Belief in God in an Age of ScienceJohn Polkinghorne is a major figure in today’s debates over the compatibility of science and religion. Internationally known as both a theoretical physicist and a theologian—the only ordained member of the Royal Society—Polkinghorne brings unique qualifications to his inquiry into the possibilities of believing in God in an age of science. In this thought-provoking book, the author focuses on the collegiality between science and theology, contending that these "intellectual cousins" are both concerned with interpreted experience and with the quest for truth about reality. He argues eloquently that scientific and theological inquiries are parallel. The book begins with a discussion of what belief in God can mean in our times. Polkinghorne explores a new natural theology and emphasizes the importance of moral and aesthetic experience and the human intuition of value and hope. In other chapters, he compares science’s struggle to understand the nature of light with Christian theology’s struggle to understand the nature of Christ. He addresses the question, Does God act in the physical world? And he extends his ideas about the role of chaos theory, surveys the prospects for future dialogue between scientific and theological thinkers, and defends a critical realist understanding of the activities of both disciplines. Polkinghorne concludes with a consideration of the nature of mathematical truths and the links between the complementary realities of physical and mental experience. |
Contents
Does God Act in the Physical World? | |
The Continuing Dialogue Between Science | |
Religion | |
Mathematical Postscript | |
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Common terms and phrases
Age of Science agency Anthropic Anthropic Principle behaviour believe causal joint chaos chaos theory chaotic systems chap chapter character Christ Christian Belief Christian Belief/Faith Christology classical concerned consider cosmic history creation creaturely critical realism critical realist Dawkins deterministic discovery discussion divine action divine nature Einstein encounter enquiry entities epistemological equations exploration fruitfulness fundamental future G. H. Hardy gluons God’s human experience I. G. Barbour Ian Barbour insights intellectual interaction J. C. Polkinghorne Jesus judgement kind knowledge laws of nature Mandelbrot set mathematical metaphysical mind natural theology ontological Oxford University Press particular pattern philosophical physical process physical world Physicist possible present problem Process theology quantum mechanics quantum theory quarks question rational realist recognition relation religion religious experience resurrection science and theology scientific scientific realism SCM Press seeking seems selfish genes sense significance simply SPCK special relativity structure temporal Testament tradition understanding verisimilitudinous world faith