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The discussion of how science and Christianity relate to each other is a truly global one. Christianity around the world encompasses diverse sets of perspectives, ideas, and challenges. Similarly, the practice and perception of science can vary significantly from one region to another. When brought together in their global contexts we find a richness in the engagement between science and Christianity that leads to diverse questions and distinctive answers. Global Perspectives on Science and Christianity brings together scholars from six continents, hailing from disciplines of natural and social sciences, theology, history, and philosophy, to provide a unique collection of perspectives on how science and Christianity relate around the world. Tackling some issues that are seldom addressed as well as providing fresh perspectives on perennial topics, this is an important, relevant and genuinely global contribution to the discussion.

God and the Book of Nature develops theological views of the natural sciences in light of the recent theological turn in science-and-religion scholarship and the ‘science-engaged theology'movement. Centered around the Book of Nature metaphor, it brings together contributions by theologians, natural scientists, and philosophers based in Europe and North America. They provide an exploration of complementary (and even contesting) readings of the Book of Nature, particularly in light of the vexing questions that arise around essentialism and unity in the field of science and religion. Taking an experimental and open-ended approach, the volume does not attempt to unify the readings into a single ‘plot'that defines the Book of Nature, still less a single ‘theology of nature', but instead it represents a variety of hermeneutical stances. Overall the book embraces a constructive theological attitude toward the modern sciences, and makes significant contributions to the research literature in science and religion.

Evolutionary History in Theological Perspective: Exploring the Scientific Story of the Cosmos develops a new theological interpretation of evolutionary history. Exploring both secular and theological interpretations of evolutionary history, this new interpretation hinges on the similarities between individual redemption and the eschatological story of cosmic redemption as mediated by the Holy Spirit throughout evolutionary history. This new lens is then applied to relevant questions raised by the evolutionary process (especially suffering), and helps overcome the current shortcomings of contemporary interpretations of evolutionary history.

This book explores the intriguing relationship between theology, science, and the ideal of progress from a variety of perspectives. While seriously discussing the obstacles and pitfalls related to the notion of progress in theology, it argues that there are in fact many different kinds of progress in theology. It considers how this sheds positive light on what theologians do and suggests that other disciplines in the humanities can equally profit from these ideas. The chapters provide tools for making further progress in theology, featuring detailed case studies to show how progress in theology works in practice and connecting with the role and place of theology in the University. The book rearticulates in multiple ways theology's distinctive voice at the interface of science and religion.

Circles and the Cross is an invitation to explore two mysteries. One is the miracle of the cosmos: why is there something and not nothing? The other is the miracle of consciousness: why should this collection of stardust be an I and not just an it? Our basic response to those mysteries is wonder, and from wonder have grown the three great trees of human culture: religion, art, and science. This exploration is undertaken in the light of a third mystery: the cross of Christ is the clearest picture we have of the triune Creator of both cosmos and consciousness. That self-emptying of the Creator out of love for the creation helps us understand the pleasures, paradoxes, and pains of science; it helps us understand how'evolution'can be another name for creation; it casts light on the Enlightenment and Romanticism. In particular, it illuminates the environmental movement: an ethic in search of a religion. Loren Wilkinson, drawing on fifty years of teaching and writing about our relationship to creation, invites you to join this journey into understanding how the cross of Christ sheds light on the mysteries that surround us--and gives us hope in a difficult age.

This book distinguishes itself from traditional works on science and theology by not attempting to merge Christian faith with science or provide interpretations of the creation account in the book of Genesis. The focus lies on discerning God's providence through scientific insights, offering readers a deeper understanding of his interactions with the world. This book also addresses the issue of how God can maintain control while granting us free will. How does God influence the course of history and interact with us? A fresh model for understanding how God interacts with the physical world will be introduced.

The main objective of this book on cosmology and theology is to reassess the current approach to research in the field of interaction, mediation, and dialogue between modern cosmology and Christian theology (Eastern Orthodox theology in particular). This project was part of wide-ranging cross-disciplinary research undertaken by scientists, philosophers, and theologians across the world within the framework of Science & Orthodoxy around the World, run by the National Hellenic Research Foundation (Athens) from 2019 to 2023. The project and this publication contribute to the large-scale academic activity in the field of science and religion (or science and theology) with a particular accent on the contribution of Eastern Orthodox theology to this dialogue, as well as to the venues of advancement of this theology given the recent breakthroughs in cosmology, physics, and philosophy. The book also underlines the importance of expressing cosmological ideas theologically, symbolically, and scientifically in the wide context of culture and humanity's sociopolitical and environmental predicaments.

In biblical Hebrew there is a word that means both'God'and'nothing.'Paradoxically, what if God himself is simultaneously the All and the Nothing? Would this help explain why God is invincible and paradoxical? Paradoxes fill reality, with opposites routinely manifesting as the same thing at their extremes. Like the rugged earth, there is danger amidst opportunity here. While we study paradoxes to strengthen our connection with God, surprisingly in the process we learn about Satan's hypocrisies that crudely mimic paradoxes in our lives. The Bible teaches that Satan is a lying imitator, and a murderer. Why would God desire to teach us about God's own paradoxical creative power by comparison to Satan's destructive power of hypocrisy? Much of the Bible is devoted to answering this question by exposing hypocrisies in human culture and character. The Messiah particularly exposed the teachers of the law, scribes, and Pharisees, as hypocrites. When we get deeply self-honest, we know God is just, because we open our minds to possibilities that everything happens for a reason, where even the crucifixion of God's son creates healing ultimately.

