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How did the universe begin? Can God's existence be proven? Do humans matter more than animals? For many years people have sent the scientist-turned-priest John Polkinghorne these and other questions about science and belief. In question-and-answer format, Polkinghorne and his collaborator Nicholas Beale offer their highly informed opinions about some of the most frequently asked of these questions. Readers can follow their own paths through the book, selecting questions that interest them and looking at the additional material if they choose. This unique book will help Christians clarify their beliefs regarding difficult issues and better face challenges--from within and from others--to their faith.
Media reviews
To get this to work you have to cherry-pick which bits of scripture and dogma are to be taken as symbolic and which as literally true - so: Genesis is symbolic, the resurrection of Jesus literally true - the chief criterion being convenience, with the resurrection as a bit of necessary dogma whose
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violations of biological laws you just have to shrug your shoulders over. But you only do the cherry-picking and reinterpreting to the religious sources; science is not so easy to treat in this way. The rule appears to be that where science and religion directly conflict - about the origin of the universe, let us say - the religious tale (Genesis) gets turned into symbol, thus sidestepping the possibility of direct and testable confrontation. And indeed there is no possible test of religious claims; again conveniently, "God will not be tested."
Moreover, as Beale-Polkinghorne exquisitely show, they can by this technique of evasion, rewriting, special pleading, Jesuitry and speciousness provide a religion-consistent answer to every question and every objection: which reminds one of Popper's telling remark, "A theory that is consistent with everything explains nothing."
Thus in short, on the religious side of things you make up truth as you go along, by interpreting and reinterpreting scripture to suit your needs and to avoid refutation by confrontation with plain fact; and thus it is that Beale-Polkinghorne can claim that both science and religion seek truth. I would call this dishonest if I did not think it is in fact delusion, which - since a kind of lunatic sincerity is involved - it rather palpably shows itself to be. And it happens that "lunatic" is appropriate here, for the painful experience of wading through this book gave me an epiphany: that religious faith is extremely similar to the kind of conspiracy theory that sufferers from paranoid delusions can hold: the faithful see a purposive hand in everything, plotting and controlling and guiding - and interpret all their experience accordingly. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member scottjpearson
John Polkinghorne is a Cambridge physicist who decided, mid-career, to become an Anglican priest. Like a good scientist working out a theory, he worked out how his orthodox Christian beliefs were essentially compatible with modern physics. He has won international acclaim and awards for his
This book is organized around 51 questions about seven topics, including God, the universe, evolution, and religion. The writing is quite dense and carefully considered. Along with Polkinghorne’s other works, this book provides a concise introduction to how modern science and religion can be viewed as essentially compatible. It reads almost like a catechism about the integration of science and religion.
Central to Polkinghorne’s insights is the idea of the “anthropic principle” where the universe requires some degree of fine-tuning to support human life. He sees an opening for a divine agent. He also moves the conversation on from the framework of a purely mechanistic universe. Through quantum science – referred to consistently in this work – science has moved on past a mechanical/deterministic philosophy. He invites religion to do the same by finding God in the details of quantum atomic arrangements.
Polkinghorne’s writings are not for the faint of heart. They require a certain knowledge of physics as a prerequisite, and many religiously inclined individuals will simply not possess this. That said, it does describe the scientific theories behind Polkinghorne’s beliefs, and the motivated reader can slow down to gather knowledge. The integration of science and religion is an important topic that, due to a high degree of requisite education, few can speak knowledgeably about. This book is an significant contribution to that discussion. If faith is to have a place in the minds of the modern intelligentsia, works like this must be a key part of that discussion.
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insights about religion and science. Especially central to his contributions is the idea that both disciplines require a certain amount of belief and faith. This book, compiled with his collaborator Beale, explains in short form his approach to religion and science.This book is organized around 51 questions about seven topics, including God, the universe, evolution, and religion. The writing is quite dense and carefully considered. Along with Polkinghorne’s other works, this book provides a concise introduction to how modern science and religion can be viewed as essentially compatible. It reads almost like a catechism about the integration of science and religion.
Central to Polkinghorne’s insights is the idea of the “anthropic principle” where the universe requires some degree of fine-tuning to support human life. He sees an opening for a divine agent. He also moves the conversation on from the framework of a purely mechanistic universe. Through quantum science – referred to consistently in this work – science has moved on past a mechanical/deterministic philosophy. He invites religion to do the same by finding God in the details of quantum atomic arrangements.
Polkinghorne’s writings are not for the faint of heart. They require a certain knowledge of physics as a prerequisite, and many religiously inclined individuals will simply not possess this. That said, it does describe the scientific theories behind Polkinghorne’s beliefs, and the motivated reader can slow down to gather knowledge. The integration of science and religion is an important topic that, due to a high degree of requisite education, few can speak knowledgeably about. This book is an significant contribution to that discussion. If faith is to have a place in the minds of the modern intelligentsia, works like this must be a key part of that discussion.
Show Less
ISBN
0664233511 / 9780664233518