Statistical Thinking, Spiritual Boundaries, and the Faith to Revise What We Believe
by Lawrence I. Morris
What if we approached faith the way we approach science - not to disprove it, but to examine it with the same curiosity, rigor, and humility?
In this groundbreaking fusion of spiritual memoir, data science, and philosophical inquiry, Lawrence I. Morris draws on his personal journey from the pews of both Southern Baptist churches and the Mormon church in Louisiana to the academic halls of Columbia Engineering and NYU Stern School of Business in New York City, and on to refining his analytical depths in R&D at Duracell, 1010data, and Greystone. With the clarity of a statistician and the empathy of a seeker, Lawrence I. Morris asks bold questions: Can sacred texts be understood as statistical samples? Are belief systems quantifiable and comparable? Can absolute truth be known, or only approached within interpretive limits?
Influenced by a blend of narratives from Darwin, Genesis, Bayesian analysis and reasoning, and lesser known sacred texts, this book challenges both the devout and the skeptical to reconsider what it means to know, believe, and interpret in a world of finite perspectives.
This is not a call for relativism, but a case for reasoned faith. A belief system - like a dataset- gains meaning only when we understand the limits of what it can and cannot convey.
“Morris provides a truly unique approach to examining the intersection of science and spirituality. If left me thinking about faith in a completely new way”
Verified review from Goodreads
“His writing challenges and inspires. The way he combines complex topics and makes them relatable is extraordinary”
Verified review from Goodreads
“Lawrence I. Morris has been awarded the esteemed title of 'Best New Author in the United States of 2025 by Evergreen Awards for his extraordinary debut, 'A World Connected Within the Bounds of Interpretation'. This captivating work has garnered widespread attention for its groundbreaking approach to blending spiritual exploration with data science, challenging conventional boundaries and offering readings a fresh lens through which to view both faith and knowledge”
2025 Evergreen Awards Committe for Excellence in Literary Innovation
Lawrence I. Morris is an engineer, strategist, and thinker whose background in data analytics, product development, AI and theology intersect in a search for deeper human understanding. With academic roots in NYU Stern School of Business and Columbia Engineering, Morris explores belief, truth, and structure in both the spiritual and scientific domains. He lives in Brooklyn, NY and continues to examine how revision as well as interpretation - both intellectually and spiritually - shapes the way we live and believe.