Was heißt'Schöpfung'und wie unterscheidet sie sich vom Begriff'Natur'? Die biblischen Schöpfungstexte bezeugen vielfältige Vorstellungen über die Erschaffung der Welt, die Stellung des Menschen in ihr sowie die Rolle der Tiere und Pflanzen auf dem gemeinsamen Lebensraum Erde. Trotz des Wandels vom geozentrischen zum heliozentrischen Weltbild und von da zum unendlichen Universum und trotz der Einsichten der modernen Naturwissenschaft in den Aufbau des Kosmos sind die biblischen Vorstellungen vom Wirken eines Schöpfergottes nicht einfach obsolet. Vielmehr prägen sie mehr oder weniger deutlich unsere Welterfahrung bis heute. In seinem Lehr- und Studienbuch legt Bernd Janowski eine Gesamtdarstellung des biblischen Schöpfungsglaubens vor, die sowohl die kosmologischen Traditionen der Antike als auch in Auswahl die tier- und umweltethischen Perspektiven der Neuzeit und der Gegenwart berücksichtigt. Die vorliegende Darstellung gliedert sich in vier Haupt- und zwölf Unterabschnitte, die durch drei Anhänge mit zentralen Schöpfungstexten des Alten Testaments von Gen 1 bis Sir 43, mit Texten und Bildern zur Kosmologie der Antike vom alten Ägypten bis zum Koran sowie mit Dokumenten zur Tier- und Umweltethik von Montaigne bis zur Gegenwart ergänzt werden.

We live in an era in which relations are considered to be of the utmost importance in almost every field of science and society. For theology, however, this is nothing new. Having a personal relationship with God is a common Christian expression, and while this notion of relationship with God usually lacks a clear definition and its explication is often deeply flawed, this book argues nevertheless for the centrality of a theology of relationship. By reintroducing Emil Brunner as a relational theologian, based on his seminal work Truth as Encounter, it is boldly proposed that relationship must be the prime leitmotif for the whole of theology. Furthermore, the relationship analogy is investigated in light of contemporary relationship science: is it accurate to speak of a relationship with God? Berra argues that God-human interaction is indeed categorically a relationship and existentially intended to be intimate. Consequently, this relationship needs to be the theological leitmotif leading to a theology of relationship.

This brief title will pursue a triangulation of chance, divine involvement, and theology through a fundamentally Peircean lens--at least epistemologically and semiotically. The argument proceeds over five distinct chapters, and a conclusion that constitutes a sixth chapter. In Part I, I discuss the Modern Synthetic theory in evolutionary biology. In particular, I refer to what I have labeled the secular evolutionary worldview (SEW). Also in Part I, I dismiss the French physicist Pierre-Simon de Laplace's claim that a sufficiently informed intelligence could forecast everything that is going to happen in the whole universe--and, working backwards, tell you everything that did happen, not by direct citation and rebuke, but rather by implicit argumentation and demonstration of the God of Chance. In Part II of this book, I explore the God of chance and purpose, with theological assists provided by Philip Clayton and Alister McGrath over two chapters. So then, we live in a world of both chance and purpose. One may even go so far as to state that this world is designed for both chance and purpose.

This book brings together selected papers from scientists, theologians and philosophers who took part in the 2021 conference of the European Society for the Study of Science and Theology based in Madrid, Spain. The contributions constitute a cutting-edge resource for considering questions from interdisciplinary perspectives, covering both the crucial role played by images and models in our thinking and also the limitations which are inherent in these linguistic devices. Questions addressed include: Can this use of images and models generate a creative pluralism, enabling us to think outside the disciplinary silos which are a feature of academic discourse? Can they enable fruitful, synergistic, interdisciplinary conversations? This book will appeal to students and academics alike, particularly those working in the fields of philosophy, theology, ethics and the history of science.

Religious belief is often perceived as being in conflict with science—but does it have to be? Not usually, says Joseph Vukov. In this short, accessible guide, Vukov advances three models for Christians to utilize when navigating the relationship between science and faith: conflict, independence, and dialogue. He argues that dialogue is the ideal model to follow most of the time—but not necessarily all the time. Through a philosophical approach grounded in compelling real-world examples, Vukov shows how no single model can be universally adequate, and how Christians must proceed with discernment according to the nature of the matter at hand. Considering a wide variety of illustrative issues—including cosmology, evolutionary biology, extraterrestrial life, miracles, brain death, and theoretical physics—Vukov introduces and describes each of the three models of interaction between faith and science, surveys their applications, and evaluates the effectiveness of each. Throughout, he encourages Christians to embrace a spirit of intellectual humility and remember that, at their best, faith and science converge in their relentless human pursuit of truth.

