Religion and science Books

Book SynopsisNow revised and updated--John Lennox''s acclaimed method of reading and interpreting the first chapters of Genesis without discounting either science or Scripture. What did the writer of Genesis mean by the first day? Are the seven days in Genesis 1 a literal week or a series of time periods? If I believe that the earth is 4.5 billion years old as cosmologists believe, am I denying the authority of Scripture?With examples from history, a brief but thorough exploration of the major interpretations, and a look into the particular significance of the creation of human beings, Lennox suggests that Christians can heed modern scientific knowledge while staying faithful to the biblical narrative. He moves beyond a simple response to the controversy, insisting that Genesis teaches us far more about the God of Jesus Christ and about God''s intention for creation than it does about the age of the earth.With this book, Lennox offers a careful and accessible introduction to a scientifically-savvy, theologically-astute, and Scripturally faithful interpretation of Genesis.Since its publication in 2011, this book has enabled many readers to see that the major controversy with which it engages can be resolved without compromising commitment to the authority of Scripture. In this newly revised and expanded edition, John clarifies his arguments, responds to comments and critiques of the past decade since its first publication. In particular, he describes some of the history up to modern times of Jewish scholarly interpretation of the Genesis creation narrative as well as spelling out in more detail the breadth of views in the Great Tradition of interpretation due to the early Church Fathers. He shows that, contrary to what many people think, much of the difficulty with understanding the biblical texts does not arise from modern science but from attempting to elucidate the texts in their own right.

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Book SynopsisWill technology change what it means to be human? You don''t have to be a computer scientist to have discerning conversations about artificial intelligence and technology. We all wonder where we''re headed. Even now, technological innovations and machine learning have a daily impact on our lives, and many of us see good reasons to dread the future. Are we doomed to the surveillance society imagined in George Orwell''s 1984?Mathematician and philosopher John Lennox believes that there are credible answers to the daunting questions that AI poses, and he shows that Christianity has some very serious, sensible, evidence-based responses about the nature of our quest for superintelligence.2084 will introduce you to a kaleidoscope of ideas: The key developments in technological enhancement, bioengineering, and, in particular, artificial intelligence. The agreements and disagreements that scientists and experts have Table of ContentsPreface 1. Two Big Questions: Humanity: Where from and Where to? 2. Narrow Artificial Intelligence---The Future Is Bright? 3. Narrow AI: Perhaps the Future Is Not So Bright After All? 4. Upgrading Humans 5. Artificial General Intelligence---The Future Is Dark? 6. The Genesis Files: What Is a Human Being? 7. The True “Homo Deus” 8. Future Shock: The Return of the Man Who Is God Appendix: Christian Transhumanism?

