Religion and science Books

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 SynopsisThis book is dedicated to an analysis of the writings of modern religious Jewish thinkers who adopted a neo-fundamentalist, illusionary, apologetic approach, opposing the notion that there may sometimes be a contradiction between reason and revelation. The book deals with the thought of Eliezer Goldman, Norman Lamm, David Hartman, Aharon Lichtenstein, Jonathan Sacks, and Michael Abraham. According to these thinkers, it is possible to resolve all of the difficulties that arise from the encounter between religion and science, between reason and revelation, between the morality of halakhah and Western morality, between academic scholarship and tradition, and between scientific discoveries and statements found in the Torah. This position runs counter to the stance of other Jewish thinkers who espouse a different, more daring approach. According to the latter view, irresolvable contradictions between reason and faith sometimes face the modern Jewish believer, who must reconcile himself to these two conflicting truths and learn to live with them. This dialectic position was discussed in Between Religion and Reason, Part I (Academic Studies Press, 2020). The present volume, Part II, completes the discussion of this topic. This book concludes a trilogy of works by the author dealing with modern Jewish thought that attempts to integrate tradition and modernity. The first in the series was The Middle Way (Academic Studies Press, 2014), followed by The Dual Truth (Academic Studies Press, 2018).Trade Review“Chamiel’s offers in-depth, often opinionated comparative analysis.”— Zev Garber, Reading Religion“In his fascinating two-part series Between Religion and Reason, Dr. Ephraim Chamiel has written a mesmerizing work that details the never-ending tension between science and reason on one side and revelation and religion on the other. (...) Chamiel should be commended for putting this extraordinary work together. This is a brilliant survey of some of the brightest philosophical minds of the last 100 years. While this is an extremely challenging and profound book, it is also quite intellectually rewarding.”— Ben Rothke, The Jewish LinkTable of Contents Translator's Note 1. Introduction 2. Eliezer Goldman 3. Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm 4. Rabbi Prof. David Hartman 5. Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein 6. Rabbi Prof. Lord Jonathan Sacks 7. Rabbi Dr. Michael Abraham 8. Summary and Conclusions Epilogue Bibliography Index of Subjects Index of Names

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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 SynopsisFor the modern world, it seems as if sexuality and spirituality have always been at odds. But what if the two are actually deeply connected? And what if science could prove this connection?From neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, Sex, God, and the Brain argues that our religious and spiritual experiences derive directly from our sexual being.  While others have speculated on a connection between religion and sex, Newberg is the first to demonstrate—with groundbreaking brain scan research gained through Orgasmic Meditation studies—that the underlying biological mechanism of religious, spiritual, and sexual experiences are identical.With research technical enough for academics, but explained simply enough for the everyday reader, Sex, God, and the Brain, will reframe our understanding of the link between spirituality and sexuality.

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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 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 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 SynopsisTrade ReviewBOOK OF THE MONTH: forces you to consider the unknown and try to come to terms with the unexplained. * Independent *From a less authoritative source, these stories could seem mawkish or flaky. Told here with calm precision, and with a conversational flair, they are both absorbing and convincing. With so much evidence available for further investigation, the most vexing question now is not whether life continues in some form after we die, but why mainstream science is so resistant to the idea. -- Christopher Stevens * Daily Mail *After is that rare thing, a scientific book that is also a page-turner. Greyson's meticulous research leaves little doubt that the human mind somehow survives beyond the point of death. * Nick Evans, bestselling author of The Horsewhisper *This very captivating book by Dr. Bruce Greyson chronicles his personal, spiritual and professional quest to understand the meaning of near-death experiences. His long-awaited and amazing book is a major contribution to the study of what happens when we die, and will quickly prove to be a classic in near-death studies. * Raymond Moody, MD, PhD, Author of Life After Life *Bruce Greyson is the most influential medical doctor-investigator over the last 40 years of this world-changing analysis. His work has done much to organize the scientific investigation of these experiences, to take them from fascinating anecdotes to systematic and objective study that will truly enable the world to benefit from these deep lessons. His work has the potential to completely change our fractured and confused world, offering insights that may lead to an explanation of the nature of consciousness. It will also help to nudge the entire scientific community towards realizations that can alter human history — bringing far more peace, harmony, and comfort to uncountable millions of souls both now and in future generations. * Eben Alexander, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Proof of Heaven *