Building on the work of Teilhard de Chardin, the New Cosmology integrates scientific facts and theories, including discoveries about the expanding universe and evolution, and proposes that creation is developing into greater complexity. But how are we to understand concepts like “original sin” and “redemption” if creation isn't complete and humanity is still in process? How does one “retrofit” religious tradition and Scripture into this scenario? Is there room for the historical Jesus in the New Cosmology? While a ready concern for all Christians, this question has unique implications for women religious whose lives are centered on the person and mission of Jesus Christ. How is a Catholic sister to understand her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in light of a cosmology in which the need for redemption and the role of Jesus are significantly redefined?The Heavens Are Telling the Glory of God probes these questions and offers possible answers. Beginning with the experiences of women religious and their encounter with the New Cosmology or Universe Story, this book seeks to mediate among the various perspectives and proposes how informed and reflective engagement with science, tradition, and theology can bridge the generational divides and foster a spirituality that is both emergent and incarnational.Access to online discussion and reflection questions is included.

Reframes the discussion between Christian theology and contemporary science, arguing that it is good both for religion and for science when Christians treat theology as their first truth discourse.

Science is an aspect of modern culture that carries a huge weight of prestige. It operates on a foundation of supporting presuppositions, understandings of reality that people assimilate from infancy. Such presuppositions constitute our worldviews, but we are generally unaware of them. In this book, Graeme Finlay argues that many presuppositions that were essential for the development of science were imbibed from Judeo-Christian faith in the creator God, and they remain vital for the continued vitality of science. Furthermore, theology and science share a feature that points towards their common engagement with reality. New findings catch us by surprise--so much so, that we must conclude that we encounter previously unrecognized realities in genuine experiences of discovery. We don't invent those surprising phenomena. Both theology and science engage with an objective reality that is not of our construction. The subterranean connection between science and theology at the level of presuppositions and their openness to engage with reality indicate the potential for ongoing fruitful and mutually beneficial dialogue between the two disciplines. The author illustrates this potential through examples from the field of ecological economics.

'Brings the thought and theology of Teilhard de Chardin into conversation with other significant religious thinkers, philosophers, and scientists'--

Most thoughtful people live in an interregnum between science and religion. Traditional religious answers concerning the beginning, purpose, and end of life are questioned by the natural sciences, with neuroscience conceivably constituting the last frontier where skeptics and believers explore common ground. The question concerns the nature of reflective and creative moments in life. Can these be reduced to the intersect between the nerve cells and molecules of the physical brain? Does this account for the human sense of mystery, or even spirituality? Is there a nexus between the physical and unknown dimensions of existence? The mutation in the history of theism suggests that progressive theology in the West may be set for further change.

'In this accessible and engaging introduction, [John Lennox] guides us through the great debates about science and faith, and offers incisive assessments of the issues.'Alister McGrath, Professor of Science and Religion, University of OxfordIs the rigorous pursuit of scientific knowledge really compatible with a sincere faith in God?Building on the arguments put forward in God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?, Prof John Lennox examines afresh the plausibility of a Christian theistic worldview in the light of some of the latest developments in scientific understanding. Prof Lennox focuses on the areas of evolutionary theory, the origins of life and the universe, and the concepts of mind and consciousness to provide a detailed and compelling introduction to the science and religion debate. He also offers his own reasoning as to why he continues to be convinced by a Christian approach to explaining these phenomena.Robust in its reasoning, but respectful in tone, this book is vital reading for anyone exploring the relationship between science and God.

This book offers a rationale for a new ‘ramified natural theology'that is in dialogue with both science and historical-critical study of the Bible. Traditionally, knowledge of God has been seen to come from two sources, nature and revelation. However, a rigid separation between these sources cannot be maintained, since what purports to be revelation cannot be accepted without qualification: rational argument is needed to infer both the existence of God from nature and the particular truth claims of the Christian faith from the Bible. Hence the distinction between ‘bare natural theology'and ‘ramified natural theology.'The book begins with bare natural theology as background to its main focus on ramified natural theology. Bayesian confirmation theory is utilised to evaluate competing hypotheses in both cases, in a similar manner to that by which competing hypotheses in science can be evaluated on the basis of empirical data. In this way a case is built up for the rationality of a Christian theist worldview.Addressing issues of science, theology and revelation in a new framework, this book will be of keen interest to scholars working in Religion and Science, Natural Theology, Philosophy of Religion, Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, and Science and Culture.

Suppose the universe expands and becomes a void, as most scientists think. Would that mean. God failed? If that is the fate of the universe, then some of our beliefs concerning God and our place in nature, as well as our beliefs concerning how we should live in the world, will not be borne out. From the biblical perspective, it looks as though the formless void and deep darkness opposing God from the beginning prevailed in the end. Today, when we consider the fate of the universe, as well as the possible destruction of life on Earth, it looks as though a deep darkness surrounds usThat is the idea this book considers. When we explore it, we find that we refocus our understanding of faith, hope, and love, and revitalize our view of how we should live. In brief, faith in a God who challenged the formless void and deep darkness in order to create life and sustain it charges us to do the same: oppose lifelessness and be good stewards of life. Faith in an insurgent God restores authentic hope for our future and realizes its true end: not in heaven, but on Earth, and perhaps beyond it.

