Religion and science Books

Book SynopsisThis first Element in the series Islam and the Sciences is introductory and aims to give readers a general overview of the wide and rich scope of interactions of Islam with the sciences, including past disputes, current challenges, and future outlooks.Table of ContentsForeword; 1. Science, Religion/Islam, and how they relate; 2. The Islam & Science debates so far; 3. A field(s)/topic(al) map of the debates; 4. The new and future Islam & Science debates; 5. The Islam and Science topics in society/culture; 6. General Conclusions: Lessons and Prospects

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the bestselling The Dawkins Delusion - an accessible account of the biggest questions around science and faith, grounded in the very best scholarship.Trade ReviewMcGrath's style is scholarly yet accessible and engaging, and he presents a convincing case for replacing the old "narrative of conflict"... Anyone with an interest in the science-religion debate, whatever their level of expertise, will welcome this balanced and thoughtful contribution. -- The Independent * Adrian Read *Anyone, Christian, atheist or wavering, could gain from it. * Reform Magazine *It's a tour de force..the lovely thing for me, given his enormous intellect, is his humility. * Engage Magazine *A warm approach that invites us to move beyond the conflict narrative... The main purpose of the book is... to win partners into what McGrath calls a 'narrative of enrichment. * Scottish Christian Broadcast *He uses brilliant logic and arguments from morality, logic and ethics to show that reality only makes sense in a Christian worldview. * Families First Magazine *

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Book SynopsisAn author on the cutting edge of today's theology and science discussions argues that creedal Christianity has much to contribute to the ongoing conversation. This book contains an intellectual history of theology's engagement with science during the modern period, critiques current approaches, and makes a constructive proposal for how a Christian theological vision of natural knowledge can be better pursued. The author explains that it is good both for religion and for science when Christians treat theology as their first truth discourse. Foreword by David Bentley Hart.Table of ContentsContentsForeword by David Bentley HartIntroduction: A Christian Theology of Science1. Starting Definitions of Christian Theology and of Science2. Viewing Christian Theology through the Truth Lens of Science3. Christian Theology as a First Truth Discourse4. Viewing Science through the Truth Lens of Christian Theology5. The Remarkable Reversal--Revisiting History6. Thinking "After" Science but Not "After" Christian Theology7. Rediscovering Christian Theological Epistemology8. Myth and History--the Fall and Science9. Recovering an Integrative ZoneEpilogue: The Future?GlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisOn the one hand, we have traditional science, based on the premises of materialism, reductionism, and randomness, with a belief that reality consists solely of matter and energy, that everything can be measured in the laboratory or observed by a telescope. If it can''t, it doesn''t exist. On the other hand, we have traditional religious dogma concerning God that fails to take into account evolution, a 4.6 billion-year-old Earth, and the confl icting claims of the world''s religions.In The God Theory, Bernard Haisch discards both these worldviews and proposes a theory that provides purpose for our lives while at the same time being is completely consistent with everything we have discovered about the universe and life on Earth. To wit, Newton was right -- there is a God -- and wrong -- this is not merely a material world. Haisch proposes that science will explain God and God will explain science. Consciousness is not a mere epiphenomenon of the brain; it is our connection to God, the source of all consciousness. Ultimately it is consciousness that creates matter and not vice versa. New discoveries in physics point to a background sea of quantum light underlying the universe. The God Theory offers a worldview that incorporates cutting-edge science and ancient mystical knowledge. This is nothing less than a revolution in our understanding.

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Book SynopsisScience and faith are often seen as being in opposition. In this book, award-winning sociologist Elaine Howard Ecklund questions this assumption based on research she has conducted over the past fifteen years. She highlights the ways these two spheres point to universal human values, showing readers they don't have to choose between science and Christianity. Breathing fresh air into debates that have consisted of more opinions than data, Ecklund offers insights uncovered by her research and shares her own story of personal challenges and lessons. In the areas most rife with conflict--the origins of the universe, evolution, climate change, and genetic technology--readers will find fascinating points of convergence in eight virtues of human existence: curiosity, doubt, humility, creativity, healing, awe, shalom, and gratitude. The book includes discussion questions for group use and to help pastors, small group leaders, and congregants broach controversial topics and bridge the science-faith divide.Table of ContentsContentsPart 1: Building Blocks1. From Fear to Understanding2. Overlapping Communities3. Creative Evolution: Moving Past the Origins DebatePart 2: Process4. Curiosity5. Doubt6. Humility7. CreativityPart 3: Redemption8. Healing9. Awe10. Shalom11. GratitudeFurther Reading

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Book SynopsisIsaac’s Fear is a wide-ranging study of a Hebrew encyclopedia of Judaism by Isaac Lampronti, a rabbi and physician from eighteenth-century Ferrara, in Italy; this is the first encyclopedia of Judaism, with entries on thought and praxis. The book’s eight chapters are previously published studies. Isaac’s Fear represents the attempt to synthesize modern science and religious tradition, a fundamental issue then and in our own day. Encyclopedia entries illuminate the society and culture of early modern Italy, its Jewish community and the intellectual life of the author and his contemporaries.Trade Review“Isaac’s Fear (Pachad Yitzhak) was the first multi-volume encyclopedia of Jewish law, edited by Isaac Lampronti (1679-1756), a rabbi and physician from Ferrara. David Malkiel… explores the religious, cultural, and intellectual life of eighteenth-century Italian Jews through a detailed scholarly study of the encyclopedia. … This title is highly recommended for an academic library.”— Harvey Sukenic, Hebrew College Library, AJL News and Reviews“In this work of meticulous scholarship, David Malkiel has produced a detailed portrait of the paradoxical relationship between science and religion in early modern Italy. The main focus of this learned study is Isaac’s Fear, an encyclopedia of Jewish law written by IsaacLampronti, a rabbi and university-trained physician who aimed to lead readers though the bewildering maze of ritual traditions in an enlightened age. Malkiel demonstrates painstakingly how Lampronti’s searching mind, thirst for knowledge, and empiricist leanings were in tension with his profound reverence for received tradition, which he upheld as a repository of truths that eluded scientific investigation. The strength of this fine book is its sensitive portrayal of Lampronti’s struggle to meet the demands of competing intellectual traditions—a struggle he shared with his Christian counterparts.”—Jay R. Berkovitz, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Professor, Rothberg International School, The Hebrew University of JerusalemTable of ContentsTable of Contents AcknowledgementsIntroductionPart One1. EmpiricismSource: “Empiricism in Isaac Lampronti’s Pahad Yizhak,” Materia Giudaica 10 (2005), pp. 341-51.2. Palazzo TèSource: “Palazzo Tè between Science and Imagination,” Journal of Early Modern History 20 (2016), pp. 429-61.3. The PastSource: “The Burden of the Past in the Eighteenth Century: Authority and Custom in the Pahad Yizhaq,” Jewish Law Annual 16 (2006), pp. 93-132.4. Traditional SocietySource: “Ebraismo, tradizione e società: Isaaco Lampronti e l’identità ebraica nella Ferrara del XVIII secolo,” Zakhor 7 (2005), pp. 9-42.Part Two5. The SambationSource: “The Sambation River and the Ten Lost Tribes in Isaac Lampronti’s Pahad Yizhak,” [Hebrew] Pe‘amim 94-95 (2003), pp. 159-80.6. Intercessory PrayerSource: “Between Worldliness and Traditionalism: Eighteenth-Century Italian Jews Debate Intercessory Prayer,” Jewish Studies Internet Journal 2 (2003), pp. 169-98.7. PollutionSource: “Law and Architecture: The Pollution Crisis in the Italian Ghetto,” European Journal of Jewish Studies 4.2 (2011), pp. 255-84.8. Christian HebraismSource: “Christian Hebraism in a Contemporary Key: The Search for Hebrew Epitaph Poetry in Seventeenth-Century Italy,” Jewish Quarterly Review 96 (2006), pp. 123-46.Index

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Book SynopsisSynthesizing thirty years of research, psychologist and science historian, Michael Shermer upends the traditional thinking about how humans form beliefs about the world. Simply put, beliefs come first and explanations for beliefs follow. The brain, Shermer argues, is a belief engine. Using sensory data that flow in through the senses, the brain naturally looks for and finds patterns - and then infuses those patterns with meaning, forming beliefs. Once beliefs are formed, our brains subconsciously seek out confirmatory evidence in support of those beliefs, which accelerates the process of reinforcing them, and round and round the process goes in a positive-feedback loop.In The Believing Brain, Shermer provides countless real-world examples of how this process operates, from politics, economics, and religion to conspiracy theories, the supernatural, and the paranormal. Ultimately, he demonstrates why science is the best tool ever devised to determine whether or not our belief matches reality.Trade Review'Michael Shermer has long been one of our most committed champions of scientific thinking in the face of popular delusion. In The Believing Brain, he has written a wonderfully lucid, accessible and wide-ranging account of the boundary between justified and unjustified belief' - Sam Harris, New York Times bestselling author'The Believing Brain is a fascinating account of the origins of all manner of beliefs, replete with cutting-edge evidence from the best scientific research, packed with nuggets of truths and then for good measure, studded with real world examples to deliver to the reader, a very personable, engaging and ultimately, convincing set of explanations for why we believe' - Professor Bruce Hood, Bristol University and author of Supersense'The Believing Brain is a tour de force integrating neuroscience and the social sciences to explain how irrational beliefs are formed and reinforced, while leaving us confident our ideas are valid. This is a must read for everyone who wonders why religious and political beliefs are so rigid and polarized - or why the other side is always wrong, but somehow doesn't see it' - Dr Leonard Mlodinow, author The Drunkard's Walk'Michael Shermer lucidly describes why and how we are hard wired to 'want to believe'. With a narrative that gently flows from the personal to the profound, Shermer shares what he has learned after spending a lifetime pondering the relationship between beliefs and reality, and how to be prepared to tell the difference between the two' - Lawrence M. Krauss, Foundation Professor and Director of the Origins Project at Arizona State University'Michael Shermer has long been one of the world's deepest thinkers when it comes to explaining where our beliefs come from, and he brings it all together in this important, engaging, and ambitious book. Shermer knows all the science, he tells great stories, he is funny, and he is fearless, delving into hot-button topics like 9-11 Truthers, life after death, capitalism, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, and the existence of God. This is an entertaining and thoughtful exploration of the beliefs that shape our lives' - Paul Bloom author of How Pleasure Works 'Refreshingly sceptical' - Independent on Sunday

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Book SynopsisQuantum Leap uses key events in the life of Polkinghorne to introduce the central ideas that make science and religion such a fascinating field of investigation. Sir John Polkinghorne is a British particle physicist who, after 25 years of research and discovery in academia, resigned his post to become an Anglican priest and theologian. He was a professor of mathematical physics at Cambridge University, and was elected to the Royal Society in 1974. As a physicist he participated in the research that led to the discovery of the quark, the smallest known particle. This cheerful biography-cum-appraisal of his life and work uses Polkinghorne's story to approach some of the most important questions: a scientist's view of God; why we pray, and what we expect; does the universe have a point?; moral and scientific laws; what happens next?Trade ReviewI cannot think of a more trustworthy guide than John Polkinghorne, who holds up both ends of the science/faith debate.A" - Philip Yancey The revealing story of an influential Christian and brilliant physicist whose life trajectory has been astonishingly unexpected. Written with sensitivity and clarity, this extraordinary spiritual biography illuminates one of the leading figures in our contemporary science-and-religion dialogue.A" - Dr. Owen Gingerich, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and author of God's Universe "A very accessible guide to the life and thought of this leading thinker. Immensely worthwhile reading for anyone concerned with the relation of faith and science." - Alister E. McGrath, Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education, King's College, London "An interesting and perceptive study of the life of a great and thoughtful person, who emphasized the relation between science and religion." - Charles Townes, winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics, and Professor of Physics, University of CaliforniaTable of ContentsContentsPrologue 6Chapter One: Intellectual Suicide 9Chapter Two: Room for Reality 35Chapter Three: Droplets of Grace 63Chapter Four: Regime Change 81Chapter Five: Here and There 100Chapter Six: Law and Order 121Chapter Seven: Life after Life 136Chapter Eight: In Particular 157Conclusion: Icon 178Epilogue 182Acknowledgments 186Notes 187

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Book SynopsisExamining the reception of evolutionary biology, the 1925 Scopes Trial, and the New Atheist movement of the 2000s, Donovan O. Schaefer theorizes the relationship between thinking and feeling by challenging the conventional wisdom that they are separate.Trade Review"Inaugurate[s] a project of secular theorization that adds a distinctive and needed methodological angle to studies of the secular in North America. . . . A must-read for scholars of American religions. . . ." -- Valeria Vergani * American Religion *"Wild Experiment is an indispensable addition to any course syllabus on race, religion, affect theory, and any interdisciplinary topic on the intersections between feeling and thinking." -- Abdulrahman Bindamnan * Material Religion *"Through Schaefer’s endeavor to expand the conversation between secularism studies and STS, the field of STS has an illuminating new vantage from which to look at knowledge, feeling, and belief. And it feels right." * Society for the Social Studies of Science Ludwik Fleck Prize Committee *"This fascinating book is a valuable contribution to the field of affect studies and secularism studies, as it starts a first conversation between these previously somewhat unconnected fields." -- Nur Yasemin Ural * Politics, Religion & Ideology *"Perhaps humanities scholars such as Schaefer can be useful in the climate crisis. They can help scientists pay attention to how knowledge feels—and thus how to be more effective in communicating it." -- Amy Frykholm * Christian Century *Table of ContentsIntroduction. Cogency Theory: An Essay on Our Intellectual Affects 1 Part I. Cogency Theory 1. The Longing to Believe: Philosophers on Conspiracy Theory and the Sense of Science 33 2. Sensualized Epistemology: Affect Theory on How Reason Gets Racialized 57 3. Science as an Intoxication: Secularism Studies on Enchantment and Critique 80 4. Feeling is Believing: The Triune Brain, Mere Exposure, and Cogency 107 Part II. Feeling Science and Secularism 5. Only Better Beasts: Darwin, Huxley, and the Sense of Science 137 6. The Secular Circus: Science and Racialized Reason in the Scopes Trial 169 7. The Four Horsemen: New Atheism as Secular Conspiracy Theory 200 Epilogue. From Creationism to Climate Denialism 230 Acknowledgments 239 Notes 243 Bibliography 281 Index

