Cosmic Beginnings and Human Ends: Where Science and Religion Meet [Paperback]

Clifford N. Matthews (Editor), Roy Abraham Varghese (Editor), Jim Kenney (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1994

The most penetrating scientific intellects have found that something beyond science is required to make sense of the cosmos, while many of those working for inter-faith dialogue have concluded that "the story of the universe is the only thing that can bring the religions of the world together".

"Putting three basic questions to a well-chosen group of people has provided a lush collection of thoughtful reflection and informed speculation. A wonderfully provocative and enlightening book". -- James Mosher Publisher of Mindfield

Editorial Reviews

Review

Science and religion meet in a fine series of statements by thinkers ranging from scientists to philosophers. This isn't just a Christian collection: opinions range across and board and are based on a variety of beliefs; but all consider the basics of connections between science and religion; and all provide interesting reviews of human spiritual and scientific evolution. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 444 pages
• Publisher: Open Court Publishing Company (August 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812692705
• ISBN-13: 978-0812692709
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,182,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Roy Abraham Varghese, author of The Wonder of the World, is the editor and author of various books on the interface between science and religion. Of these, Cosmos, Bios, Theos, included contributions from 24 Nobel Prize winners and was described as "the year's most intriguing book about God" by Time magazine. This was the best-selling book from the publishing house Open Court. Cosmic Beginnings and Human Ends won a Templeton Book Prize in 1995. Great Thinkers on Great Questions was published by OneWorld of Oxford, England, and distributed worldwide by Penguin. God-Sent and the best selling God-Fleshed were two works of popular theology published by Crossworld Herder, the US division of the German publishing house Herder and Herder. Varghese was a panelist at the science and religion forum in the Parliament of World Religions held in Chicago in 1993. He was also an invited participant in the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders held at the United Nations in August 2000. He has organized several conferences with dialogues between noted atheists and theists including a conference at Yale University on Artificial Intelligence. He has worked on conferences and publications with some of the best-known atheists in the English-speaking world, ranging from Antony Flew and Sir Alfred Ayer of Oxford to Marvin Minsky of MIT as well as with prominent scientists (including a number of Nobel Prize winners).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for theist, atheist, agnostic and skeptic alike, November 7, 1999

By 

D. Roberts "Hadrian12" (Battle Creek, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cosmic Beginnings and Human Ends: Where Science and Religion Meet (Paperback)

To make clear what this book is: it is a collection of essays that were typed from speeches given at a convention on science and religion. It's uniquness lies in its objectivity and honesty concerning the issue of the relationship between these two spheres of influence. It includes a wide range of contributors, including scientists, biologists, philosophers and even a brain surgeon. This is NOT simply a bunch of creationists attempting to plead their case. I am a Christian, but I find much of the literature that comes out of the Institute for Creation Research to be full of ad-hoc reasoning and generally simple minded (not to mention bad science). This book is nothing like the poor representations of science to come out of the ICR. In fact, I know that at least one of the contributors, Timothy Ferris of the university of California Berkeley, is an agnostic & not even a believer. The book also includes an essay by John Leslie, who is the definitive authority on the Anthropic Principle. The greatest attribute of this book is that it is not so much about trying to make you believe or disbelieve in God, but rather that it makes one genuinely ponder the question. I have met many atheists and theists alike who have never truly done this. For the believers, it is also inspiring to find that (contrary to popular belief) there are plenty of reputable scientists out there who believe in God & have justifiable reasons for doing so. In fact, if anything, the trend seems to be that there is actually a growning number of them. A truly wonderful book.