Denis Edwards was a theoloian concerned with the science and religion discourse and eco-theology. He died in March 2019. This book is a collection of his till now unpusblished talks and essays.

In its attempt to ascertain the mechanisms of nature, contemporary science seems to be generating unanswerable questions. One way forward might be by appealing to a theistic metaphysics of the fundamental workings in natural science. Moving beyond Barth's objection to natural theology, this work arrives at some of Emil Brunner's exegetical insights indicating that nature is divine communication. This communication and revelation is understood through natural types, or onto-types, building upon the insights of Jonathan Edwards. Edwards proposed messages in nature as a language of God intending to convey spiritual, biblical, and theological messages to the creature as part of God's end in creating. Edwards's insights are brought forth to determine the usefulness of his typological method all the way down to cellular and molecular mechanisms. Edwards also proposed that God's acting in nature reflects the Trinitarian God of the Christian faith. Therefore, a Trinitarian theology of Nature composing a Theo-logy of Nature, a Christology of Nature, and a Pneumatology of Nature explores how each divine person of the Godhead acts in perichoretic unity in the world we encounter. God's Trinitarian powerful and magnificent glory is not merely displayed by what has been made, but is also intimately shared in a gospel of nature.

Sarah Stroumsa untersucht die als'Convivencia'bezeichnete interkommunale Balance zwischen christlichen, jüdischen und muslimischen Gemeinschaften im mittelalterlichen islamischen Osten. Sie zeigt auf, dass gerade das Vermächtnis der christlichen Akademien in der Spätantike einen tragfähigen Rahmen für das Betreiben von Philosophie bot, dem sich sowohl Juden als auch Muslime anschließen konnten. Guy G. Stroumsa nimmt die Erforschung von Judentum und Islam in der europäischen Wissenschaft des 19. Jahrhunderts in den Blick. Anhand zahlreicher Beispiele zeigt er auf, wie sich in der Geschichte der einschlägigen wissenschaftlichen Disziplinen durchweg breitere kulturelle Trends und gesellschaftliche Entwicklungen widerspiegeln.

In this book John Polkinghorne and Michael Welker explain how they understand faith in the living God. Between them, they offer a'binocular vision from [their] twin perspectives to yield helpful insight in relation to the important issues.'Part of the fascination of this book is how two people with such different backgrounds approach central theological questions relating to the faith they both share. Their concerns are truth rather than polemics, reliability rather than simple certainty. They seek to anchor their thought in concrete particulars rather than abstract generalizations. They ask the questions that trouble the inquiring mind, and meet head-on the challenge as well as the reassurances of belief. This second edition provides a new Preface and updated bibliographies.

God's world was created'very good,'Genesis chapter 1 tells us, and in this book Jon Garvey rediscovers the truth, known to the Church for its first 1,500 years but largely forgotten now, that the fall of mankind did not lessen that goodness. The natural creation does not require any apologies or excuses, but rather celebration and praise. The author's re-examination of the scriptural evidence, the writings of two millennia of Christian theologians, and the physical evidence of the world itself lead to the conclusion that we, both as Christians and as modern Westerners, have badly misunderstood our world. Restoring a truer vision of the goodness of the present creation can transform our own lives, sharpen the ministry of the church to the world of both people and nature, and give us a better understanding of what God always intended to bring about through Christ in the age to come.

In celebration of Alister E. McGrath's sixty-fifth birthday in 2018, this Festschrift aims to highlight him as a lauded scholar, who exemplifies an interface of science, theology, and religion. It comprises works by McGrath's theological allies and colleagues from diverse ecclesial homes including Graham Ward, Oliver Crisp, Tony Lane, Sung Wook Chung, Randall Zachman, Veli-Matti Karkkainen, Jonathan Wilson, Jeffrey P. Greenman, Robert Kolb, Sister Benedicta Ward, Michael Lloyd, Bethany Sollereder, and Patrick Franklin. Critical but appreciative is the posture with which these contributors engage the wide range of McGrath's own scholarly pursuits and publications. This volume, edited by Dennis Ngien, covers these themes that are central to the life and witness of the church: atonement, Christology, Trinity, eschatology, mission, Reformation, science, nature, culture, evangelism, and theodicy--there is much to ponder and reap here. Readers will join with the contributors and pay tribute to McGrath who has risen to a life of significance as a scientist turned theologian, professor, author, Christian apologist, and churchman.

Can theology be expounded almost entirely in jokes? This is an attempt to do so. But it is also a record of how one person recovered from fundamentalism, and found a different, more positive spirituality within Christian faith. It seeks to speak to those who only know an exclusive and dogmatic version of Christianity, and who feel the need for something more universally compassionate and friendly to informed scientific thought. Ward argues that we need to escape from the image of a vindictive, wrathful, judgmental God, who saves just a few people from endless torture for no obvious reason. He proposes instead a view of the universe as evolving towards a goal, guided by a supreme cosmic consciousness, which manifests its nature in this historical process. Jesus is the human image of this consciousness, an image of universal self-giving love and a foreshadowing of the transformation of human lives by their union with the divine. The jokes are there because Christian faith should be really joyful, hopeful, and positive good news for everyone--that there is a spiritual basis and goal of the universe which wills everyone without exception to share in its unlimited wisdom and love.