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive book covers the theoretical and practical aspects of citron trees and fruit. The citron (Citrus medica L.), one of the three primary species ancestral to most citrus types, is used for traditional medicine and is highly revered in the Jewish religion during the Tabernacles feast, referred to by the name 'Etrog'. This book’s three sections address biology (botany, genomics, Chinese and Mediterranean citrons, diseases, pests, and horticulture), tradition (Talmudic discourse, mysticism, medicine, literature, art, food, and beverages) and history (archaeology, trade, grafting controversies); these sections are supplemented by a glossary and pictorial album. The 22 chapters, some new and some translated and considerably expanded from the 2018 Hebrew edition, were written by world-renowned specialists from Israel, Italy, France, the U.S.A., China and Australia. The book is written in an accessible scientific style aimed at a wide range of readers. Table of ContentsThe Biology of the Citron.- Citron Genomics.- Citron Phytochemistry.- Selected Aspects of Commercial Production in Etrog Orchards.- Preserving Etrog Quality After Harvest: Doctrine and Practice.- Citron Arthropod Pests in the Mediterranean, Their Origin and Notes On Their Biology and Management.- Diseases of the Etrog Citron and Other Citrus Trees.- The Citron ( Citrus medica L.) in China.- The Citron in Italy and Its cultivation in Calabria.- The Citron in Corsica.- The Citron in the United States.- The Citron in Mediterranean Food and Beverages.- 'Fruit of the Goodly Trees’: The Talmudic Discourse on the Etrog Citron.- From Theophrastus to the Present: The Citron in Medicine.- The Etrog Citron in Art.- The Etrog Citron in Midrashic and Kabbalistic Literature.- From ‘An Etrog’ to ‘One's Etrog’: A Literary Analysis of S.Y. Agnon’s Story.- History of the Citron in Ancient Israel and the Near East.- The Etrog Citron Trail to the North: Genoa and Trieste.- The Corfu Etrog Citron Polemic.- The Grafted Etrog Citron Controversy.- Etrog Citrons of the Land of Israel in Modern Times.

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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 SynopsisIf the discovery of life elsewhere in the universe is just around the corner, what would be the consequences for religion? Would it represent another major conflict between science and religion, even leading to the death of faith? Some would suggest that the discovery of any suggestion of extraterrestrial life would have a greater impact than even the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions.It is now over 50 years since the first modern scientific papers were published on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Yet the religious implications of this search and possible discovery have never been systematically addressed in the scientific or theological arena. SETI is now entering its most important era of scientific development. New observation techniques are leading to the discovery of extra-solar planets daily, and the Kepler mission has already collected over 1000 planetary candidates. This deluge of data is transforming the scientific and popular view of the existence of eTrade ReviewA brilliant analysis of the possibility that there may be other intelligent beings not easily recognised by us, for which one day evidence may be found through SETI. David Wilkinson has read widely and thought deeply about what the implications would be for belief in God. This is the science-religion dialogue as it should be. * Andrew Briggs, Professor of Nanomaterials at the University of Oxford *The church is fortunate to have someone of David Wilkinson's wide knowledge of both Science and Theology, and soundly based judgement to act as a guide. * Sir Arnold Wolfendale, FRS, 14th Astronomer Royal *A very readable and scientifically informed account of SETI and the intriguing issues it raises for theology. A superb example of the ways in which theology and contemporary science can interact in a positive way. * Professor Keith Ward *The question of whether there is intelligent extraterrestrial life is both intriguing and challenging. David Wilkinson's book provides a detailed and comprehensive discussion of the issues involved, physical, biological and theological, which many will find very illuminating. * Rev Dr John Polkinghorne, KBE, FRS *Imagine we woke up one day to news that there is intelligent life beyond Earth. What would this do to our view of our own selves and of our place in the cosmos? What would it mean for our belief in God and our relationship with Him? David Wilkinson draws on his training in Physics and Theology to grapple with these fascinating questions in a thoughtful, informed and highly lucid manner. * Carlos Frenk FRS, Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, Durham University *Table of Contents1: Cinema, cults and meteorites: Searching for something more 2: Speculating about a plurality of worlds: The historical context of science, religion and SETI 3: Hubble and Drake: SETI and cosmology 4: The Daily Planet 5: Genesis 2.0? SETI and biology 6: Looking for a needle in a haystack: Current SETI strategies 7: Fermi's Paradox 8: The 'myths' of SETI and religion 9: SETI and the Christian understanding of creation 10: SETI and the Christian understanding of redemption 11: Be not so positive

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Book SynopsisA timely and succinct critique that exposes the main flaws in Dawkins's latest book - including his weakness for crude caricatures, his philosophical illiteracy and other mistakes and muddles - while also demonstrating the coherence of a mature, self-critical faith and its contribution to human progress.Trade Review‘In this richly documented and highly readable essay Rupert Shortt deftly demonstrates just how often Richard Dawkins’s most recent broadside against religion simply misses the target.’ * John Cottingham, Professor of Philosophy of Religion, University of Roehampton *‘Thank God for Rupert Shortt. His clarity penetrates depths. His concision cuts through cant. His fairness exposes arrogance and narrow-mindedness.’ * Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Professor of History, University of Notre Dame *‘A clearly written and fair-minded demolition of Dawkins’s shallow thinking on religious belief.’ * Keith R. Fox, Associate Director, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion *‘A refreshing, cultured, and at times gently humorous companion, but most of all cogent and pertinent to our day.’ * Andrew Steane, Professor of Physics, University of Oxford *‘An elegant and timely reminder that religious belief is rational and sane, and that it is not refuted by science.’ * A. N. Wilson, writer and broadcaster *

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Book SynopsisFrom conservation to protecting endangered species to sustainable living, A Christian''s Guide to Planet Earth offers a faith-based framework for viewing our responsibility to the natural world as well as practical, biblical ways we can care for the magnificent creation around us.Drawing on science and Scripture, this hope-filled and reader-friendly guide helps us navigate questions about caring for and respecting God''s world. With a focus on real-life solutions, this book explores answers to questions such as: What does the Bible say about food shortages, forests, and pollution? How can we make ethical choices about what we eat and what we wear? Why is reducing our carbon footprint a way of loving others? What do animals tell us about God''s design for the earth? What simple choices can we make to help recover God''s beauty in creation? Four-color infographics throughout highlight theTrade ReviewThis is a practical and inspiring book. With admirable brevity, Betsy Painter takes us on a journey around the wonders of creation, along the way providing a balanced assessment of the challenges we face and informed, detailed advice about how we can faithfully care for God's beautiful earth. It's rare to find such a rich combination of the scientific, biblical and practical in a compact and accessible format. Highly recommended! * Dr. Jonathan Moo, Professor of New Testament and Environmental Studies, Whitworth University *

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Book SynopsisAs society becomes more concerned with the future of our planet, the study of apocalypse and eschatology become increasingly pertinent. Whether religious or not, peoples' views on this topic can have a profound effect on their attitudes to issues such as climate change and social justice and so it cannot be ignored. This book investigates how different approaches in historical and contemporary Christian theology make sense in reflecting about the final things, or the eschata, and why it is so important to consider their multi-faceted impact on our lives. A team of Nordic scholars analyse historical and contemporary eschatological thinking in a broad range of sources from theology and other related disciplines, such as moral philosophy, art history and literature. Specific social and environmental challenges, such as the Norwegian Breivik massacre in 2011, climatic change narratives and the ambiguity of discourses about euthanasia are investigTrade Review"This well-written volume showcases the creativity and excellence of Nordic scholarship. The serious treatment of the last things will make this book interesting for scholars specializing in eschatology, practical theology, religious studies, as well as philosophy of religion. Seminary-trained pastors will turn an ear to the highly accessible content and see ways in which they can craft socially relevant eschatologies in their ministry contexts."- Brandon F. Babcock, Reading Religion"The new theological-philosophical reflection on the relevance of Christian eschatology to contemporary soci-ety, which is undertaken in this work, remains certainly to be commended."- Raymond R. Hausoul, Evangelische Theologische Faculteit Leuven, NTT Journal for Theology and the Study of ReligionTable of Contents1 What Images of the Last Things Do to Us: Introductory Remarks on Why Eschatology Matters 2 Fear of the Future and Theology of Hope 3 The Revelations of Global Climate Change: A Petro-Eschatology 4 Euthanasia: Does Eschatology Matter? 5 Time Turned into Space – At Home on Earth: Wanderings in Eschatological Spatiality 6 Looking For a Miracle: On the Point of Eschatology 7 Beyond the Limit of Time: A New Quest for Hope 8 Back to the Future 9 Enlightened to Eternity

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Book SynopsisAmbitious, controversial and absorbing, God and the Universe tackles the highly-charged issue of God's relevance in the light of new scientific thinking on cosmology. Engaging with poststructuralism, ethics, mathematics, and philosophy through the ages, this persuasively argued book reinvigorates religious debate for the new millennium.Trade Review'This is an ambitious work ...' - J.C. Polkinghorne, Journal of Theological StudiesTable of ContentsI: Renaissance in language?; I: Prologue; 1: The freedom to question; 2: The expression of God in language; II: All in God's space-time; 3: Extending scientific languages; 4: The beginning of the matter; III: The cosmology of life; 5: The beginning of life 1; 6: Prediction and the cosmology of God; IV: Cosmological ethics; 7: God and ethical cosmology; 8: The practice of legal cosmology; 9: Eschatological cosmology; 10: Creating conclusive beginnings

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Book SynopsisTroubled Waters provides readers with an appreciation of the central role of religious meanings and ritual practices surrounding water, arriving at creative new ways to approach the growing water crisis worldwide.Trade ReviewGary Chamberlain’s information and analysis is unique and will make an important contribution to the primacy of water in religious traditions and the ethical requirements for a just and adequate distribution. -- Russell Butkus, University of PortlandGary Chamberlain presents an interdisciplinary tour de force through the rising tide of water issues affecting all areas of life and global society. Written to effect major changes in how humans view, value, and treat this life-giving source, the book combines scholarship on world religions, history, hydrology, cosmology, social science, politics, and ethics in the service of water's restoration and democratic distribution. Like the water on which he creatively focuses, the book is an invaluable resource on many fronts. -- Celeste Rossmiller, Regis University, DenverTroubled Waters is a useful survey of different religious traditions' perspectives on the meaning and use of water. Gary Chamberlain makes an important contribution from a religious perspective to developing a new water ethos. -- David McCloskey, president, Cascadia Institute; Seattle UniversityAfter reading Chamberlain's book I'm not going to look at my early morning glass of water without more profound reverence and thanksgiving. This book demonstrates clearly that cultural and religious dimensions rather than economic and technocratic perspectives must shape any future realistic management of our earth's precious water resources if we are to survive. -- Peter J. Henriot, S.J., Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, Lusaka, AfricaGiven the present threats to fresh water from anthropogenic climate change, Chamberlain's book is timely. -- Michael S. Northcott, University of EdinboroughGrounded in both thorough scientific knowledge and a profound caring for nature and people, the breadth of Gary Chamberlain's approaches to the question of water is breathtaking. Even more remarkable is his success in weaving all of these diverse perspectives—religion, history, science, culture, ethics and justice—into a coherent, compelling story that both inspires and calls us to action. In this critical time, we are in such need of engaging works like this that unite rather than divide the disciplines as we work to save ourselves, our fellow creatures, and the living, essential waters that we share. -- Trileigh Tucker, associate professor of environmental studies, Seattle UniversityIn Troubled Waters , he exposes the problems surrounding water pollution, misuse, and scarcity that pose challenges no less pressing than those associated with global warming, and that are indeed no less difficult to resolve. -- Christian Diehm, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point * Journal for Peace & Justice Studies *Table of ContentsChapter 1 Water in Indigenous and Asian Traditions Chapter 2 Water in Abrahamic, Western Traditions Chapter 3 Water: a Biography Chapter 4 Water and the Human Cycle Chapter 5 A Tenuous Relationship: Human Need and Water Resources Chapter 6 Water Management: Privatization, Problems, and Resistance Chapter 7 Rights to Water and a New Water Ethic Chapter 8 "I Like Fountain Flow": Religion Revisited Chapter 9 Where Do We Go from Here?