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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 SynopsisImpossible Monsters is the captivating story of the discovery of the dinosaurs and how it upended our understanding of the origins of the world. An astonishing book about an extraordinary subject' PETER FRANKOPAN'As thrilling as it is sweeping' TOM HOLLAND'This book dazzles in its originality . . . a triumph' SATHNAM SANGHERAIn 1811, a twelve-year-old girl uncovered some strange-looking bones in Britain's southern shoreline - and so sparked a crisis that would engulf science and religion for the next six decades. By its end, the literal reading of the Bible had been overturned, science had been liberated from religion and the secular age had begun. Impossible Monsters takes us into the lives and minds of the extraordinary men and women whose discovery of the dinosaurs revolutionised our understanding of the world, as well as those who resisted them and those, like Charles Darwin, who took great risks to construct a new account of the earth's and mankind's origins. It is the riveting story of a group of people who dared to think impossible things and then showed them to be true. Truly marvellous ... an intellectual thriller' RICHARD HOLMESA stunning work ... of surprises and revelations' STEVE BRUSATTE

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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 SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLERIn Rooted, cutting-edge science supports a truth that poets, artists, mystics, and earth-based cultures across the world have proclaimed over millennia: life on this planet is radically interconnected. Our bodies, thoughts, minds, and spirits are affected by the whole of nature, and they affect this whole in return. In this time of crisis, how can we best live upon our imperilled, beloved earth?Award-winning writer Lyanda Lynn Haupt''s highly personal new book is a brilliant invitation to live with the earth in both simple and profound ways-from walking barefoot in the woods and reimagining our relationship with animals and trees, to examining the very language we use to describe and think about nature. She invokes rootedness as a way of being in concert with the wilderness-and wildness-that sustains humans and all of life.In the tradition of Rachel Carson, Elizabeth Kolbert, and Mary Oliver, Haupt writes with urgency and grace, reminding us that at the crossroads of science, nature, and spirit we find true hope. Each chapter provides tools for bringing our unique gifts to the fore and transforming our sense of belonging within the magic and wonder of the natural world.

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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 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 SynopsisOn July 29, 1968, Pope Paul VI ended years of discussion and study by Catholic theologians and bishops by issuing an encyclical on human sexuality and birth control entitled Humanae Vitae: On Human Life. That document, which declared that each and every marriage act must remain open to the transmission of life, lead to widespread dissent and division within the Church, particularly in the United States. The divide that Humanae Vitae opened up is still with us today. Mark Massa argues that American Catholics did not simply ignore and dissent from the encyclical''s teachings on birth control, but that they also began to question the entire system of natural law theology that had undergirded Catholic thought since the days of Aquinas. Natural law is central to Catholic theology, as some of its most important teachings on issues such as birth control, marriage, and abortion rest on natural law arguments. Drawing inspiration from Thomas Kuhn''s classic work The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Massa argues that Humanae Vitae caused a paradigm shift in American Catholic thought, one that has had far-reaching repercussions. How can theology-the study of God, whose nature is imagined to be eternal and unchanging- change over time? This is the essential question that The Structure of Theological Revolutions sets out to answer. Massa makes the controversial claim that Roman Catholic teaching on a range of important issues is considerably more provisional and arbitrary than many Catholics think.Trade ReviewUltimately, Massa provides a thorough discussion of four important thinkers within Catholic natural law traditions, all of whom have influenced Catholic discourse surrounding contraception. * Danielle Marie Dempsey, University of California, Riverside, Religious Studies Review *Recommended. * R. A. Boisclair, CHOICE *Massa provides a magisterial overview of [Thomas S.] Kuhn's thought. This is important not only because theologians should learn from the natural and social sciences, but also because Kuhn's model of paradigm shifts enlightens our contemporary Catholic life in the United States... This book is itself a revolution in a journey toward a fuller understanding of natural law discourse in the church. It does not disappoint. * Daniel Cosacchi, America: The Jesuit Review *Intellectual breadth, empathy and precision, so rarely found together, and so illustrative of the best of humankind, are here combined into a tour de force. Anyone who wishes to be serious about the Catholic intellectual life must henceforth have a well-dog-eared copy of this book on their shelves. * Michael Sean Winters, National Catholic Reporter *Table of ContentsIntroduction: On How and Why Theology Changes Part I: 1968 Chapter One: The End of the Catholic 19th Century in 1968 Part II: Paradigm Revolutions, 1960 to 1966 Chapter Two: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Chapter Three: "A Period of Crisis" Part III: Other Voices, Other Paradigms Chapter Four: Charles Curran and "Loyal Dissent" Chapter Five: Germain Grisez and the "New Natural Law" Chapter Six: Jean Porter and the Historical Project of Robust Realism Chapter Seven: Lisa Sowle Cahill and the "Middle Way" Part IV: So Now What? Chapter Eight: "In the Beginning Was the Grab Bag" Acknowledgements Endnotes 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 SynopsisRichard Dawkins' "God Delusion" is the bestselling book. This suggests that its arguments are influencing popular culture, and are thus likely to be widely encountered by church leaders and members. This work condenses Dawkins' often rambling arguments into succinct form, and provides responses from a Christian perspective.Trade Review"The Dawkins Delusion? Sets out to rebut Dawkin's central claims, particularly the one suggesting that knowledge of science should lead inevitably to atheism. It is a brief and concise book, dispelling with clarity and efficiency much of what McGrath calls the 'half-baked nonsense' in The God Delusion." -- Philip Wainwright, Salvationist"For those irritated by Dawkins and his attitudes to faith, this book represents the response of intelligent Christians everywhere." -- Matthew Cowie, Life and Work"At only 60 pages, McGrath's work is concise, coherent and, most of all, devestating. By the end of it, Dawkins' work is left looking like the hatchet job it is, the whole thing ripped to pieces by someone with far greater knowledge of the subject." -- James Kelly, Catholic Times"McGrath's book is a fine, dense, yet very clear account, from his particular Christian perspective, of the full case against Dawkins." -- Bryan Appleyard, New Scientist"...The Dawkins Delusion deserves to sell many more copies than The God Delusion. I am sad that Dawkins, once my hero, has descended to unscientific nonesense. McGrath makes more sense." -- Revd Jeremy Craddock, Church Times"The Dawkins Delusion, for example, is excellent at challenging Dawkin's absurd demonisation of Christian history and the concomitant white-washing of secularist history as though atheists have never killed or persecuted religious believers explicitly in the name of anti-religion." -- David Quinn, Catholic Herald

