Understanding religion and science
Subtitle: introducing the debate
By: Michael Horace Barnes
Publisher: Continuum
Published: 2010
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 308
ISBN-13: 9781441118165; 9781441182005
Description: "Most texts on religion and science rightly focus on the effect of modern cosmology and biology on views about God and on the place of humankind in the universe. Many analyze current disputes about Intelligent Design. Some add useful material about notions the soul and inner freedom. A few offer thoughts about miracles. Others devote time to differences in methods in religion and science. Understanding Religion and Science covers all those topics well and clearly. This textbook also reviews relevant historical and philosophical background, showing, for example, that some ancient Christians speculated on how God might give order to history without having to intervene, or that the very earliest Christians did not believe in a naturally immortal soul. Finally, the text asks why people differ in their basic commitments, some giving priority to a religiously meaningful life, others willing to face even the most uncomfortable conclusions. The author suggests this may be a divide not easily bridged. This book will appeal to students of Religion and of Science and Religion Studies."--Bloomsbury Publishing.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [286]-295) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Section 1: Methods in religion : relations between faith and reason; title: Faith and reason in religion : some basics; title: Modern theologies about faith; title: Section 2: The method of science : how does it arrive at its conclusions?; title: The method of science; title: The limits of science; title: Criticisms of science; title: Section 3: God and atheism; title: The reality and nature of God in western religion; title: Science-based atheism and some religious responses; title: Section 4: Miracles : does God intervene in natural processes?; title: Belief in miracles today; title: A brief history of Christian thought on miracles; title: Skepticism and modern theologies about miracles; title: Section 5: Cosmic evolution : how did we get here?; title: Varieties of universes; title: Cosmic order; title: Religious interpretations of the cosmos; title: Section 6: Biological evolution : how did we get here?; title: Basic theories of evolution; title: Evolution and Christianity; title: The new creationism : intelligent design; title: Human nature : who are we?; title: The soul tradition; title: Science on the mind; title: The freedom of a material soul; title: Epilogue: Religion and science : conflicting commitments.