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Book SynopsisDoes neuroscience prove that all religious experience is just in the mind?Trade Review“In this impressive overview the author draws on decades of his own experience in brain research to tackle a wide range of questions concerning the relationship between the neurosciences and faith. Free-will and determinism; the question of the soul; religious experience; criminal responsibility; near-death experiences – all these topics and many more are tackled in a style accessible to the general reader, yet drawing on the latest research publications. This highly commended book is essential reading for anyone interested in the latest findings on brain and religion.” * Denis Alexander, Emeritus Director, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, St Edmund’s College, Cambridge *“Reports of exciting discoveries by neuroscientists are frequently followed by speculation about what these discoveries may mean for traditional beliefs about human nature, including our religious beliefs. The links between mind and brain seem to tighten with every new discovery so we wonder are we really nothing more than a machine without free will, and is there any longer room for the soul? And, given the discoveries of rudimentary aspects of religious behaviour in animals, what is special, if anything, about our religious belief and practices? This book, written by someone with a lifetime career in neuroscience, gives a concise, evenhanded, fair-minded, well-informed and balanced account of how some of our cherished religious beliefs look in light of what neuroscience tells us. Peter Clarke does not offer slick, dogmatic, simplistic answers to difficult problems but makes accessible to the nonspecialist the relevant evidence necessary to reach meaningful conclusions. He argues for an attitude of open but not empty-minded assessment. This excellent book is up-to-date, clearly written, helpful in thinking through pressing issues and is thoroughly permeated by a secure Christian faith solidly based on historical biblical foundations. I commend it most warmly.” * Malcolm Jeeves, Emeritus Professor, CBE, F.Med.Sci, FRSE, past President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, past Editor-in-Chief of Neuropsychologia, School of Psychology and Neurosciences, St Andrews University *“Peter Clarke gives a wide-ranging critique of the view that there is a threat to human responsibility and dignity from modern neuroscience. He writes as an expert on how and why brain cells live and die, and a practising Christian. He urges us to take seriously the observations and experiments that show that wherever it has been possible to device a means of testing the issue, all our cognitive abilities, including making judgments and ethical decisions, depend on the integrity of brain circuits. On the other hand he shows that it does not follow that we are nothing but automata: you need your brain but you aren’t its slave. There is careful discussion of a number of the arguments often presented as knocking down one view or another, such as whether the Libet experiment undermines free will, and whether `near-death experiences’ prove that materialism is false. Contrary to the common view that modern neuroscience leaves no room for the soul, Clarke argues that it leaves plenty of room for an Aristotelean-Thomist view of the soul and there are the theological reasons for preferring this to the Platonic concept. He reviews the claim that modern neuroscience presents fundamental challenges to key notions of criminal responsibility and finds it wanting. A demanding but rewarding read.” * Dr Stuart Judge, neuroscientist, Emeritus Reader in Physiology, University of Oxford *“Peter Clarke has written a fascinating account of the workings of the human brain and a calm, measured and well-informed rebuttal of the many ways in which modern neuroscience has been hijacked to deny human free will and religious belief. Thoroughly to be recommended.” * Rodney Holder *“This is a well-argued and compelling defence of religious belief in the face of apparent challenges from neuroscience, psychology, and genetics.” * Russell Stannard, Professor of Physics, The Open University *“In this very original book Professor Clarke takes up the challenge of reconciling modern reductionist neuroscience with the central doctrines of religion and theology. The result is a stimulating and highly readable survey of the sweep of contemporary brain research and a successful demolition of the idea that neuroscience necessarily dethrones human values.” * VS Ramachandran, author of The Tell-Tale Brain *“The question of the veracity of the tenets of religious faith in the context of current advances in neuroscience is both fascinating to consider and critical to bring within a proper perspective. In this book, neurophysiologist Peter Clarke allows the reader to encounter the fascination of advances in neuroscience in a way that is clear and of sufficient depth to be authoritative. Clarke also leads the reader beyond fascination into consideration of what is implied, and not implied, by neuroscience for a philosophical and theological account of human nature. It is clear from Clarke’s exposition that a scientific account of the embodiment of human thought and action, when correctly understood, poses no threat to belief in human agency, the causal role of conscious thought, and the possibilities for genuine moral action and personal responsibility. What is more, Clarke’s exposition suggests that a more embodied view of humankind can fund a robust faith.” * Warren S. Brown, research neuropsychologist and author of several books on the relationship between neuroscience and faith, director, the Travis Research Institute, the Fuller Theological Seminary and Professor of Psychology, Graduate School of Psychology *“This book is a must read for those interested in the interface between faith and neuroscience. Throughout, Professor Clarke advocates an integrated, holistic approach to the major questions where neuroscience and faith impinge. He touches on our core beliefs about who we are, and deals with hotbed arguments around free will and responsibility. He gives a clear analysis of the arguments and indicates where he would draw the line. As a scientist he does not shy from engaging with other disciplines like philosophy and as a molecular neuroscientist he keeps a healthy balance between molecular and systems approaches. He shows how advances in neuroscience inform at all levels who we are. I highly commend this informative book. * Harvey T. McMahon *“’Modern neuroscience raises challenges for many of our most basic ethical and religious beliefs’ writes neuroscientist Peter Clarke in the introduction to All in the Mind. In this honest, clearly written, and wide-ranging book, he describes how the brain works and discusses the relationship between brain mechanisms, mind, consciousness, free/conscious will, morality, and a range of spiritual/religious beliefs and experiences. The breadth of scholarship is impressive, giving rise to a very informative text with a large amount of material packed economically into its pages. It is a much-needed and welcome addition to the Science-Religion literature.” * John Bryant, Emeritus Professor, University of Exeter *

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Book SynopsisFor a thing to be real, it must be able to communicate with other things. If this is so, then the problem of being receives a straightforward resolution: to be is to be in communion. So the fundamental science, indeed the science that needs to underwrite all other sciences, is a theory of communication. Within such a theory of communication the proper object of study becomes not isolated particles but the information that passes between entities. In Being as Communion philosopher and mathematician William Dembski provides a non-technical overview of his work on information. Dembski attempts to make good on the promise of John Wheeler, Paul Davies, and others that information is poised to replace matter as the primary stuff of reality. With profound implications for theology and metaphysics, Being as Communion develops a relational ontology that is at once congenial to science and open to teleology in nature. All those interested in the intersections of theology, philosophy and science should read this book.Trade Review’This is a clear, fresh, stimulating, and provocative book. I enjoyed reading it, and recommend it to anyone who would like to think more deeply about information, evolution and creativity.’ Rupert Sheldrake, University of Cambridge, UK 'Being as Communion is a masterpiece. Dembski's treatment of information is deep, rich and staggeringly original, gathering together many different threads from theology, philosophy and science. In an intellectual world that prizes outrageous proposals, Dembski modestly seeks to turn the world upside down by making the case that information is more fundamental than matter or energy. He thereby illuminates the primacy of mind in the cosmos. This book is a fresh and significant threat to materialist imperialism.’ Mark Fitzmaurice, General Medical Practitioner, Sydney, Australia ’William Dembski is one of the most original and rigorous thinkers of his generation, and his new book, Being as Communion, pulls together in a satisfying way the many threads in the theory of design and information that he has developed over the last 15 years. Philosophical and theological critics of the intelligent design movement need to read this book, since here Dembski definitively smashes the common caricatures and misrepresentations of the movement, including the notion that ID is committed to a metaphysics that is mechanist, dualist, interventionist, or occasionalist. Dembski argues persuasively that information cannot be simply identical with its physical manifestations, and that the concepts of information and teleology are indispensable tools for the contemporary metaphysician.’ Robert C. Koons, University of Texas - Austin, USA ’The first Scientific Revolution was the recognition that the book of nature was written in mathematics. The second Scientific Revolution - that the chapter on biology is written in information theory - is taking place in our lifetime. Biology is replete with information, from the genetic code and intricaTable of ContentsPreface 1 The Challenge of a Material World 2 Free Will: The Power of No 11 3 Information as Ruling Out Possibilities 4 Possible Worlds 5 Matrices of Possibility 6 Measuring Information 7 Information Theory 8 Intelligence vs. Nature? 9 Natural Teleological Laws 10 Getting Matter from Information 11 The Medium and the Message 12 Embodiment and Transposition 13 Energy 14 An Informationally Porous Universe 15 Determinism 16 Contingency and Chance 17 Search 18 Conservation of Information 19 Natural Selection 20 The Creation of Information 21 A World in Communion

