The Lab, the Temple, and the Market
Subtitle: Reflections at the Intersection of Science, Religion, and Development
Contributors: Foreword Pierre Beemans; Preface Sharon Harper; Introduction Farzam Arbab; Chapter 1. The Principle of Fundamental Oneness Promilla Kapur; Chapter 2. Solidarity with the Poor Gregory Baum; Chapter 3. Rediscovering the Resources of Religion Azizan Baharuddin; Chapter 4. Promoting a Discourse on Science, Religion, and Development Farzam Arbab; Afterword: Our Way of Proceeding William Ryan, S.J.; Appendix 1. Contributing Authors 2000; Appendix 2. Acronyms and Abbreviations
Publisher: Kumarian Press / IRDC
Published: October 2000
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 251
ISBN-13: 9781565491168
Subjects: Development studies; Impact of science & technology on society; Religion & Beliefs; Religion - Socialissues; Philosophy & Social Aspects; Political Science; Technology; Politics/International Relations; Sociology - Social Theory; Religion and science; Comparative Religion; International Relations - General; Economic development; Religious aspects
Description: What do faith, science, and the world of international development have to offer one another? Current international development discourse is starting to look at how religion affects globalization, peacebuilding, and the environment, for example. But how do the roles, approaches, and world views of science, religion, and international development intersect? And how does this intersection express itself in different cultures?

The Lab, the Temple, and the Market tackles these complex questions in four separate essays. Each essay meshes a discussion of development issues and processes with a different system of religious belief: Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá'i Faith. The authors — each a scientist as well as a person of faith — show how religious belief and personal faith can be deeply motivational and strikingly fruitful in scientific pursuits. Further, they emphasize how their faith has brought them a profound understanding of interconnectedness and compassion, and thus a wider perspective and greater sense of personal meaning to their research.

Fifty years of "international development," has produced some remarkable advances in health care, communication, and agriculture. But, for many, poverty continues to worsen, as the Earth suffers from the social, economic, and environmental consequences of the consumption-based model of human progress. The Lab, the Temple, and the Market furthers the search for a more "people-centred" model of development and for a scientific practice that supports tolerance, sustainability, peace, and justice for all. It will appeal to development practitioners and researchers, bilateral and multilateral policymakers, academics, religious leaders, and those who feel that current models of (and approaches to) human progress are constructed on a too-narrow definition of humanity.
Notes: This is a fascinating and highly informative book on a topic that is vital for our day. From their different faith perspectives, the authors show how urgent it is for us to recognize the fundamental links between science, religion, and commerce, if we are ever to achieve real "development" for the majority of people in the world. The authenticity of their contributions and their openness about their own experience makes the book extremely accessible and inspiring.
— Wendy Tyndale (Coordinator of the Faiths, World Faiths Development Dialogue)