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Book SynopsisNEW EDITIONThe Science Delusion is the belief that science already understands the nature of reality. The fundamental questions are answered, leaving only the details to be filled in. In this book (published in the US as Science Set Free), Dr Rupert Sheldrake, one of the world's most innovative scientists, shows that science is being constricted by assumptions that have hardened into dogmas. The 'scientific worldview' has become a belief system. All reality is material or physical. The world is a machine, made up of dead matter. Nature is purposeless. Consciousness is nothing but the physical activity of the brain. Free will is an illusion. God exists only as an idea in human minds, imprisoned within our skulls.Sheldrake examines these dogmas scientifically, and shows persuasively that science would be better off without them: freer, more interesting, and more fun.In The God Delusion Richard Dawkins used science to bash God, but here Rupert Sheldrake shows that Dawkins' understanding of what science can do is old-fashioned and itself a delusion. 'Rupert Sheldrake does science, humanity and the world at large a considerable favour.'The Independent'Certainly we need to accept the limitations of much current dogma and keep our minds open as we reasonably can. Sheldrake may help us do so through this well-written, challenging and always interesting book.' Financial TimesTrade Review'Sheldrake powerfully reminds us that science must be pursued with an open mind.' * Robert Jackson, former UK Minister for Science *'This is a terrific, engrossing book that throws open the shutters to reveal our world to be so much more intriguing and profound than could ever have been supposed.' * Dr James Le Fanu, author of The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine *'The author, a biologist, takes issue with the idea that science already understands the nature of reality - and in doing so, frees up the spirit of enquiry.' * The Times *'There is something rather odd about the current state of science. For Rupert Sheldrake, [it is] facing a 'credibility crunch' on many fronts. He presents this challenging argument by identifying 'ten core beliefs that most scientists take for granted.' He then interrogates each in turn by reformulating it, in the spirit of radical scepticism, as a question. This Socratic method of inquiry proves surprisingly illuminating. A serious mind-expanding book.' * James le Fanu, The Spectator *'Certainly we need to accept the limitations of much current dogma and keep our minds open as we reasonably can. Sheldrake may help us do so through this well-written, challenging and always interesting book.' * Crispin Tickell, Financial Times *'Rupert Sheldrake does science, humanity and the world at large a considerable favour.' * Colin Tudge, The Independent *Rupert Sheldrake shows very convincingly the way that time and again scientists refuse to look at anything outside a very limited set of possibilities. Sheldrake shows powerfully how some professional skeptics simply have no interest in looking into claims for anything outside of our current scientific understanding. A valuable and powerful message. * www.popularscience.co.uk *'Isn't it nice to have some mystery back? Isn't it nice to have doubts?' * Esquire *'We must somehow find different, more realistic ways of understanding human beings - and indeed other animals - as the active wholes that they are, rather than pretending to see them as meaningless consignments of chemicals. Rupert Sheldrake, who has long called for this development, spells out this need forcibly in his new book. He shows how materialism has gradually hardened into a kind of anti-Christian principle, claiming authority to dictate theories and to veto inquiries on topics that don't suit it, such as unorthodox medicine, let along religion. He shows just how unworkable the assumptions behind today's fashionable habits have become. The 'science delusion' of his title is the current popular confidence in certain fixed assumptions - the exaltation of today's science, not as the busy, constantly changing workshop that it actually is but as a final, infallible oracle preaching a crude kind of materialism... His insistence on the need to attend to possible wider ways of thinking is surely right.' * Mary Midgley, The Guardian *'A fascinating, humane and refreshing book that any layman can enjoy, in which he takes ten supposed scientific 'laws' and turns them, instead, into questions... Dr Sheldrake wants to bring energy and excitement back into science... he has already done more than any other scientist alive to broaden the appeal of the discipline, and readers should get their teeth into the important and astounding book.' * Country Life *'This is a delightful, interesting, informative, highly readable and much needed book and we definitely recommend it.' * Greenspirit.org.uk *'This is a book about science and understanding the world that I have been hoping to read for years. It should be on every science student's course.' * The Oldie *'This book is worth reading because of the depth of focus that the author brings to bear not only on the mind and our fixed opinions but also on our unthinking acceptance of the world, as we like to see it, along with our unquestioned assumptions.' * The Middle Way: Journal of the Buddhist Society *'Sheldrake will be seen as a prophet.' * The Sunday Times *An entertaining read. * The Sunday Times *Whether or not we want to follow Sheldrake's further speculations on topics such as morphic resonance, his insistence on the need to attend to possible wider ways of thinking is surely right. * Guardian *The maverick scientist questions the orthodox of "scientific worldview". * Observer *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review...American Cosmic is well worth the attention of scholars interested in how the religious is both created and functions in the contemporary world. * Jeremy Rapport, International Journal for the Study of New Religions *This book deserves to be given attention by those in the religious studies field whose familiarity with UFO Religions is confined to historical cases or more modern personality-driven organizations. * Aaron John Gulyas, Nova Religio *refreshingly engaging * Benjamin E. Zeller, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *The book as a whole is a highly sensitive, and erudite. * Paradigm Explorer *Table of ContentsPreface- A Tour of Silicon Valley with Jacques Vallee Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1- The Invisible Tyler D. Chapter 2- James: Master of the Multiverse Chapter 3- Scott Browne's In the Field: The War is Virtual, The Blood is Real Chapter 4- When Star Wars Became Real: The Mechanisms of Belief Chapter 5- The Material Code: Moving Beyond the Disembodied Soul to the Materiality of Quantum Information Chapter 6- The Human Receiver: Matter, Information, Energy... Contact Chapter Seven- Suspended in Space: Levitating, Bilocating Saints and Tyler D.'s Spiritual Conversion in Rome Conclusion- The Artifact

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Book SynopsisBeloved teacher and thought leader Gregg Braden explains how word-specific patterns used by ancient civilisations can help us rewire our brains for resilience and healing.Long before the advent of neuroscience, our ancestors understood intuitively that the words we speak and think can cause deep inner transformation: they created specific word patterns to provide healing, strength and inner power in difficult times, and encoded these in prayers and sacred writings.In this book, Gregg Braden shares Wisdom Codes for the full range of life experiences, including:- healing from loss- giving and receiving love- addressing anger, anxiety and addiction- finding forgivenessEach Wisdom Code - distilled from a quote, a scripture passage or a parable - is accompanied by a brief discussion of what the code means, why it's important and how to apply it in your life.

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Book SynopsisWhen Charles Darwin finished The Origin of Species, he thought that he had explained every clue, but one. Though his theory could explain many facts, Darwin knew that there was a significant event in the history of life that his theory did not explain. During this event, the “Cambrian explosion,” many animals suddenly appeared in the fossil record without apparent ancestors in earlier layers of rock.  In Darwin’s Doubt, Stephen C. Meyer tells the story of the mystery surrounding this explosion of animal life—a mystery that has intensified, not only because the expected ancestors of these animals have not been found, but because scientists have learned more about what it takes to construct an animal. During the last half century, biologists have come to appreciate the central importance of biological information—stored in DNA and elsewhere in cells—to building animal forms.Expanding on the compelling case he presented in his last book, Signature in the Cell, Meyer argues that the origin of this information, as well as other mysterious features of the Cambrian event, are best explained by intelligent design, rather than purely undirected evolutionary processes.

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Book SynopsisIn Breaking the Spell Daniel C. Dennett explores how the great ideas of religion have enthralled us for thousands of years - and whether we could (or should) break free. What is religion and how did it evolve? Is it the product of blind evolutionary instinct or of rational choice? Is the only way to live a good life through religion? Few forces in the world are as potent as religion: it comforts people in their suffering and inspires them to both magnificent and terrible deeds. In this provocative and timely book, Daniel C. Dennett seeks to uncover the origins of religion and discusses how and why different faiths have shaped so many lives, whether religion is an addiction or a genuine human need, and even whether it is good for our health. Arguing passionately for the need to understand this multifaceted phenomenon, Breaking the Spell offers a truly original - and comprehensive - explanation for faith. ''Packed with a mass of intriguing detail and anecdote ... witty and clear prose''  Observer ''He''s the good cop among religion''s critics (Richard Dawkins is the bad cop), but he still makes people angry''  New Statesman ''Dennett writes with brio and humour''  Telegraph ''Elegant, sharp-minded ... clear-eyed but courteous''  Economist Daniel Dennett is one of the most original and provocative thinkers in the world. A brilliant polemicist and philosopher, he is famous for challenging unexamined orthodoxies, and an outspoken supporter of the Brights movement. His books include Brainstorms, Brainchildren, Elbow Room, Consciousness Explained, Darwin''s Dangerous Idea and Freedom Evolves.

