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Faith, