Description
Religion has been a major influence on the development of science over the past two millennia. The Truth about Science and Religion tells the story of their interaction, examining fundamental topics such as the origin of the universe, evolutionary processes, Christian beliefs, the history of science, and what being human really means from both a scientific and a religious perspective.
The Truth about Science and Religion aims to help explore personal views on science and religion, offering questions for discussion at the end of each chapter. The book provides the historical and scientific background as well as the philosophical insight needed to think through issues of science and religion and their influences on personal beliefs. Metaphors, comparisons and analogies are used to simplify complex topics such that any reader can engage with the thoughts and questions posed. Unlike other books in this field, The Truth about Science and Religion follows a chronological scheme, beginning with the origin of the universe and life itself before discussing matters of the human condition, the life of Jesus, and stories of several great scientists to regain a unified view of science and religion in today’s world.
About the Author
Fraser Fleming is Professor of Chemistry and Head of the Department of Chemistry at Drexel University, Philadelphia. He has published over eighty research articles in chemistry and is a leading expert in the chemistry of nitriles.
Contents
Foreword by Gary B. Ferngren
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Is There Purpose to Life? Implications from the Big Bang
2. The Origin of Life: Who or What Creates Life?
3. Evolution: From Amoeba to Zebra
4. Primates, Hominids, and Humans: What Makes People Human?
5. Jesus Christ: Prayers, Miracles, the Causal Joint, and the Resurrection
6. A Brief History of Science: From Prehistory to Particle Science
7. The Real Me: Mind, Brain, Soul, and Spiritual Experience
8. Where Science and Religion Meet: Is There Personal Relevance?
9. Epilogue: Does Science Influence Personal Belief?
Bibliography
Index
Endorsements and Reviews
Chock full of ideas, explanations, stories and thought stirring questions, Dr Fleming’s book will lead readers to reflect deeply about their own faith and their grasp of science. The discussion questions and bibliography alone make this perhaps the ‘go-to’ book on Christianity and Science for today. Highly recommended.
Terry Morrison, Emeritus Director of Faculty Ministry, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship; Former Professor of Chemistry at Butler University
Fleming delves right into the most vexing questions in the Christianity/science debate, but he isn’t throwing bombs – he’s asking deep questions. It is refreshing to see a topic that can be so contentious discussed so reasonably and thoroughly.
Brenton DeBoef, Professor of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island
The book’s ‘u.s.p.’ (unsurprisingly, given its provenance) is the significant attention paid to chemical processes in the opening chapters: too often these have been overlooked by authors coming from backgrounds in physics or the biological sciences.
Micael Fuller, in The Expository Times, Vol 129, No 4
The book has much to offer a wide variety of readers prepared to deal with issues that may on occasion take them out of their comfort zones.
D. Gareth Jones, in Theological Book Review, Vol 28, No 2