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling author of Darwin’s Doubt, Stephen Meyer, presents groundbreaking scientific evidence of the existence of God, based on breakthroughs in physics, cosmology, and biology.Beginning in the late 19th century, many intellectuals began to insist that scientific knowledge conflicts with traditional theistic belief—that science and belief in God are “at war.” Philosopher of science Stephen Meyer challenges this view by examining three scientific discoveries with decidedly theistic implications. Building on the case for the intelligent design of life that he developed in Signature in the Cell and Darwin’s Doubt, Meyer demonstrates how discoveries in cosmology and physics coupled with those in biology help to establish the identity of the designing intelligence behind life and the universe. Meyer argues that theism—with its affirmati

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Book SynopsisA “brilliant and fascinating” (Eben Alexander, MD, author of Proof of Heaven) exploration—rich with powerful personal stories and convincing research—of the many ways the living can and do accompany the dying on their journey into the afterlife. In 2000, end-of-life therapist William Peters was volunteering at the Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco when he had an extraordinary experience as he was reading aloud to a patient: he suddenly felt himself floating midair, completely out of his body. The patient, who was also aloft, looked at him and smiled. The next moment, Peters felt himself return to his body…but his patient never regained consciousness and died. Perplexed and stunned by what had happened, Peters began searching for other people who’d shared similar experiences. He would spend the next twenty years gathering and meticulously categorizing their stories to identify key patterns and features of what is now known as the “shared crossing” experience. The similarities, which cut across continents and cultures and include awe-inspiring visual and sensory effects, and powerful emotional aftershocks. The book is filled with “moving and tender” (Jack Kornfield, PhD, author of A Path with Heart) tales of spouses seeing their loved ones reach the other side after decades together and bereaved parents who share their children’s entry into the afterlife. Applying rigorous research, Peters digs into the effects of these shared crossing experiences impart—liberation at the sight of a loved one finding joy, a sense of reconciliation if the relationship was fraught—and explores questions like: What can explain these shared death experiences? How can we increase our likelihood of having one? What do these experiences tell us about what lies beyond? And, most importantly, how can they help take away the string of death and better prepare us for our own final moments? How can we have both a better life and a better death?Trade Review“This brilliant and fascinating research about shared death experiences removes the conventional myth of death’s finality and shows how love binds us together beyond the material realm. Highly recommended!” — Eben Alexander, MD, Neurosurgeon and New York Times bestselling author of Proof of Heaven, The Map of Heaven, and Living in a Mindful Universe "A 'must read' for anyone who will die. Read to find the gifts of comfort, peace, and especially the reduction of fear. This book will change your view of dying in a profoundly positive way." — Maggie Callanan, bestselling author of Final Gifts “At Heaven's Door offers moving and tender accounts, real and important, soothing and surprisingly common, that validate and affirm the great mystery that who we are is consciousness. We are spirit beyond our body.” — Jack Kornfield, PhD, author of A Path With Heart "Peters has built upon my foundational research into shared-death phenomena with this very well-researched and thoughtful look at the transpersonal effects of dying on family, friends, and even healthcare providers. I strongly recommend At Heaven’s Door for those who want a well-researched look into what exists beyond the threshold." — Dr. Raymond Moody, bestselling author of Life After Life and Glimpses of Eternity "A growing body of evidence indicates that the death of the physical body is not the end of human consciousness. In At Heaven's Door, William J. Peters makes a vital addition to this all-important conclusion: our existence does not end with bodily death." — Larry Dossey, MD, author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters "This study based on over 800 cases is a hugely valuable contribution to our understanding not only of death and dying, but of what makes life worthwhile... A truly inspiring read." — The Scientific & Medical Network

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Book SynopsisA leading theologian presents a hopeful account of the universe after Einstein, exploring it as a meaningful drama of awakeningTrade Review“This book is a deep and provocative piece of theology that proposes we engage with the universe as a kind of narrative of awakening and unfolding, as well as an important and useful approach for thinking about theology with respect to modern cosmology.”—Matthew Stanley, New York University “What is really going on in the universe? As Haught argues in his profound and eminently readable book, Christian theology needs to take into account the structure and evolution of the universe as based upon Einstein’s general theory of relativity.”—Helge Stjernholm Kragh, Niels Bohr Institute, Denmark

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Book SynopsisFrom a bestselling author, an incendiary and uproarious assault on the pretensions of scientific atheists (National Review)Militant atheism is on the rise. Prominent thinkers including Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens have published best-selling books denigrating religious belief. And these authors are merely the leading edge of a larger movement that includes much of the scientific community. In response, mathematician David Berlinski, himself a secular Jew, delivers a biting defense of religious thought. The Devil''s Delusion is a brilliant, incisive, and funny book that explores the limits of science and the pretensions of those who insist it is the ultimate touchstone for understanding our world.