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Book SynopsisWritten by perhaps the world's foremost authority on the relationship between science and theology, this is an interpretation of the nature and scope of human knowledge, the extent and limits of science, and the proper place of theology. Reissued as an SPCK Classic.

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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 SynopsisReligion Online provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to this burgeoning new religious reality, from cyberpilgrimages to neo-pagan chatroom communities. A substantial introduction by the editors presenting the main themes and issues is followed by sixteen chapters addressing core issues of concern such as youth, religion and the internet, new religious movements and recruitment, propaganda and the countercult, and religious tradition and innovation.Table of Contents1. Introduction, Lorne L. Dawson and Douglas E. Cowan 2. Cyberfaith: How Americans Pursue Religion Online, Elena Larsen Part I: Being Religious in Cyberspace 3. Popular Religion and the World Wide Web: A Match Made in (Cyber) Heaven, Christopher Helland 4. Cyberspace as Sacred Space: Communicating Religion on Computer Networks, Stephen D. O'Leary 5. Young People, Religious Identity, and the Internet, Mia Lövheim 6. Religion and the Quest for Virtual Community, Lorne L. Dawson Part II: Mainstream Religions in Cyberspace 7. Reading and Praying Online: The Continuity of Religion Online and Online Religion in Internet Christianity, Glenn Young 8. This Is My Church: Seeing the Internet and Club Culture as Spiritual Spaces, Heidi Campbell 9. Rip.Burn.Pray.: Islamic Expression Online, Gary R. Bunt 10. The Cybersangha: Buddhism on the Internet, Charles S. Prebish Part III: New Religions in Cyberspace 11. New Religions and the Internet: Recruiting in a New Public Space, Lorne L. Dawson and Jenna Hennebry 12. The Internet as Virtual Spiritual Community: Teen Witches in the United States and Australia, Helen A. Berger and Douglas Ezzy 13. The Goddess Net, Wendy Griffin 14. The House of Netjer: A New Religious Community Online, Marilyn C. Krogh and Brooke Ashley Pillifant Part IV: Religious Quests and Contests in Cyberspace 15. Virtual Pilgrimage to Ireland's Croagh Patrick, Mark W. Macwilliams 16. Searching for the Apocalypse in Cyberspace, Robert A. Campbell 17. Contested Spaces: Movement, Countermovement, and E-Space Propaganda, Douglas E. Cowan