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Book SynopsisThe science/faith discussion is often hindered by a fundamental misunderstanding of the role and function of science. This misunderstand was made most evident, with tragic consequences, during the recent pandemic. The ways that science has gone wrong, and the underlying causes of how it goes wrong, will be illustrated here with a series of historical essays describing ideas about the universe, planet Earth, and the evolution of life that were all based on ideas that were reasonablebut ultimately wrong. Some are amusing in retrospect; others are tragic.Theology, philosophy, or even mathematics may lay claim to eternal truths, but in science our very cosmologies change. Just as the major religions have adapted in the face of changing cultural cosmologies, so too has science adapted in the face of challenging new observations and new ideas. Religions and science are strengthened by experiencing a shift in our assumptions; that''s where we find out what''s essential, and what is

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Book SynopsisWhat is religion? What is science? How do they interact with each other? Science and Religions in America: A New Look offers a cutting-edge overview of the diverse range of religious traditions and their complex and fascinating interaction with science. Pluralistic in scope, the book is different from traditional Christian and/or monotheistic approaches to studying the rich interplay of religion and science in multi-religious American culture.Featuring interviews with specialists in the field, Greg Cootsona draws on their insights to provide a comprehensive, accessible, and engaging introduction to the challenging interrelationship of religion and science. Each chapter focuses on a different religion within the United States, covering Buddhism, Christianity, Nature Religions, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and the Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR).Global religious traditions and their inextricable relationship with science and technology are examined in an accessiblTrade Review"In this expert, eminently readable, and desperately needed volume, Cootsona moves us beyond a Christian-centric view of the religion and science discussion."Elaine Howard Ecklund, Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences, Rice University, USA.Table of Contents1. Why and how I think you should read this book—a bit of a roadmap 2. Complex and frequently misunderstood: Christianity and science 3. Streaming science and spirituality: The Spiritual but Not Religious 4. More than mindfulness: Buddhism and science 5. The way of interconnection: Science and nature religions 6. Extraordinary influence: Judaism and science 7. Creation and the oneness of God: Islam and science 8. Connections both old and new: Hinduism and science 9. Conclusion: Reflections on method and more 10. Glossary of terms Index

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the role of religion in discussions about climate change and, particularly, the development of responses to climate change on global, state, institutional, and local levels. It considers examples of the ways that different religious traditions, including Indigenous, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian communities, have responded to the different effects of climate change by using different methodological approaches, including political science and international relations (e.g. public opinion polls and constructivism); religious studies scholarship on climate change, including an overview of religion and ecology as a subdiscipline in religious studies; and environmental humanities approaches.This volume interrogates the diverse ways religion both acts and is acted upon by different actors, including institutions and nation states, in response to climate change. Within single traditions, different actors advocate for planetary care and concern, while their co-rel

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Book SynopsisThis new edition of Parapsychology continues to challenge and provoke readers with some of psychology's most puzzling phenomena. Whether believers or sceptics, the book provides readers with the opportunity to further their understanding of the paranormal, bridging the gap between traditional psychology and fringe areas.With contributions from leading paranormal researchers, this edition has been thoroughly updated and includes new chapters on dreams, precognition and prediction of future events and anthropology. The book has been reorganised to help readers frame each phenomenon within the context of cognition, science and religion, and chapters are structured around science and experience, cognition and belief, religious belief and science, and further topics in parapsychology. The book covers a range of topics that can be considered parapsychological; including reincarnation, entity encounters, astrology, mediumship and near-death experiences.Providing a bala

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Book SynopsisKey Thinkers in Religion and Environment provides a theoretical foundation for scholarship related to the intersection of religions, natures and cultures across disciplines.The text introduces students to the major names, theoretical issues, and methodological orientations of the field while giving professors maximum freedom to insert case studies and examples as they wish. Students will come away with an understanding of the most important scholars, their theoretical contributions, and the scholarly conundrums with which they wrestled. The book includes figures who are foundational to the field of religious studies more broadly, foregrounding key themes in their works which highlight the nature in/of their argumentation, whilst also highlighting the voices of women and people of color. The thinkers come from a range of fields, including religious studies, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, American Indian studies, ethology, agroecology, theology, and environmental h

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Book SynopsisThis book presents ecological insights drawn from a reading of Julian of Norwich, considering how effectively she can help us in our current plight. The argument is that to address the ecological crisis with the mindset that created it will only cause more problems, and that to really undo the harm humanity has done and continues to do will take a transformation of selfhood and hence of perception, from the Gestell, technological self that is the child of the Enlightenment to the porous self that we truly are, underneath our buffered, separated, controlling and lonely exterior. The author suggests Julian of Norwich's text Revelations of Divine Love has the power to effect this transformation if we can learn to read it as disciples, not masters, just as Julian received and responded to her revelations as a performative, porous, receptive disciple. The chapters describe the technological mindset and its causal relationship with the ecological crisis, and articulate in de