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Book SynopsisJohn Hedley Brooke offers an introduction and critical guide to one of the most fascinating and enduring issues in the development of the modern world: the relationship between scientific thought and religious belief. Brooke stands back from general theses affirming 'conflict' or harmony'.Trade Review'[John Hedley Brooke] has given us a brilliant, perceptive, subtle, nuanced analysis, which will permanently alter the way scholars and the informed lay public view the relations of science and religion.' David C. Lindberg, Metascience'… arguably the most important historical analysis of science and religion since Andrew Dickson White's History of the Warfare of Science and Theology in Christendom (1898).' Ronald L. Numbers, MetascienceTable of ContentsAcknowledgments; Introduction; 1. Interaction between science and religion: some preliminary considerations; 2. Science and religion in the scientific revolution; 3. The parallel between scientific and religious reform; 4. Divine activity in a mechanical universe; 5. Science and religion in the enlightenment; 6. The fortunes and functions of natural theology; 7. Visions of the past: religious belief and the historical sciences; 8. Evolutionary theory and religious belief; Postscript: science and religion in the twentieth century; Bibliographic essay; Sources of quotations; Index.

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Book SynopsisExplores the connections between materialist research on the atom and Rudolf Steiner's spiritual science.Table of ContentsAuthor's NoteIntroductionI. The Atom - A Historical Background (i) Prelude in Greece (ii) Elements and Principles (iii) The Way of Truth (iv) Atoms (v) Roadblock (vi) Atoms back in Vogue (vii) Making Waves (viii) Rudolf Steiner meets the Atom (ix) Rejection (x) The Age of Electricity (xi) The Electrical Atom and Human ThoughtII. A Background for Quanta (i) Origins (ii) Thermal Radiation (iii) Enter Max PlanckIII. Steiner in the Quantum Age (i) Physical Science and Spiritual Science (ii) The Goethean Alternative (iii) The Primal PhenomenonIV. Bohr's Atom -- Antecedents (i) Periodic Tables (ii) From Siberia with Love (iii) Predictions and Confusions (iv) The Hydrogen Spectrum (v) Cathode Rays (vi) The Unstable AtomV. The Rutherford-Bohr Atom (i) Bohr Gets Involved (ii) The Hydrogen Atom (iii) Beyond HydrogenVI. Late Words from Rudolf Steiner (i) A Science of Dead Matter (ii) The Demonic Atom (iii) Don't be an Ostrich (iv) The Struggle for Human Consciousness (v) So what about the Electron?VII. The Atom After Steiner (i) Waves and Particles (ii) Knabenphysik (iii) "Thou Shalt Make No Mental Image." (iv) Discontinuities and Probabilities (v) HBJ or the Three-Man-Paper (vi) Schrodinger's Wave Mechanics (vii) Indeterminacy (viii) Quantum Physics and the Periodic Table (ix) More about Probability (x) Niels Bohr -- A Goethean Physicist? (xi) Are Particles Real?VIII. EpilogueAppendixEndnotesBibliographyAbout the Author

