At the end of a presentation about using science and spiritual information together, a surgeon friend of mine started a lively discussion.

His final argument stated that if you want the very best in spiritual information you'd have to go to the ancient philosophers, find their conclusions, and put it together from there. He said that since ancient scholars were closer to the events being discussed, they would have more reliable information and insights.

He reinforced his point with medical information, saying that reading a medical textbook about any subject will leave you several years behind. To produce a textbook, information must be collected, written, and printed before it can be sold -- so by the time you get your brand new book, it is at least five years out of date.