Have you ever thought about how self-consciousness (self-awareness) originated in the universe? Understanding consciousness is one of the toughest'nuts to crack.'In recent years, scientists and philosophers have attempted to provide an answer to this mystery. The reason for this is simply because it cannot be confined to solely a materialistic interpretation of the world. Some scientific materialists have suggested that consciousness is merely an illusion in order to insulate their worldviews. Yet, consciousness is the most fundamental thing we know, even more so than the external world since we require it to perceive or think about anything. Without it, reasoning would be impossible. Dr. Scott Ventureyra, in this ground-breaking book, explores the idea of the Christian God and Creation in order to tackle this most difficult question. He demonstrates that theology has something significant to offer in reflection of how consciousness originated in the universe. He also makes a modest claim that the Christian conception of God and Creation provide a plausible account for the origin of self-consciousness. He integrates philosophy, theology, and science in an innovative way to embark on this exploration.

Many people assume that science'disproves'the idea of God, and that we no longer need faith in order to understand the world or why we are in it.Roger Trigg examines these assumptions and considers whether recent developments in science may in fact support religious faith. He goes on to consider the increasing scientific evidence for the inherent orderliness and comprehensibility of the universe, which leads him to ask an even more radical question: Might there be aspects of religious belief that can help to support our science?Contents1. Does science disprove God?2. Are science and religion just different?3. Could science support Christianity?4. Does science need Christianity?

In exploring Christian discipleship, Alister McGrath encourages us to move beyond a superficial grasp of our faith to discover its depth and riches. He sees discipleship as a process of growth in wisdom: we absorb a Christian vision of reality, allow it to percolate in our minds and then inform how we see things, think about them and act. Helpfully drawing on the astute and illuminating insights of Dorothy L. Sayers, C. S. Lewis, John Stott and J. I. Packer, the author suggests how we can hold on to hope while journeying through darkness, and live meaningfully in a world where things don't always seem to make sense.‘Alister McGrath offers an appealing and lucid demonstration of theology understood as a “reflective inhabitation” of the Christian faith. This wise and elegant book shows the urgent importance of a Christian mind for faithful discipleship that engages the contemporary world. It should be essential reading for every pastor and every thoughtful Christian layperson.'Jeffrey P. Greenman, President, Regent College, Vancouver

A leading expert in science and theology introduces the topic of cosmology from a'state of the question'perspective, showing what the stakes are for religion and theology in the rise of modern science.

Astrotheology: Science and Theology Meet Extraterrestrial Life looks at both ends of the telescope: the unfathomable reaches of cosmic space and the excited stirrings within the human psyche. It takes a scientist to explain what we are looking at. It takes a theologian to understand who is doing the looking. This book's scientific authors update readers on astrobiology's search for extraterrestrial life. Theologians add to the science a theological analysis of the place of space in understanding God's creative work, the prospects of sharing God's creation with extraterrestrial neighbors, and the question of whether one or many incarnations are required for cosmic redemption. Finally, these scholars lay the foundations for an ethic of space exploration. This book introduces a comprehensive astrotheology with an accompanying astroethic.

How should we attempt to understand the relationship between theology and science in the twenty-first century? In this book, I will attempt to answer this question by examining several previous attempts to classify this relationship. I also develop my personal view of the relation, thereafter discussing some Catholic contributions to this project, and then revisit some of my previously published material, highlighting the role of panentheism therein, and noting an emergent implication from the literature: the resultant possibilities for God--an implication that creates space for a broadly relational perspective of the process of emergence. These movements allow me to argue that kenosis and emergence can add to the discussion of understanding the theology and science relationship. Herein, I advocate a monistic process-based view of the overlapping relationship between theology and science.

Die Frage, welche Wissensform Aristoteles mit seiner Topik im Unterschied zur strengen Wissenschaftslehre der'Zweiten Analytik'im Blick hatte, ist im vergangenen halben Jahrhundert ins Zentrum der geisteswissenschaftlichen Forschung gerückt. An den intensiven Diskussionen zur Topikforschung hat sich die Theologie bislang nur sporadisch beteiligt. Dabei war die Theologie neben der Jurisprudenz der bevorzugte wissenschaftliche Ort, an dem die Topik ihre Bedeutung erweisen sollte. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht diese Bedeutung in den frühen theologischen Wissensformen und ihre Rolle als Epistemologie, d.h. einer wissenschaftlichen Theologie, wie sie seit dem 12. Jahrhundert von den Gelehrten diskutiert wurde. In diesen wurde immer das Eigentümliche von Theologie als einer Glaubenswissenschaft mit berücksichtigt, die also eine Wissensform darstellt, die sich der menschlichen Vernunft nicht aus sich erschließt, sondern die aus der Offenbarung gegeben ist und die deshalb dieser beglaubwürdigender Instanzen bedarf. In den Dogmatiken des konfessionellen Zeitalters wird die breite Semantik der Topik zwischen Analytik, Enzyklopädik und Argumentations-Heuristik für die Neuzeit entfaltet.