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Book SynopsisCognitive science joins with Asian contemplative traditions and philosophy to bring revolutionary meaning to the human experience.Trade ReviewIn a game-changing book that is both an intellectual tour de force and the courageous statement of a life's ideal, Thompson brilliantly demonstrates how Indian philosophical thought can join forces with the neurosciences to create a new science of the conscious mind. A must-read for anyone who believes that the future of philosophy is crosscultural. -- Jonardon Ganeri, University of Sussex and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London Evan Thompson, a philosopher with a deep knowledge of Indo-Tibetan contemplative traditions and modern neuroscience, has written a brilliant and comprehensive book on the nature of awareness and the self. Waking, Dreaming, Being is a dazzling synthesis. Thompson takes on some of the most fundamental questions about the nature of mind and addresses them with remarkable creativity and clarity. This volume is a must read for any serious student of the mind and consciousness. -- Richard J. Davidson, New York Times-bestselling coauthor of The Emotional Life of Your Brain Drawing on multiple sources of knowledge, all tested by first-person experience and critical analysis, Thompson presents an illuminating neurophenomenological account of what it's like to be a conscious human being. -- Stephen LaBerge, author of Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming Waking, Dreaming, Being powerfully demonstrates how bringing cognitive science, philosophy, and Buddhism into a critical engagement can open innovative ways of exploring the 'hard problem' of consciousness. The blending of philosophical rigor and scientific knowledge with meditative insights, with the author's own remarkable life as the larger background, makes the book a real joy to read. This book will be an invaluable help to anyone who is interested in knowing how the fundamental questions of self, consciousness, and human existence can be explored in a way that combines the best of both East and West. -- Thupten Jinpa, author of Self, Reality and Reason in Tibetan Philosophy With extensive training in Buddhism, brain science, and phenomenology, Evan Thompson is uniquely positioned to reveal how different perspectives on the mind can be mutually illuminating. He begins with the Buddhist insight that there are many forms of consciousness--far more than traditionally recognized in the West--and he shows that these can be associated with deferent brain processes. The result is a richly original and integrated account of human mental life. Whether you are a curious newcomer or a seasoned expert, you have much to learn from this stunning synthesis of ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science. -- Jesse Prinz, author of The Conscious Brain and Beyond Human Nature [an] excellent book. New York Times Book Review Extraordinary and exciting claims... beautiful ideas. Cosmos and Culture Contemplative and groundbreaking, Waking, Dreaming, Being is a welcome addition to college library philosophy shelves. Midwest Book Review Waking, Dreaming, Being is an exceptional and intriguing contribution to the exploration of consciousness as a multidimensional self and makes a convincing argument for the usefulness of philosophical, experiential, and scientific approaches to understanding consciousness. -- Marissa Krimsky Buddhadharma A rich, thought-provoking and poetic tour of a wide variety of phenomena of consciousness... Constructivist Foundations A magnificent tome. Big Think This is a ground-breaking exploration of conciousness and the self as they occur across the states of waking, falling asleep, dreaming, lucid dreaming, deep dreamless sleep, out-of-body experiences and dying. Evan Thompson's rich, beautifully written book interweaves lucid prose with relevant personal anecdotes, bringing the latest neuroscience together with ancient contemplative wisdom to offer valuable insightr into the nature of conciousness and the self. -- Miri Albahari Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews This remarkable book addresses deep philosophical questions from a unique perspective. Choice Waking Dreaming Being will soon be considered a landmark and a tipping point in consciousness investigations.Journal of Mind and Behavior Journal of Mind and Behavior A lucid and comprehensive account of the self as a subject of experience and agent of action. -- George T. Hole Philosophical Practice A fine book by an extraordinary author. Journal of Consciousness StudiesTable of ContentsForeword by Stephen Batchelor Prologue: The Dalai Lama's Conjecture Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Seeing: What Is Consciousness? 2. Waking: How Do We Perceive? 3. Being: What Is Pure Awareness? 4. Dreaming: Who Am I? 5. Witnessing: Is This a Dream? 6. Imagining: Are We Real? 7. Floating: Where Am I? 8. Sleeping: Are We Conscious in Deep Sleep? 9. Dying: What Happens When We Die? 10. Knowing: Is the Self an Illusion? Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisPentecostalism confronts the divide between science and religionTrade ReviewThis is a very interesting collection of articles that explore questions of spirituality in the light of contemporary science and technology. . . . Each of these papers is helpful in addressing crucial questions at the interface of science and Pentecostal spirituality. * Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith *These books represent a body of important work and an ecumenical challenge for theologians and religious leaders . . . We can be grateful to the scholars and editors for making these resources available in a readable but richly researched set of volumes. Vol. 46, No. 1 (Winter, 2011) * JOURNAL of ECUMENICAL STUDIES *Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: Science and the Spirit—Questions and Possibilities in the Pentecostal Engagement with Science / James K. A. Smith and Amos YongPart 1. What Hath Azusa Street to Do with MIT? The Big Questions 1. What Have the Galapagos to Do with Jerusalem? Scientific Knowledge in Theological Context / Telford Work 2. Is There Room for Surprise in the Natural World? Naturalism, the Supernatural, and Pentecostal Spirituality / James K. A. Smith 3. How Does God Do What God Does? Pentecostal-Charismatic Perspectives on Divine Action in Dialogue with Modern Science / Amos YongPart 2. The Spirit of Matter: Questions and Possibilities in the Natural Sciences 4. Does God Have a Place in the Physical Universe? Physics and the Quest for the Holy Spirit / Wolfgang Vondey 5. Does the Spirit Create through Evolutionary Processes? Pentecostals and Biological Evolution / Steve Badger and Mike Tenneson 6. Can Religious Experience Be Reduced to Brain Activity? The Place and Significance of Pentecostal Narrative / Frederick L. Ware 7. Serotonin and Spirit: Can There Be a Holistic Pentecostal Approach to Mental Illness? / Donald F. CalbreathPart 3. The Human Spirit: Questions and Possibilities in the Social and Technological Sciences 8. Can Social Scientists Dance? Participating in Science, Spirit, and Social Reconstruction as an Anthropologist and Afropentecostal / Craig Scandrett-Leatherman 9. Is Integrating Spirit and Sociology Possible? A Postmodern Research Odyssey / Margaret M. Poloma 10. Is There Room for the Spirit in a World Dominated by Technology? Pentecostals and the Technological World / Dennis W. CheekList of ContributorsIndex

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Book SynopsisThis new text is a detailed study of an important process in modern Indian history. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, India experienced an intellectual renaissance, which owed as much to the influx of new ideas from the West as to traditional religious and cultural insights. Gosling examines the effects of the introduction of Western science into India, and the relationship between Indian traditions of thought and secular Western scientific doctrine. He charts the early development of science in India, its role in the secularization of Indian society, and the subsequent reassertion, adaptation and rejection of traditional modes of thought. The beliefs of key Indian scientists, including Jagadish Chandra Bose, P.C. Roy and S.N. Bose are explored and the book goes on to reflect upon how individual scientists could still accept particular religious beliefs such as reincarnation, cosmology, miracles and prayer. Science and the Indian TraditionTrade Review"... splendid new book. It is very exciting and contains much more than the exchange between Einstein and Tagore....It really is a very great achievement"- John Bowker, Emeritus Professor of Theology, University of Cambridge.'Be prepared for substantial chapters on a number of intertwined topics, but be prepared also to enjoy this most instructive account of a complex encounter between civilisations and thought-worlds. Somehow Gosling also manages to tell us where physics in general has got to, in a manner which seems rather understandable to the non-expert in that field.'- Marburg Review 'This is a book that is important both for the solid information it offers and for the way it discusses the issues involved with fairness and a rational mind. There is much that is pure science, much more that is philosophy and an understream of religiosity and mysticism' - G. Gispert-Sauch, Journal of Theological Reflection, July 2008'The book is indispensable for those who are interested to learn about the effects of Western Science on the Indian subcontinent and in the interactions between Western and Indo-Pak tradtitions of intellectual thought...A conversation between Rabindranath tagore and Alvert Einstein is also one of the merits of the book which, undoubtedly, makes it an essential and thoroughly entertaining read' - The Frontier Post, September 2008'Students and scholars can draw much inspiration from this storehouse of interdisciplinary data and ideas. It is a most useful volume for all library collections and specialised courses on science and religion.' - Ursula King, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Bristol and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 2009Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Science in India’s Intellectual Renaissance 3. Tradition Redefined 4. Worldviews in Encounter 5. Relativity and Beyond 6. Indian Science Comes of Age 7. An Investigation into the Beliefs of Indian Scientists 8. How Clear Reason’s Stream? 9. Looking to the Future. Appendix A: The Nature of Reality. Appendix B: Investigation Questionnaire