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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 SynopsisMature reflections from one of the greatest Reformed theologians address issues such as science, ethics, education, politics, and aesthetics. Now in paper.Table of ContentsHerman Bavinck: A Eulogy by Henry Elias Dosker 1. Philosophy of Religion (Faith) 2. The Essence of Christianity 3. Theology and Religious Studies 4. Psychology of Religion 5. Christianity and Natural Science 6. Evolution 7. Christian Principles and Social Relationships 8. On Inequality 9. Trends in Psychology 10. The Unconscious 11. Primacy of the Intellect or the Will 12. Trends in Pedagogy 13. Classical Education 14. Of Beauty and Aesthetics 15. Ethics and Politics Appendix A: Foreword by C. B. Bavinck Appendix B: Theology and Religious Studies in Nineteenth-Century Netherlands Index

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Book SynopsisFinding common ground between the world of biological science and the world of faith.Trade Review"A much-needed book on a crucial topic." Jeff Hardin, Professor of Zoology, University of Wisconsin"This book corrects the popular bleak view of a pitiless, indifferent universe and instead presents a most welcome view of a world of purpose." Cees Dekker, Professor of Nanobiology, Delft University of Technology"An ideal starting point for those who believe evolution is incompatible with God yet are open to explore further." Andrew Halestrap, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry, University of Bristol"Alexander's book breathes wonder for God's creation, and love for the science that studies it." René van Woudenberg, Professor of Epistemology and Metaphysics, Free University of Amsterdam"The author makes a careful and convincing case that modern biology is consistent with belief in a world imbued with divine meaning." Peter Harrison, Director, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of QueenslandTable of ContentsContentsFigures 10Preface 11Introduction 121 The Historical Roots of Purpose in Biology 182 Biology’s Grand Narrative 583 Biology’s Molecular Constraints 1044 Biology, Randomness, Chance, and Purpose 1405 The Christian Matrix Within Which Biology 179Flourishes6 Death, Pain, Suffering, and the God of Love 218Postscript 248Notes 250Bibliography 257Index 271

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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 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 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 Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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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 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 SynopsisThe doctrine of intelligent design is often the subject of acrimonious debate. Seeking God in Science cuts through the rhetoric that distorts the debates between religious and secular camps. Bradley Monton, a philosopher of science and an atheist, carefully considers the arguments for intelligent design and argues that intelligent design deserves serious consideration as a scientific theory.Monton also gives a lucid account of the debate surrounding the inclusion of intelligent design in public schools and presents reason why students’ science education could benefit from a careful consideration of the arguments for and against it.Trade Review“Seeking God in Science is a refreshing and fair-minded exploration of intelligent design arguments. Unlike the many ideologically-driven detractors of intelligent design, Monton refuses to set up a straw man, poison the well, or dismiss it as unscientific. Bradley Monton writes as “a friendly atheist”—one who seriously and honestly considers claims that challenge atheism. As such, this book is a welcome breakthrough.” — Douglas Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy, Denver Seminary“This is a brave and important book. Monton does not defend ‘intelligent design’ as true—he thinks it is most likely false. Instead, he defends it as a hypothesis worth taking seriously. He argues convincingly that it can be formulated as a scientifically testable hypothesis, and that there is some important empirical evidence for it—not as much evidence as its supporters claim there is, but some evidence. Virtually all voices in this debate insist either that ID is not even worth taking seriously or else that it is manifestly the truth. It is refreshing to see a talented philosopher give the thesis its due and make a serious attempt to weigh the evidence for and against it, without the weight of the ‘culture wars’ hanging over every sentence.” — John T. Roberts, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill“It’s about time that a competent analytic philosopher took a look at design-theoretic arguments in the sciences—and this because analytic philosophers have until now responded to serious challenges to prevailing orthodoxy by squirting out ink and indignation in equal measure. Bradley Monton’s book should be read by philosophers, biologists and physicists willing to keep their minds open long enough to let out the stale air and let in a few arguments.” — David Berlinski, Senior Fellow, Discovery Institute, Center for Science and Culture“Bradley Monton has done the intellectual community an enormous service in writing this defense of intelligent design. As an atheist, he defends ID not because he thinks it is true. Rather, he shows how it raises important questions and how many critics, in their enthusiasm to kill the baby in the cradle, are short-circuiting a discussion that needs to happen. Monton understands that important questions are never resolved by ignoring or marginalizing them. By employing his considerable skills as an analytic philosopher, he brings clarity to this much controverted question of intelligent design.” — William A. Dembski, author of The End of ChristianityTable of ContentsPrefaceCHAPTER 1What Is Intelligent Design, and Why Might an Atheist Believe in It?CHAPTER 2Why It Is Legitimate to Treat Intelligent Design as ScienceCHAPTER 3Some Somewhat Plausible Intelligent Design ArgumentsCHAPTER 4Should Intelligent Design Be Taught in School?NotesIndex

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