John Polkinghorne, ordained member of the Royal Society, past President of Queen's College Cambridge, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 2002 Templeton Prize winner, theoretical physicist, and theologian writes in breathless style to unfold core Christian doctrine in dialogue with science. His work deftly addresses how one would interpret and commend Christian faith in the contemporary world as he elucidates the key topics in the dialogue of religion with science. Polkinghorne's work addresses the hope Christians have--present and future--in the faithfulness of a loving God who stands alongside them today and for all eternity. Eschatological hope enables and empowers Christian life and emerges in God's resurrection of Jesus from the horrific crucifixion. Polkinghorne ably supports his thesis with a strong argument for the resurrection built on the kenotic acts of God. His thesis sees Christian eschatology as the advent of hope--the heart of faith. In Christian eschatology, as argued by Polkinhorne and supported in the work of Jurgen Moltmann and Nicholas T. Wright, Christ's presence is not some far off event, but present reality.

“Enriching our Vision of Reality is elegant, erudite, and animated by a constant enthusiasm for its subject. There is everything here—science, theology, philosophy, biography, even some poetry—all enlisted to help us to see the world as it is, both more clearly and with greater delight.” —Reverend Doctor Andrew Davison, Starbridge Lecturer in theology and natural sciences, University of Cambridge, and fellow in theology at Corpus Christi College “It's a pleasure to read an introduction to science and Christian belief that is both erudite and accessible. McGrath's new book is rich with personal examples, biographies of famous scientists and theologians, and effective refutations of their detractors. This invitation to move forward from a bifurcated to an expansive view of reality is recommended for all who seek an ‘integrated understanding'of science and Christian faith.” —Philip Clayton, editor of The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science In this exceptional volume, leading theologian Alister McGrath writes for scientists with an interest in theology, and Christians and theologians who are aware of the importance of the natural sciences. A scene-setting chapter explores the importance of the human quest for intelligibility. The focus then moves to three leading figures who have stimulated discussion about the relationship between science and theology in recent years: Charles Coulson, an Oxford professor of theoretical chemistry who was also a prominent Methodist lay preacher; Thomas F. Torrance, perhaps the finest British theologian of the twentieth-century; and John Polkinghorne, a theoretical physicist and theologian. The final section of the book features six “parallel conversations” between science and theology, which lay the groundwork for the kind of enriched vision of reality the author hopes to encourage. Here, we are inspired to enjoy individual aspects of nature while seeking to interpret them in the light of deeper revelations about our gloriously strange universe.

What does it mean to be'made in the image and likeness of God'? How has the world talked about God over the ages? What do the life and teachings of Jesus say about the nature of God? Do the'new sciences'diminish or affirm Christianity's understanding of God?Through the lens of'catholicity,'an awareness of our fundamental wholeness in God, Fr. Hosinski surveys our evolving understandings of God, casting light on our knowledge of the universe as revealed in physics, cosmology, and biology, particularly the theory of evolution.Here is a holistic understanding of God compatible with the implications of contemporary science that, remarkably, advances an understanding that is harmonious with the implications of Jesus'own life and teachings.

Can a neuroscientist help a theologian interpret a medieval mystical text? Can a historian of religion help an anthropologist understand the effects of social cooperation on human evolution? Can a legal scholar and a theologian help each other think about how fear of God relates to respect for the law? In this volume leading scholars in ethics, theology, and social science sum up three years of study and conversation regarding the value of interdisciplinary theological inquiry. This is an essential and challenging collection for all who set out to think, write, teach, and preach theologically in the contemporary world.CONTRIBUTORS: John P. Burgess Peter Danchin Celia Deane-Drummond Agustín Fuentes Andrea Hollingsworth Robin W. Lovin Joshua Mauldin Friederike Nüssel Mary Ellen O'Connell Douglas F. Ottati Stephen Pope Colleen Shantz Michael Spezio

How are we to think about the natural world around us in relation to the God of Jesus? Astronomers, cosmologists, and evolutionary biologists have opened wonderfully new ways of seeing the community of life on Earth, and its place in the universe. At the same time we are facing an extreme crisis of life on our planet. Both of these realities demand that we rethink our theology of animals, plants, ecosystems, as well as galaxies and stars. In this book, Denis Edwards collects together a series of explorations into this kind of theology.