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Professor Douglas Kelly persuasively argues for a literal interpretation of the six–day account of creation found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. He assesses both the biblical details and the scientific data to show that there is a convincing and scientifically viable case for this understanding. This new edition, written twenty years after the original, contains important revisions and additional chapters, bringing this insightful and relevant volume up–to–date with developments in this field.Trade ReviewKelly ably engages with several scientific debating points ... He makes the complex clear and sophisticated simple. Yet Kelly's most admirable quality is in handling the text of Scripture, presenting a reasonable and winsome case for creation in six, ordinary, consecutive days, culminating in the worship of God on the Sabbath Day. Highly recommended for keen lay readers, theological students, pastors and professors. -- Jonny Gibson (Associate Professor of Old Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and author of ‘The Moon Is Always Round’)... It is the best work that I have read on this subject. With regard to this exegesis of the biblical text I hope that Douglas Kelly's courageous voice will be listened to. -- Frederick N. Skiff (Professor of Physics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa)It is an excellent work. I believe it will be an important contribution to the field. -- John Currid (Chancellor’s Professor of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi)... demonstrates that credible science supports the Word of God...For those concerned about the issues involved this book is well worth spending time studying. -- Peace and TruthThis book is very accessible for the lay reader as well as being a very thoroughly argued and persuasive text for the student beginning theological studies in Genesis and wanting to know what the key Biblical arguments are for a young earth creation position. I cannot recommend this book more highly. -- Andy McIntosh (Visiting research Professor at the University of Leeds and Adjunct Professor at Mississippi State University)Douglas Kelly is a theologian who also displays a deep understanding of science and philosophy. The result is this thoughtful, thorough and well researched book that will be valuable to anyone wishing to dig deeper. -- Walter E. Brown (Director, Center for Scientific Creation, Phoenix, Arizona )

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling author of Darwin’s Doubt, Stephen Meyer, presents groundbreaking scientific evidence of the existence of God, based on breakthroughs in physics, cosmology, and biology.Beginning in the late 19th century, many intellectuals began to insist that scientific knowledge conflicts with traditional theistic belief—that science and belief in God are “at war.” Philosopher of science Stephen Meyer challenges this view by examining three scientific discoveries with decidedly theistic implications. Building on the case for the intelligent design of life that he developed in Signature in the Cell and Darwin’s Doubt, Meyer demonstrates how discoveries in cosmology and physics coupled with those in biology help to establish the identity of the designing intelligence behind life and the universe. Meyer argues that theism—with its affirmati

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Book SynopsisIs He Out There? is an interdisciplinary examination of the Christian reaction to Dawkinss The God Delusion. That reaction has offered a wide range of counter-arguments, among them: that Dawkinss demonstration of how God almost certainly doesnt exist addresses an out-dated conception of God; that science and religion are not conflictual as Dawkins contends and indeed may well be converging upon an understanding of how God acts in the universe; that Dawkinss denigration of the Bible depends on an overly literal reading; and that Dawkins assumes a narrative of progress in which human beings take the place of God in controlling the course of history. Is He Out There? responds to these arguments in the context of current scientific understanding, biblical criticism and philosophy. Paul Laffan demonstrates how the desire to meet the challenge posed by Dawkinss viewpoint has led to the perversion of scientific theories and accepted positions in other important fields of inquiry. It suggests that Christianity is wedded to a God who is the cause of the universe a classical conception of cause that is anachronistic; that denying the Bible was read for most of the Christian era as offering a literal account of divine creation is a significant misrepresentation of doctrinal history; and that a complete dismissal of progress requires the dismissal of scientific achievement. The author considers the extent to which attractive, secular values like tolerance and freedom of opinion are Christian in source and whether moral systems require God to underwrite them. The wide-ranging nature of Is He Out There? not only provides a review of the state of contemporary Christian apology but is a measured address of the arguments put forward in The God Delusion and indeed of the substantive commentary on Dawkinss thesis.

