End of the World and the Ends of God: Science and Theology on Eschatology (Theology For The 21St Century) [Paperback]

John Polkinghorne (Author), Michael Welker (Author)

Book Description

Series: Theology For The 21St Century | Publication Date: February 1, 2000

The dialogue between science and theology has grown to mammoth proportions over the past decade. These two disciplines search continually to discover their common ground. Each discipline is anxious to warrant its own truth claims concerning the nature of reality and the nature of God. In order to be fruitful, such dialogue, argue the authors of this collection, should focus on one subject. In this volume, 16 scientists and theologians contend that eschatology provides a common concern for both theology and the sciences. Eschatology, they claim, will “help clarify and cultivate the differences between truth claims in both fields.” Moreover, a focus on eschatology offers an opportunity to examine the reasons people can be hopeful and optimistic even in the face of physical death and the finitude of the universe. Included in this provocative collection are essays on “eschatology and the natural sciences,” “eschatology in cultural sciences and ethics,” “eschatology in the biblical tradition,” and “eschatology and theology.” John Polkinghorne is the president of Queens’ College, Cambridge and the author of Reason and Reality (Trinity) and Serious Talk: Science and Religion in Dialogue (Trinity). Michael Welker teaches at the University of Heidelberg. Contributors to the volume include William R. Stoeger, S.J., Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona; Detlef Linke, Bonn University; Fraser Watts, Queens’ College, Cambridge; Larry Bouchard, University of Virginia; William Schweiker, University of Chicago; Janet Soskice, Jesus College, Cambridge; Christoph Schwöbel, Heidelberg; Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary; Patrick D. Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary; Donald H. Juel, Princeton Theological Seminary; Hans Weder, University of Zurich; Gerhard Sauter, University of Bonn, Germany; Kathryn Tanner, University of Chicago; Jürgen Möltmann, University of Tübingen; and Miroslav Volf, Yale University. For: Seminarians; clergy; graduate students; general audience>

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...informative and thought-provoking...very highly recommended reading..."—Reviewer’s Bookwatch, An Official Newsletter of The Midwest Book Review, October 2000 (Midwest Book Review, The )

"This book embodies the highest level of thinking currently available in two subject areas: the science-faith dialogue in broad scope and the Christian doctrine of eschatology in particular. The chapter by John Polkinghorne, "Eschatology: Some Questions and Some Insights from Science," may be the finest short essay in theology I have read in a decade. It is elegant!"—Ted Peters, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and Graduate Theological Union, as printed in Theology Today, January 2001 (Ted Peters Theology Today )

"Unusual for a book with 23 essays, this collection sustains a high quality throughout...for those who are interested in the latest developments in the science and theology dialogue or who are interested in the new twist that modern science has given questions of eschatology, this book is required reading." — Rob Highfield, Associate Professor of Religion, Pepperdine University, reviewing for Stone-Campbell Journal, Fall 2000 (Rob Highfield Stone-Campbell Journal )

"This is a valuable contribution to the current interest in 'Last Things'. It is, moreover, a 'user-friendly' book; clearly written without unnecessary scientific (or theological) jargon, and the multiplicity of sub-headings and titled paragraphs make it an easy book to digest and consult."— Cedric Carr, reviewing for The Expository Times, April 2001 (Cedric Carr )

For readers interested in in the continuing contention between science and theology, this book focuses nicely on a topic of great interest to both large and grand disciplines. In this one volume, some of today's best thinkers speak to how the world (or God) may work things out.—David Mosser, Clergy Journal,Oct. 2001. (David Mosser Clergy Journal )

"This book embodies the highest level of thinking currently available in two subject areas: the science-faith dialogue in broad scope and the Christian doctrine of eschatology in particular. The chapter by John Polkinghorne, "Eschatology: Some Questions and Some Insights from Science," may be the finest short essay in theology I have read in a decade. It is elegant!"—Ted Peters, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and Graduate Theological Union, as printed in Theology Today, January 2001 (, Theology Today )

"Unusual for a book with 23 essays, this collection sustains a high quality throughout...for those who are interested in the latest developments in the science and theology dialogue or who are interested in the new twist that modern science has given questions of eschatology, this book is required reading." — Rob Highfield, Associate Professor of Religion, Pepperdine University, reviewing for Stone-Campbell Journal, Fall 2000 (, Stone-Campbell Journal )

"This is a valuable contribution to the current interest in 'Last Things'. It is, moreover, a 'user-friendly' book; clearly written without unnecessary scientific (or theological) jargon, and the multiplicity of sub-headings and titled paragraphs make it an easy book to digest and consult."— Cedric Carr, reviewing for The Expository Times, April 2001 (, )

About the Author

John Polkinghorne is the president of Queen's College, Cambridge and the author of Reason and Reality (Trinity), Serious Talk: Science and Religion in Dialogue (Trinity), and The End of the World and the Ends of God (Trinity). Michael Welker teaches at the University of Heidelberg.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Trinity Press Int'l (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563383128
• ISBN-13: 978-1563383120
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 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: #792,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating collection of twenty-three essays, February 19, 2001

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: End of the World and the Ends of God: Science and Theology on Eschatology (Theology For The 21St Century) (Paperback)

In The End Of The World And The Ends Of God: Science And Theology On Eschatology, John Polkinghorne and Michael Welker effectively collaborate to assemble a fascinating collection of twenty-three essays by scientists, theologians, ethicists, and biblical scholars on the subject of eschatology (the ultimate significance and destiny of both the universe and individual human beings) as seen through the perspective of their particular disciplines. Scientists predict the end of time as a catastrophe (entropy -- the death of the universe), while theologians see human and universal destiny as one of passage to something more meaningful. These informative and thought-provoking essays touch upon such diverse issues as hope and the denial of death, time as moral space, eschatology and the natural sciences, and eschatology in the Judeo/Christian biblical tradition. The End Of The World And The Ends Of God is very highly recommended reading for students of metaphysics, theology, and science.