Since the dawn of science, ideas about the relation between science and religion have always depended on what else is going on in a society. During the twentieth century, daily life changed dramatically. Technology revolutionized transportation, agriculture, communications, and housework. People came to rely on scientific predictability in their technology. Many wondered whether God's supposed actions were consistent with scientific knowledge. The twenty-first century is bringing new scientific research capabilities. They are revealing that scientific results are not totally predictable after all. Certain types of interaction lead to outcomes that are unpredictable, in principle. These in turn may lead to a whole new range of potential interactions. They do not rule out the reality of a dynamic God who can act in the world without breaking the known principles of science. God may in fact work with'the way things really are.'Human experience of God may accurately reflect this reality. Interactive World, Interactive God illustrates such new understandings in religion and science by describing recent developments in a wide range of sciences, and providing theological commentary. The book is written for intelligent readers who may not be specialized in science but who are looking for ways to understand divine action in today's world.

Dem Gott der klassischen Philosophie, der vollkommen, unveränderlich und ewig ist, steht in der christlichen Theologie die geschichtliche Wirkmächtigkeit Gottes in seiner Gerechtigkeit, Barmherzigkeit, Gnade, Fürsorge, Vergebung und Treue zur Seite. Wie diese beiden Sichtweisen zusammenzubringen sind und wie damit die Frage nach Gottes Handeln in der Welt adäquat zu beantworten ist, stellt eine der ältesten Streitfragen in der Theologieund Philosophiegeschichte dar. Sie verschärft sich darüber hinaus noch vor dem Hintergrund der naturwissenschaftlichen Fundamentalthese von der kausalen Geschlossenheit des physikalischen Universums. Dieser Sammelband bringt die in jüngster Zeit entworfenen Perspektiven auf die Problematik zusammen und sucht so nach einer vertretbaren Antwort auf die Frage nach dem Handeln Gottes in der Welt.

Historically speaking, theology can be said to operate “materiaphobically.” Protestant Christianity in particular has bestowed upon theology a privilege of the soul over the body and belief over practice, in line with the distinction between a disembodied God and the inanimate world “He” created. Like all other human, social, and natural sciences, religious studies imported these theological dualisms into a purportedly secular modernity, mapping them furthermore onto the distinction between a rational, “enlightened” Europe on the one hand and a variously emotional, “primitive,” and “animist” non-Europe on the other. The “new materialisms” currently coursing through cultural, feminist, political, and queer theories seek to displace human privilege by attending to the agency of matter itself. Far from being passive or inert, they show us that matter acts, creates, destroys, and transforms—and, as such, is more of a process than a thing. Entangled Worlds examines the intersections of religion and new and old materialisms. Calling upon an interdisciplinary throng of scholars in science studies, religious studies, and theology, it assembles a multiplicity of experimental perspectives on materiality: What is matter, how does it materialize, and what sorts of worlds are enacted in its varied entanglements with divinity? While both theology and religious studies have over the past few decades come to prioritize the material contexts and bodily ecologies of more-than-human life, Entangled Worlds sets forth the first multivocal conversation between religious studies, theology, and the body of “the new materialism.” Here disciplines and traditions touch, transgress, and contaminate one another across their several carefully specified contexts. And in the responsiveness of this mutual touching of science, religion, philosophy, and theology, the growing complexity of our entanglements takes on a consistent ethical texture of urgency.

Die christliche Religion gründet auf Gottes Handeln in der Welt, das für viele Menschen heute unwahrscheinlich, ja mit wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen unvereinbar ist. Der Autor beantwortet die zentralen Fragen: Wie kann angesichts neuerer biologischer und kosmologischer Erkenntnisse dennoch an Gottes Handeln in der Welt verantwortet geglaubt werden? Was heißt'Gott handelt'? Gibt es Wunder? Ist es sinnvoll, Gott um ein besonderes Eingreifen zu bitten?

In this exceptional volume, Alister McGrath writes for scientists with an interest in theology, and Christians and theologians who are aware of the importance of the natural sciences. A scene-setting chapter explores the importance of the human quest for intelligibility. The focus then moves to three leading figures who have stimulated discussion about the relationship between science and theology[LC1] in recent years: Charles Coulson, an Oxford professor of theoretical chemistry who was also a prominent Methodist lay preacher; Thomas F. Torrance, perhaps the finest British theologian of the twentieth century; and John Polkinghorne, a theoretical physicist, theologian and Anglican priest. The latter part of the book features six parallel ‘conversations'between science and theology, which lay the groundwork for the kind of enriched vision of reality the author hopes to encourage. Here, we are inspired to enjoy individual aspects of nature while seeking to interpret them in the light of deeper revelations about our gloriously strange universe.‘Enriching our Vision of Reality is elegant, erudite, and animated by a constant enthusiasm for its subject. There is everything here – science, theology, philosophy, biography, even some poetry – all enlisted to help us to see the world as it is, both more clearly and with greater delight.'The Revd Dr Andrew Davison, Starbridge Lecturer in Theology and Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, and Fellow in Theology at Corpus Christi College

Confronting Religious Denial of Science: Christian Humanism and the Moral Imagination traces the cultural backstory of contemporary conflicts between biblical literalists who oppose evolution and'New Atheists'who insist that religion is so pernicious it should be outlawed, if not exterminated. That's a clash of fundamentalisms. It's a zero-sum game derived from high Victorian misunderstanding of both religion and science. The God whom science supposedly replaces is the Engineer Almighty sitting at his keyboard, controlling every event on earth. But that's not a viable concept of God. Far better, Wallace argues, to understand Christianity in Clifford Geertz's terms as a system of symbols that both constitutes a worldview and, according to David Sloan Wilson, encourages prosocial behavior. That reframing makes it possible to reclaim what biblical scholars have said for decades: the miracles of Jesus were confrontational symbolic actions. They contradicted the political status quo in colonial Palestine, not the laws of biology. Prayer, she explains, is not magical thinking. It's a creative, highly disciplined introspective process, most familiar to many people in forms like mindfulness meditation. Wallace offers an intriguing exploration of issues that believers seldom discuss in ways that make sense to the religiously unaffiliated.

