Science and Religion: A New Introduction

By Alister E. McGrath

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no prior knowledge in either area, it incorporates numerous student-friendly features, including maps, summaries, and historical references, resulting in the most up-to-date introduction to the study of religion and the natural sciences available.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 McGrath; author of bestselling books such as Dawkins’ God, and an acknowledged expert in the field of science and religion

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wiley
• Release date: Mar 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781118697283

Alister E. McGrath

Alister E. McGrath is a historian, biochemist, and Christian theologian born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. McGrath, a longtime professor at Oxford University, now holds the Chair in Science and Religion at Oxford. He is the author of several books on theology and apologetics, including Christianity's Dangerous Idea and Mere Apologetics. He lives in Oxford, England and lectures regularly in the United States.

Reviews for Science and Religion

[gottfried_leibniz-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Science & Religion is an important topic, that frequently comes in conversation.

Who is the Author?

McGrath is an erudite Scholar, a Chemist, turned into Theologian. He holds Science and Religion Chair at England. I'd leave details for the reader to figure out.

What does McGrath say in this work?

In this work, McGrath doesn't bring anything original in this area. McGrath, rather gives an outline of what has been said.

Anyone who has explored the field, Philosophy of Religion might be aware of this work.

Why care about Philosophy of Religion?

If you care about big questions of life.

These questions shape fundamental value of your being, your life.

Socrates said, "An Unexamined life is not worth living."

What is Philosophy of Religion?

It's an academic field, where leading academics discuss, put forward their best ideas, their best work on Religion.

Recently, there's an explosion in field of Philosophy of Religion. Theists have been contributing massive literature to the field.

With that, comes a challenge from Naturalism, the view that there is only Nature, nothing else. Both have been fruitful, respectful in contributing.

Surprisingly, the conversation in Philosophy of Religion at cutting edge level goes on for years.
Because, big questions of life is difficult, hard, complex.

This is due to the amount of intellectual thought, understanding, challenges on this topic.

What others are saying in Science and Religion?

McGrath in his interviews says, it's helped him to do Science better. He says being part of a religious tradition, helps him to see reality in new ways. Late, Professor John Polkinghorne took similar view.

There's many others who's worked on this area of interest. I can name few, T.F Torrance, Ian Barbour, Arthur Peacocke, famous Computer Scientist, Charles Babbage.

So --How does one view reality?

It's a tough question, and therefore, many researchers, scientists come up with new ways to reach truth. The best ideas stay relevant, others get discarded.

Certainly, a complex question - a physicist, a chemist, a biologist, a mathematician, all would describe reality in unique ways.

Since knowledge became specialized, i.e Natural Philosophy got divided into parts of its own.

I know, many lost the art of bringing them all together.

So How, you may ask, How do you view reality, I'd say, many miss seeing the --Big Picture.

In 17th century, writers from School of Salamanca, a Spanish school saw problem with specialization.

Unfortunately, modern world has lost seeing Big Picture of Knowledge. It became too specialized.

Why is this important?

Historically --For human flourishing, both, Science & Religion, have helped each other.

From Aristotle to Contemporary Scientists, Researchers, Professors.

All have engaged on this topic at some point in their life.

This would be a good gentle introduction work in Science & Religion.

Please Check, Religion and Science, Special Divine Action Project by Oxford University

Deus Vult,
Gottfried