contributions are noted, and his concerns of inappropriate critique are rebutted.Taylor's model may be inspiring, but it is not scientific, and not psychological.