Die Kirche steht mit ihrem Auftrag, das Evangelium Jesu Christi zu verkünden, heute in einer sich rasch wandelnden Welt, die der Frage nach Gott ambivalent gegenübersteht. Prof. George Augustin hat sich in seinen Publikationen der Frage nach Gott und einer zeitgemäßen Verkündigung des Glaubens auf vielfältige Art und Weise gestellt. Der ihm gewidmete Band vereint Arbeiten namhafter Vertreter aus Kirche, Theologie und Gesellschaft, die jeweils aus ihren Perspektiven einen Blick auf die Welt vor Gott und die Aufgabe der Christenheit in der Welt von heute werfen. Zu den Themengebieten Glaube und Welt, Spiritualität und Geschichte, Christentum und Pluralismus, Kirche und Sendung sowie Theologie und Wissenschaft bieten die Beiträge anregende Impulse und weiterführende Gedanken für die gegenwärtige Lage der Beziehung von Gott und Welt.'Wer P. Augustin fragt, mit welchem ›Wappenspruch‹ er sein vielfältiges Wirken zusammenfassen würde, bekommt als Antwort ein Zitat der Hl. Schrift: ›Ich will, dass sie das Leben haben und es in Fülle haben.‹ In diesem Satz leuchtet noch einmal auf, was die Seele aller Wirksamkeit unseres Jubilars ausmacht: die priesterliche Heilssorge für die Menschen, die ihm anvertraut sind. Wer könnte zudem übersehen, dass dieses Motto, das dem Leben und Schaffen P. Augustins voranleuchtet, bei ihm selber bis zu einem bestimmten Grad Erfüllung gefunden hat?'(Aus dem Vorwort).

Was Adam really a historical person, and can we trust the biblical story of human origins? Or is the story of Eden simply a metaphor, leaving scientists the job to correctly reconstruct the truth of how humanity began? Although the church currently faces these pressing questions—exacerbated as they are by scientific and philosophical developments of our age—we must not think that they are completely new. In The Quest for the Historical Adam, William VanDoodewaard recovers and assesses the teaching of those who have gone before us, providing a historical survey of Genesis commentary on human origins from the patristic era to the present. Reacquainting the reader with a long line of theologians, exegetes, and thinkers, VanDoodewaard traces the roots, development, and, at times, disappearance of hermeneutical approaches and exegetical insights relevant to discussions on human origins. This survey not only informs us of how we came to this point in the conversation but also equips us to recognize the significance of the various alternatives on human origins. It also includes a foreword written by Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. Table of Contents: 1. Finding Adam and His Origin in Scripture 2. The Patristic and Medieval Quest for Adam 3. Adam in the Reformation and Post-Reformation Eras 4. Adam in the Enlightenment Era 5. Adam in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries 6. The Quest for Adam: From the 1950s to the Present 7. What Difference Does It Make? Epilogue: Literal Genesis and Science?

In ways both confident and gentle, Stars Beneath Us brilliantly shows Gods presence in the ever-evolving cosmos. Relying on his upbringing as a Baptist, his doctoral work in experimental nuclear physics and gamma-ray astronomy, and his ordination to the gospel ministry in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Paul Wallace weaves a book unlike any other in faith-and-science literature. Instead of engaging the debates of natural theology or proofs for the existence of God, this is a call to courage for those who fear a true encounter with the cosmos will distance them from God.With a winsome mix of compelling personal narrative and insightful biblical analysis, the author calls into perspective the scale of the cosmos and our place within it. Relying on a theology of openness to the world, Stars Beneath Us will inspire readers to engage with the natural world in new ways and find God, as it turns out, everywhere.

What if philosophy, theology, and science spent a little more time together? These fields often seem at odds, butting metaphysical heads. Instead of talking at, how about talking with one another? This book engages three academic disciplines--distinct yet sharing much in common--in a slice of conversation and community in which participants have aimed at validating the other and the way the other sees the world. The result is a collection of essays united by a thread that can be hard to find in academia. In bringing together a wide range of contributors on a project that at first seemed unlikely, Irreconcilable Differences? is also a testament to the spirit of cooperation and hard work--evidence that small acts and events can make a big difference, and that sometimes all you need in order to make something good happen is an idea with a little support along the way. The editors of this collection are hopeful that its contributors and readers will keep looking for ways to bridge academic, social, and political gaps. We need to forge relationships based on personal knowledge and proper confidence seeking to make meaningful claims in an increasingly complex world.