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Book SynopsisBelievers from a variety of faith communities were asked to assess how the Covid pandemic has affected their faith. The anthology collects their responses to key questions, such as: How does your faith explain why such events occur? How has it affected your religious practices? What changes has it necessitated? What differences might we expect once the pandemic is over? What have we learned from it? Two exponents of each major religion and a number of minority faiths comment on these issues, combined with a concluding essay by the editors assessing the overall impact of the pandemic on religion worldwide. Faiths explored include Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Sikh Baha'i, Jain, African Traditional Religion, Zoroastrian, Unitarian, Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Science.Trade ReviewFor religions of all kinds, the imperative to remember is of great importance. As we tentatively move into a post-Covid society, it is easy to forget the impact the pandemic had on our understanding and practice of faith and spirituality. This remarkable collection of reflections from a very wide range of traditions should serve as a multi-faceted reminder to the deep religious and ethical issues which Covid created, uncovered and amplified. * Michael Ipgrave OBE, Bishop of Lichfield, UK *By sharing experiences of the Covid Pandemic, people of different countries and beliefs will be better prepared to act together in the event of future global threats to peace and prosperity. * Marcus Braybrooke, Former President of the World Congress of Faiths, UK *George D. Chryssides and Dan Cohn-Sherbok have assembled an informed collection of contributors who provide a comparative window into how adherents of a wide variety of religious traditions responded to the global pandemic. Readers will learn not only how differently the religions understood and responded to the traumatic events, but also how united the human species is in drawing upon religion in times of need. * John W. Morehead, Director, Evangelical Chapter of the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy/Multifaith Matters, USA *A collection of insightful responses and reflections from a wide variety of religious voices that are valuable in themselves and, as Rowan Williams says in the foreword, “They suggest that the process of distilling what is to be learned from the pandemic will need spiritual insight, not just a superficial optimism about doing better next time." * David Steers, Editor of Faith and Freedom, UK *Table of ContentsNotes on Contributors Foreword, Rowan Williams, Former Archbishop of Canterbury Acknowledgements Table of Acronyms 1. Covid and Religion – Christopher Lewis, (Dean Emeritus, Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford, UK) 2. Pandemics and Jewish Responses – Oliver Leaman (University of Kentucky, USA) 3. Some Jewish Perspectives from the United States – David J. Zucker (Rabbi and Author, UK) 4. Covid, Communion and Christianity – Clare Amos (World Council of Churches, Switzerland) 5. We Can’t Forget: Conservative Protestants in the COVID-19 Pandemic – Camille Kaminski Lewis (Furman University, USA) 6. “What people's hands have earned”: Islamic perspectives on Covid – Usama Hasan (Al Quran Society, UK) 7. Glimpses into Islamic Perspectives and Practice – Farhana Mayer (University of Oxford, UK) 8. Turning to Medicine is Not Turning Away from God: Hindu Resilience in a Pandemic – Anantanand Rambachan (St Olaf College, Minnesota, USA) 9. Karma, Chanting, Love, and Zoom; Hindu Responses to a Pandemic – Shaunaka Rishi Das (Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, UK) and Utsa Bose 10. The Buddha’s Prescription for the World: How People Used Buddhism to Cope with the Pandemic – Bogodá Seelawimala (Head of the London Buddhist Vihara and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain, UK) 11. Covid and Theravada Buddhism – Peter Harvey (University of Sunderland, UK) 12. Fostering Everyday Culture at Shinto Shrines under Covid – Taishi Kato (Shinto Priest, Hattori Tenjingu Shrine, Osaka, Japan) 13. The Significance of Matsuri festivals in Shinto during Epidemics – Koji Suga (Kokugakuin University, Japan) 14. Covid and Sewa: Practising Sikhi during a Global Pandemic – Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal (University of Southern California Riverside, USA) 15. Sikh Scriptemics during Pandemic – Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh (Colby College, USA) 16. Navigating the Covid-19 Pandemic: Building Resilience: Reflections of a Bahá’í – Wendi Momen (University of Derby, UK) 17. World-Embracing Vision Against World-Threatening Pandemic – George Merchant Ballentyne (Leicester Council of Faiths, UK) 18. Jains and Covid-19 – Vinod Kapashi (World Congress of Faiths, UK) 19. Jain Perceptions of the Pandemic – Kumarpal Desai 20. African Religion – Vibrant amid Covid-19 in Eswatini – Hebron L Ndlovu (University of Swaziland, Swaziland) 21. Opening our eyes: Covid-19 and Indigenous Funeral Processes in African Traditional Religion – Nokuzola Mndende (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa) 22. Zarathustra’s Wisdom: Accepting Natural Consequences – Jehangir Sarosh (The World Council of Religions for Peace) 23. Transforming Challenges into Progress: A Zoroastrian Perspective – Karishma Koka (University of Cambridge, UK) 24. Unitarians and global catastrophe: a pandemic, a war and a climate emergency – Feargus O’Connor (World Congress of Faiths, UK) 25. Unitarian Universalists Face Covid: Challenges, Surprises, and New Pathways – Jay Atkinson (Starr King School, USA) 26. When ‘No Resident Will Say: “I Am Sick”’ – The Global Religious Response of Jehovah’s Witnesses to the Covid-19 Pandemic – Jolene Chu (Archivist, World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, USA) 27. How one Jehovah’s Witness community negotiated the ride of the ‘pale horse’ – Gary Perkins (Independent Scholar, UK) 28. Practising my Christian Science Faith during the Covid-19 Pandemic – Shirley Paulson (Formerly Head of Ecumenical Affairs, Christian Science Church, USA) 29. Personal Experiences of the Christian Science Faith during Covid – Susan Searle, (Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia, Australia) 30. Covid and Theology – Dan Cohn-Sherbok 31. What Have We Learned? – George D. Chryssides Index

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Book SynopsisGlenn H. Utter is professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, USA. His areas of instruction include American government and politics and classical and contemporary political thought.

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of human identity from both scientific and religious perspectives, from bestselling author and Andreas Idreos Professor of Science & Religion at Oxford University, Alister McGrath.Trade ReviewThere can hardly be a more prolific theological writer in the English-speaking world than Alister McGrath. * Conor McOonough *This is a book characterised by a deep sense of humility before the mystery of life and the limitations of human knowledge. It is also one that is generously open to the views of those with whom he disagrees. At the same time he shows, often with a telling example, how Christianity not only gives us a glimpse of the bigger picture, but offers a framework of meaning enabling us to cope with our journey from birth to death . Whilst Drawing on his vast learning in both science and philosophy Alister McGrath still manages to convey his argument with great clarity and accessibility. It is a book that will challenge all dogmatists, whether scientific or religious, and which will greatly encourage those who are tentative and searching. * Lord Harries of Pentregarth *In this personal, scholarly yet gripping account of the human search for meaning, Alister McGrath reveals this eirenic question to be as vital in our own times as in previous ages. In the spirit of Chesterton, Thoreau and C S Lewis, and in dialogue with Augustine, Pico, Murdoch, and his neighbourhood nemesis Dawkins, McGrath takes his breathless readers first to a high balcony-view of the science, religion and philosophy of purpose, but then leads us back down to the road where we must make our own journeys, the richer for our reading. * Tom McLeish, Professor of Physics at Durham University and Chair of the Royal Society’s education committee *The book comes alive in the third and final part that deals with the future and humanity's struggle with the conflict of good and evil in its nature... a worthwhile book. * Methodist Recorder *Alister McGrath in The Great Mystery asks the questions (with his usual rigour and clarity) that philosophers tend to avoid these days: 'What is the point of life?' and 'What is wrong with us?' He, too, is concerned to explore the meaning that lies behind the facts in a world drowning in information from the sciences, calling for a fundamental rethinking of who we are. * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisIn March 1997, thirty-nine people in Rancho Santa Fe, California, ritually terminated their lives. To outsiders, it was a mass suicide. To insiders, it was a graduation. The author explores the question of why the members of Heaven's Gate committed ritual suicides, and examines the origin and evolution of the religion, its appeal, and practices.Trade ReviewZellers prose is clear and attractive, and he has a great story to tell, makingHeavens Gatea sparkling read. This book is highly recommended to all interested in new religious movements, apocalypticism, and American religions. Its relevance extends far beyond the small group that became forever notorious in 1997. * Journal of Religious History *Zeller has written the most thorough work on the cult of Heaven's Gate that is presently available...Zeller provides a thorough presentation, and his 'Why Suicide' chapter is the most comprehensive in this fine publication. * Choice *A dramatic and engaging story. The writing is crisp and clear, and the argument, particularly about the indebtedness of Heavens Gate to the Bible and Christianity, as well as to New Age and UFO milieux, is well-articulated and persuasive. Zeller effectively captures the particularity of the members of Heavens Gate, why they thought and acted as they did, and what led them to the fateful decisions to take their own lives. In the process he rescues them from being dismissed as mindless 'cult members' and makes understanding them both more challenging and more rewarding. This volume should become the standard reference on Heavens Gate. -- Eugene V. Gallagher,author of Why Waco? Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in AmericaDespite the extensive media coverage of the Heavens Gate suicides in 1997, no single-authored academic book has yet been written about this group. This volume thus fills an important gap. This is an extremely valuable book, which should be of interest not merely in academic circles, but more widely. Anyone who has an interest in new religions and wonders how a charismatic leader can persuade 39 people to commit collective suicide will find it a highly readable account of Marshall Herff Applewhite and his followers. -- George Chryssides,University of BirminghamThe glare of media attention has long since passed from Heavens Gate and its group suicide in 1997, but Benjamin Zeller now brings a far more discerning light to the movements history, beliefs, and practices. He carefully situates the group within the broader religious culture of the late twentieth century, including its substantial engagement with both Protestant Christianity and New Age currents. In the process, he turns Heavens Gate, an idiosyncratic UFO religion, into one richly emblematic of Americas questing, apocalyptic cultural landscape. -- Leigh E. Schmidt,Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor in the Humanities, Washington University in St. LouiTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 Part I Science and the Unification Church Introduction 21 1 Science and the Foundation of Unificationism 25 2 Science and the American Unification Church 46 Part I I Science and the Hare Kri shna Movement Introduction 69 3 Science and the Foundation of the Hare Krishnas 73 4 Science and the Expansion of ISKCON 92 Part I I I Science and Heaven's Gate Introduction 117 5 Science and the Foundation of Heaven's Gate 121 6 Science and the End of Heaven's Gate 142 Conclusion 163 Notes 173 Works Cited 199 Index 221 About the Author 227