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Book SynopsisDoes neuroscience have anything to say about religious belief or the existence of God? Some have tried to answer this question, but, in doing so, most have strayed from the scientific method. In The Phantom God, computational biologist and neuroscientist John C. Wathey, Ph.D., tackles this problem head-on, exploring religious feelings not as the direct perception by the brain of some supernatural realm, nor as the pathological misfiring of neurons, but as a natural consequence of how our brains are wired.Unlike other neurobiological studies of religion and spirituality, The Phantom God treats mysticism not as something uniquely human and possibly supernatural in origin, but as a completely natural phenomenon that has behavioral and evolutionary roots that can be traced far back into our vertebrate ancestry. Grounded in evolutionary and behavioral biology, this highly original and compelling book takes the reader on a journey through the neural circuitry of crying, innate knowledge, reinforcement learning, emotional bonding, embodiment, interpersonal perception, and the ineffable feeling of certainty that characterizes faith.Wathey argues that the feeling of God’s presence is spawned by innate neural circuitry, similar to the mechanism that compels an infant to cry out for its mother. In an adult, this circuitry can be activated under conditions that mimic the extreme desperation and helplessness of infancy, generating the compelling illusion of the presence of a loving, powerful, and all-knowing savior. When seen from this perspective, the illusion also appears remarkably like one that has long been familiar to neurologists: the phantom limb of the amputee, spawned by the expectation of the patient’s brain that the missing limb should still be there. Including a primer on the basic concepts and terminology of neuroscience, The Phantom God details the neural mechanisms behind the illusions and emotions of spiritual experience.Trade Review“John Wathey has made landmark contributions to the anatomy of religious belief. The Phantom God gives us the fundamental hows of religion’s tenacious hold on human minds, the neuroscience buried deep in our neonatal and early infant attachment system. Read this landmark book, and treasure it.”— J. Anderson Thomson, Jr., M.D., Psychiatrist, University of Virginia, author of Why We Believe In God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith.

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Book SynopsisTwenty papers from the Faraday Institute, by some of the world's leading scientists, philosophers and theologians, on current and future issues surrounding science and faith. Professor Alister McGrath contributes an introductory essay.Trade ReviewThis excellent collection of Faraday Papers reflects the way that thinking has progressed over the past decade and fulfilled some of the aspirations of the Faraday Institute for which it was set up. * Sir Brian Heap, FRS, University of Cambridge *This volume is invaluable for anyone wishing to understand current science and faith debates. Its outstanding feature is its comprehensiveness. It gives historical and philosophical perspective as well as spelling out the wider implications of advances in evolutionary biology, quantum physics, neuroscience, genetics, and geology for Christian faith. I strongly recommend it. * Emeritus Professor Malcolm Jeeves, CBE, F. Med.Sci., FRSE, PPRSE, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, St. Andrews University *I envy the British for their rich resources in profound scholarship at the interface of science and the Christian faith. This book is a testimony to that. Look no further if you are searching for an accessible introduction to a broad spectrum of interesting subjects in this area, from philosophical ponderings about the nature of science, to Bible interpretation, to creation care, to the intriguing questions posed by neuroscience and genetics. Highly recommended! * Professor Cees Dekker, KNAW Royal Academy Professor and Distinguished University Professor at Delft University of Technology *

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Book SynopsisDoes science discredit the Bible, God, religious faith?Absolutely not, says Dr. Michael Guillen, former Harvard physics instructor and Emmy-winning ABC News Science Editor. In Amazing Truths, he uses his entertaining, down-to-earth storytelling skills to reveal ten astonishing truths affirmed by both ancient Scripture and modern science that answer some of our biggest questions: Can faith really move mountains? Does absolute truth exist? Are humans truly unique? Is it possible to communicate with God? How much about the universe do we actually know? How could Jesus have been fully man and fully God? In Amazing Truths, Dr. Guillen explains that faith is not some outdated way of thinking. Faith is a necessary part of science, Christianity, and any intelligent, comprehensive, coherent worldview--vastly more powerful than even logic.Amazing Truths will expand your minTrade Review“An entire generation is being swept up in a false narrative that the Bible and science are incompatible. Too many today, both young and old, believe that faith in the Bible has been discredited by the new religion of science. In Amazing Truths, Dr. Michael Guillen dismantles those myths, presenting hard evidence and sound reason to cause skeptics to reevaluate their own belief system and believers to have renewed confidence in the Bible.” * —Curtis V. Hail, President & CEO, e3 Partners / I Am Second *“As a gifted communicator, Michael Guillen makes science easy to understand. He has done it again with his latest explanations of how the Bible and science complement each other. In a profound and beautiful way he helps us realize that science does not contradict the Bible but in fact supports it. A summer ‘must read’ for all high school grads going to college.” * —Dr. Robert A. Schuller *“For many people today, even self-described Christians, science has replaced the Bible as the ultimate authority in their lives. In Amazing Truths, Michael Guillen explains brilliantly why that secular view is unfounded and offers one that is better informed intellectually and spiritually.” * —Rev. Dr. Greg Hughes, Senior Pastor, Malibu Presbyterian Church *“Here is a truly unusual autobiography: an amazing blend of up-to-date science and the world in which we exist as conscious spiritual beings.” * —Owen Gingerich, Harvard University professor emeritus and author of God’s Planet *“Michael Guillen bridges the seeming gap between science and faith better than anyone I know.” * —Cal Thomas, Syndicated and USA Today columnist/Fox News contributor *“Michael Guillen has always had a unique ability to make fascinating science topics understandable and relevant to people’s lives. Amazing Truths is proof of that.” * —Joan Lunden *“Michael is one of the most original thinkers I’ve ever known. He lives where the creative meets the intellect. I can think of no one more qualified to write this book!” * —Dave Alan Johnson, Writer/producer/ director (Doc, Sue Thomas FBEye, October Baby, Mom’s Night Out, Coffee Shop, Woodlawn) *“Must science and faith be at war? No, says physicist Michael Guillen in this delightfully readable yet thoroughly researched book. Whether you are a believer or a doubter, you’ll be astonished by Amazing Truths.” * —Hattie Kauffman, Former correspondent of ABC and CBS News and author of Falling Into Place *“The lie that faith and science are enemies is never more in danger than when the affable, wonderfully understandable, and winsomely brilliant Dr. Michael Guillen is on the case. If we’d had him as our physics teacher, most of us would be physicists today! Q.E.D.” * —Eric Metaxas, New York Times bestselling author of Miracles and host of the nationally syndicated The Eric Metaxas Show *“The title of this book says it all: Michael Guillen illustrates how science and the Bible are partners in revealing amazing truths about life---and life eternal.” * —Spencer Christian, Weather forecaster/interviewer/host for KGO-TV—formerly at Good Morning America *

