New novel by Maine writer creates a theory for everything but could ignite a religious backlash that would make ‘The Da Vinci Code’ look like a church hymn.

Philip Harris is the former assistant director of the Maine State Planning Office and now works in special education in Somerville.

Brian Doe teaches English in New York.

Together they have written a novel – part science fiction, part theological study, part thriller – that explores a universal theory of man’s existence in the shadow and mind of God.

“Waking God,” the first of a planned trilogy, reorganizes the conventional wisdom established by the world’s major religions and tries, often at a too-quick pace, to neatly connect thousands of years of history, culture and mythology into a seamless, connected theory of everything.

The authors breezily transition between conspiracy theories, religious slander and Bond-esque world travel, intrigue and violence. They dabble in quantum physics and genetic coding. And, in the end, try to tie it all together.

In fewer than 300 pages, the book converts an evangelical, Southern preacher into a papal assassin, turns the notion of good and evil on its head, lays the Holocaust at the feet of the Archangel Michael and tosses in the “The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion” for good measure.

The authors even explain vampires and werewolves, crop circles and UFO sightings, all within the context of a grand adventure with the future of humanity hanging in the balance and the world boiling in chaos. And Tarot cards hold the key to it all.

It would be easy to categorize the story as a full-throated assault on the fundamentals of organized religion and the Catholic church particularly. For the stir Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” caused in some religious circles, it doesn’t hold a canonical candle to the blasphemy of “Waking God.”

Absolutely, it smacks organized religion, Doe said during a telephone interview during a recent visit to Maine.

“It’s pro-humanity, pro-spirituality and pro-God,” Doe said. “It’s the institution of religion itself that has been dubious in its affairs.”

Harris takes it further. Organized religions, he said, “have outgrown themselves. Through the centuries it has become the institutions themselves that are important, not the message of Jesus or Mohammed or whoever. It’s time for a reformation in the structure of religions, and it’s time for people to go back to the roots of spirituality.”

Doe grew up in New York a conservative Catholic, who for a time considered the seminary. Harris was raised in Massachusetts and describes himself as a Northern Baptist, not to be confused with its more famous cousin, the Southern Baptist.

“The book itself was the biggest journey, trying to wrap my mind around good and evil,” Doe said, “and realizing its all arbitrary.”

For Harris, it was an encounter that’s retold in the book through the eyes of the main character that began his separation from organized religion.

As a young boy, Harris befriended another boy, who was Catholic. Because the two were of different faiths, they couldn’t attend a crafts class at the same church, just because, Harris said, “a few words in the Lord’s Prayer were different.”

“That really started me on my journey that led me to doubt these institutions,” Harris said.

The story

Pulling liberally from the Bible, the premise of the book begins in Genesis with the creation, but quickly diverges.

In Genesis 2:21, God causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep. Instead of creating Eve from his rib, God never awakens Adam. All existence is created in Adam’s dreams.

The battle between the forces of light and dark are between those who want Adam to awake and achieve the potential bestowed in him by God and those who prefer to maintain the status quo of the dreamed reality.

The two main characters of the book are Andrew, a Boston theological scholar who dreams, literally, of a unifying theory of religion, and Mara, a mysterious beauty who has lived seven different lives as she has grown to the age of 21.

The two are genetically and spiritually tied, and the book follows them on their journey toward one another and the truth.

There’s also the Archangel Michael, who led the army of God against the rebellious Lucifer and who according to the Book of Daniel will stand to face him again at the End Times and protect the souls of the faithful.

“Waking God” draws heavily from the Bible and other religious works. Throughout the story there are subtle – and not-so-subtle – clues and subtexts, allusions to other works and the starting point for more research for those so inclined.

From talking with the authors, it’s clear that details are chosen for a reason.

Take Andrew, the hero. In the Bible, Andrew was the first and last of the disciples. He was there, on the Mount of Olives with Peter, James and John when Jesus described his return and warned of false prophets who would try to deceive humanity. (Mark 13:1-36).

“Take heed lest any may deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many … For nation shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers (sic) places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.”

References drip from between the lines of the book, offering a piece of information, clues to the book’s outcome or an interesting sidebar worthy of further exploration. There’s no annotation and that’s the way the authors wanted it.

Short and intense, the book reads like it was written to be in pictures.

In reality, it was written to be accessible.

“We’re trying to get across an idea and a story that would have more mass appeal,” Harris said. “It was frustrating and required a careful balance to try to present enough information to wet the whistle but not bore people to death.”

That balancing act is why the authors decided to break the story into three parts.

“I think we managed to introduce ideas but also keep the story moving fast enough,” Harris said.

And for readers who want more information, Doe said, the Web site – www.wakinggod.com – serves a compendium to the book, providing background information on the historical people and places referenced.

About the authors

Harris and Doe met in New York while teaching at the same school. The seed of “Waking God” was planted one morning before the homeroom bell could ring.

“Waking God” was released June 22 and is published by Star Publish. From the time of the first early morning conversation, it took about a year and a half to complete the book, Harris said.

The pair hope to have a draft of the second installment by the first of next year, he said.

Doe, 34, was born in Ogdensburg, N.Y. He received a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University and a master’s degree in secondary education from the State University of New York at Potsdam College. He is the author of “Barley and Gold,” which was published in 2001.

Harris, 57, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from The American University in Washington, D.C., and was the assistant director of the State Planning Office during the Brennan administration. He is a member of several secret organizations, including the Rose Cross, or Rosicrucian Order. What that means, Harris won’t say. That’s why it’s called a secret organization, he said.