In an interview on Coast to Coast AM, authors Bernard Haisch and Marsha Sims talked about their new book, The Miracle of Our Universe: A New View of Consciousness, God, Science, and Reality.
From the book jacket:
"Without consciousness there is nothing. The hypothesis presented in this book is that our seemingly physical universe of matter and energy is a virtual simulation which is thought into existence by a universal consciousness which we call God."
In their Coast to Coast interview, Sims explained:
"'We're not just biological machines, but we are conscious immortal beings who co-create a virtual reality together with the great cosmic consciousness.' Our consciousness is literally a piece of God, she added. God experiences himself only through creatures like us, doing the observing, as though we are his eyes and ears, Haisch remarked."
This relates to the concept, best expressed by William Swygard, that our souls came into being when Source released parts of itself with the instruction: "Go, know (and create) in my universe, and return it to me."
"Haisch has been particularly impressed by people's near-death experiences, which he thinks opens the door to the afterlife, as well as accounts of past lives."
...Because I always see a connection to Past Lives in these topics!