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Book SynopsisThe renowned science writer, mathematician, and bestselling author of Fermat's Last Theorem masterfully refutes the overreaching claims the "New Atheists," providing millions of educated believers with a clear, engaging explanation of what science really says, how there's still much space for the Divine in the universe, and why faith in both God and empirical science are not mutually exclusive.A highly publicized coterie of scientists and thinkers, including Richard Dawkins, the late Christopher Hitchens, and Lawrence Krauss, have vehemently contended that breakthroughs in modern science have disproven the existence of God, asserting that we must accept that the creation of the universe came out of nothing, that religion is evil, that evolution fully explains the dazzling complexity of life, and more. In this much-needed book, science journalist Amir Aczel profoundly disagrees and conclusively demonstrates that science has not, as yet, provid

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Marcelo Gleiser argues that the only hope we have of addressing the current environmental crisis lies in rethinking our relationship to history and to the entire cosmos. The Dawn of a Mindful Universe is a work of great honesty and daring. Its message couldn’t be more alarming, yet it is ultimately optimistic." — Elizabeth Colbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction and Under a White Sky “An extraordinary book. Marcelo Gleiser has brought together cosmology, environmentalism, and spirituality in a personal and poetic call to arms that is nothing short of breathtaking. Most of the time I was smiling and nodding as I read it, and occasionally I was moved to tears.” — William Egginton, author of The Rigor of Angels, The Splintering of the American Mind, and The Man Who Invented Fiction "Marcelo Gleiser is precisely the kind of public intellectual our culture urgently needs: a skilled communicator of complex scientific ideas whose work is animated by a humane and humanistic sensibility. The Dawn of a Mindful Universe, a fascinating and often moving book, is guided by a profound sense of civilizational urgency as it charts a path toward re-enchantment." — Mark O’Connell, author of To Be a Machine and Notes from an Apocalypse "As James Russell Lowell once put it, ‘new occasions teach new duties; time makes ancient good uncouth.’ We are at a novel and fraught moment in our history as a species, and as this book posits, getting through it will require rethinking who we are and why we are here. Gleiser’s argument will send you off on interesting and fruitful tangents of your own!" — Bill McKibben, author of The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon "[A] brave, compelling book of great beauty and urgency. ... Gleiser fully understands the transformative power of science. Unlike many, however, he also sees how worldviews that claim to speak for science have led humanity to the brink of ruin through environmental destruction and the desacralization of the world we communally inhabit. Dawn of a Mindful Universe is a call for a deep reinvention of ourselves in ways that don’t abandon the prosperity that science has made possible but realigns our technological prowess with a new moral stance treating Earth as a sacred community whose fate is always our own." — Adam Frank, astrophysicist "Our future—and whether we have one—depends on us realizing that Earth is the only truly sacred place. Everything flows from our valuation of this miraculous only-known living planet. This book provides that re-framing, that adjustment in attitude and perspective that is so desperately needed now." — Carl Safina, ecologist and author of Alfie and Me "Marcelo Gleiser’s brilliant book is a major contribution to our understanding of the evolution of the living Earth community. It is a tour de force in activating allegiance to life’s complexity, beauty, and continuity. At once erudite and eloquent, this luminous work deserves to be widely read." — Mary Evelyn Tucker, co-author of Journey of the Universe and co-director of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology "Dawn of a Mindful Universe is a surprisingly accessible exploration of difficult and pressing topics that affect us all. Author Marcelo Gleiser leads us on a thought-provoking (re)assessment of humanity’s place in the cosmos—digging into our deep past and looking at our collective future. At this historic inflection point, such discussions are a vital part of larger conversations on climate change, societal stability, and scientific breakthrough. Gleiser’s work encourages us to create more mindful interactions with our world, its cultures, and economies." — Gregory W. Brown, co-executive producer of the planetarium show God, Science, and Our Search for Meaning at the Boston Museum of Science and composer of Missa Charles Darwin "Marcelo Gleiser is an accomplished astrophysicist who writes with the heart of a poet. In The Dawn of a Mindful Universe he shines a sharp, critical light on some accepted scientific truisms which have contributed to our dangerously unhealthy relationship with the natural world. He shows how our explorations of the cosmos have brought home the preciousness and uniqueness of our living planetary home, and proposes a necessary re-engagement with the sacred. It is a passionate and moving call for a scientifically informed spiritual reawakening which can help us navigate and transcend the traps we humans have set for ourselves." — David Grinspoon, astrobiologist and award-winning author of Earth in Human Hands "A lively, deeply considered and deeply impassioned argument for why our species' future must embrace biocentrism. Gleiser’s writing and humanity shines in this tour de force of science and scholarship." — Caleb Scharf, senior scientist for astrobiology at NASA Ames and author of The Ascent of Information "A passionate appeal for 'biocentric values that reflect our spiritual reconnection with the Earth.'" — Kirkus Reviews

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