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Book SynopsisThis edited volume presents the latest research on the intersection of religion and medicine in Asia. It features chapters by internationally known scholars, who bring to bear a range of methodological and geographic expertise on this topic. The book’s central question is to what extent ‘religion’ and ‘medicine’ have overlapped or interrelated in various Asian societies. Collectively, the contributions explore a number of related issues, such as: which societies separated out religious from medical concerns, at which times and in what ways? Where have medicine and religion converged, and how has such knowledge been defined by scholars and cultural actors? Are ‘religion’ and ‘medicine’ the best terms by which scholars can grapple with knowledge about the sacred and the self, destiny and disease?Table of ContentsForeword by Dagmar SchäferAcknowledgementsIntroduction Michael Stanley-BakerPart I East Asia1 Religion and health care in middle-period ChinaNathan Sivin2 Religion and medicine in pre-modern JapanKatja Triplett3 Female alchemy in late imperial and modern ChinaElena ValussiPart II South Asia4 Religion and medicine in Sanskrit literature: the Ramaya?a and the politics of an epic plantAnthony Cerulli5 From ‘medical men’ to ‘local health traditions’: the secularisation of medicine in portrayals of health care in IndiaHelen Lambert6 Sound medicine: towards a nomadology of medical mantras in seventeenth to twentieth-century BengalProjit Bihari Mukharji Part III Himalayas, Southeast Asia7 Sowa Rigpa, Tibetan medicine, Tibetan healingGeoffrey Samuel8 Homeopathy and Islam in Malaysia: Encounters of religion and complementary medical traditions in a modern Asian multi-ethnic societyConstantin Canavas9 Questioning the boundaries between medicine and religion in contemporary MyanmarCéline CodereyIndex

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Book SynopsisCan Christianity and evolution coexist? Traditional Christian teaching presents Jesus as reversing the effects of the fall of Adam. But an evolutionary view of human origins doesn't allow for a literal Adam, making evolution seemingly incompatible with what Genesis and the apostle Paul say about him. For Christians who both accept evolution and want to take the Bible seriously, this can present a faith-shaking tension. Popular Old Testament scholar Peter Enns offers a way forward by explaining how this tension is caused not by the discoveries of science but by false expectations about the biblical texts. In this 10th anniversary edition, Enns updates readers on developments in the historical Adam debate, helping them reconcile Genesis and Paul with current views on evolution and human origins. This edition includes an afterword that explains Enns's own theological evolution since the first edition released.Table of ContentsContentsIntroductionPart 1: Genesis: An Ancient Story of Israelite Self-Definition1. Genesis and the Challenges of the Nineteenth Century: Science, Biblical Criticism, and Biblical Archaeology2. When Was Genesis Written?3. Stories of Origins from Israel's Neighbors4. Israel and Primordial TimePart 2: Understanding Paul's Adam5. Paul's Adam and the Old Testament6. Paul as an Ancient Interpreter of the Old Testament7. Paul's AdamConclusion: Adam Today--NineThesesAfterword: Adam, Evangelicalism, and the Metanarrative of EvolutionIndexes

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Book SynopsisThe Language of Genetics: An Introduction is the seventh title published in the Templeton Science and Religion Series, in which scientists from a wide range of fields distill their experience and knowledge into brief tours of their respective specialties. In this volume, Dr. Denis R. Alexander offers readers a basic toolkit of information, explanations, and ideas that can help us grasp something of the fascination and the challenge of the language of genetics.Alexander surveys the big picture, covering such topics as the birth of the field; DNA: what it is, how it works, and how it was discovered; our genetic history; the role of genes in diseases, epigenetics, and genetic engineering. The book assumes the reader has little scientific background, least of all in genetics, and approaches these issues in a very accessible way, free of specialized or overly technical jargon. In the last chapter, Dr. Alexander explores some of the big questions raised by genetics: what are its implications for notions of human value and uniqueness? Is evolution consistent with religious belief? If we believe in a God of love, then how come the evolutionary process, utterly dependent upon the language of genetics, is so wasteful and involves so much pain and suffering? How far should we go in manipulating the human genome? Does genetics subvert the idea that life has some ultimate meaning and purpose?Genetics is a rapidly advancing field; it seems new discoveries make headlines every other week. The Language of Genetics is intended to give the general reader the knowledge he or she needs to assess and understand the next big story in genetics.

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Book Synopsis College and university professors have been demanding that this book, out of print for several years, be made available again, as it is unique in its field. This new edition, which includes a new preface and guidance to current literature, offers a balanced study of the implications of scientific developments in psychology and neuroscience for traditional Christian beliefs. Malcolm Jeeves, former editor-in-chief of Neuropsychologia, a leading international scientific journal in behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, explores the intersection of science and faith in defining what it means to be human. He reports on recent scientific research on consciousness and the link between mind, brain, and behavior. He examines issues such as determinism by indicating the possible relevance of chaos theory to enduring concerns about freedom and responsibility. He looks at similarities and differences between human nature and animal nature. He reexamines traditional dualist views of soul and body in the light of contemporary research on mind and brain and argues for a wholistic model. This leads to addressing questions such as: does spiritual awareness depend on the intactness of our brains or does spirituality stand apart from our biological substrate? Jeeves' insightful analysis of the ways recent findings in psychology relate to certain Christian beliefs about people expands the global science religion dialogue.

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Book SynopsisWhat makes Time, Ignorance, and Death inevitable? Do they have something in common? A pioneer of reducing that deadly something leads a short tour of where it''s found and displaced. Sayre''s tour visits some unusual places. An immigrant neighborhood builds a microgrid. A remote radio telescope solves how to detect intelligence in the universe. A quantum mystery is resolved by our own incomplete view. All are related.The tour''s destination is a moral compass and hope in tragedy.

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