Now thoroughly updated to reflect the latest debates, this popular
textbook introduces readers to the central questions in the field
of science and religion. Ideally suited to those who have little or
no prior knowledge in either area, it incorporates numerous
student-friendly features, including maps, summaries, and
historical references, resulting in the most up-to-date
introduction to the study of religion and the natural sciences
available.
* Examines the historical, theological, philosophical and
scientific aspects of the interaction between religion and
science
* Fully updated to reflect current, cutting-edge debates on
scientific atheism and the limits of scientific method, and
discussions about the relationship between science and religion in
major world faiths
* Includes a historical component to enable readers to orientate
themselves within the subject
* Takes a topic based approach which fits into the existing
structure of most courses, and includes explanatory material not
found in other works of this kind, making it highly accessible for
those with little scientific or religious background knowledge
* Incorporates illustrations, tables, maps, summaries and
questions for a lively and engaging approach to the subject
* Written by world-renowned theologian, Alister Mc Grath; author
of bestselling books such as Dawkins’ God, and an
acknowledged expert in the field of science and religion
विषयसूची
Preface vii
How To Use This Book ix
1 Introducing the Dialogue Between Science and Religion 1
Part I History: Three Landmark Debates 7
2 Why Study History? 9
3 Debate 1: Copernicus, Galileo, and the Solar System 17
4 Debate 2: Newton, the Mechanical Universe, and Deism 26
5 Debate 3: Darwin and the Biological Origins of Humanity 33
Part II Science and Religion: General Themes 43
6 Models of Interaction Between Science and Religion 45
7 Science, Religion, and the Explanation of Things 51
8 Science, Religion, and Proofs for God’s Existence 59
9 Verifi cation and Falsifi cation in Science and Religion
67
10 Realism and its Alternatives in Science and Religion 76
11 The Doctrine of Creation and the Natural Sciences 84
12 How Does God Act in the World? 93
13 The Use of Models in Science and Religion 102
14 Natural Science and Natural Theology 110
15 Theoretical Anomalies in Science and Religion 120
16 The Development of Theory in Science and Religion 128
17 The Interaction of Science and Religion in Other Faiths
135
Part III Science and Religion: Contemporary Debates
143
18 Richard Dawkins and Scientifi c Atheism: Does Science Deny
God? 145
19 Cosmology: Does the Anthropic Principle Mean Anything?
151
20 Quantum Theory: Complementarity in Science and Religion
157
21 Evolutionary Biology: Can One Speak of ‘Design’ in Nature?
163
22 Evolutionary Psychology: The Origins of Religious Belief
169
23 The Psychology of Religion: Exploring Religious Experience
175
24 The Cognitive Science of Religion: Is Religion ‘Natural’?
184
Part IV Case Studies in Science and Religion 191
25 Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) 193
26 Thomas F. Torrance (1913-2007) 197
27 Charles A. Coulson (1910-74) 201
28 Ian G. Barbour (born 1923) 205
29 Arthur Peacocke (1924-2006) 209
30 Wolfhart Pannenberg (born 1928) 213
31 John Polkinghorne (born 1930) 217
32 Nancey Murphy (born 1951) 221
33 Alister E. Mc Grath (born 1953) 225
34 Philip Clayton (born 1956) 229
Conclusion 233
References 235
Index 240
लेखक के बारे में
Alister E. Mc Grath is Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education, and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture at King’s College, London. He is the author of numerous bestselling titles, including Dawkins’ God (2004), Theology: The Basics (2004), Christianity: An Introduction, 2nd edition (2006), Christian Theology, 4th edition (2007) and The Christian Theology Reader, 3rd edition (2007), all published by Wiley-Blackwell.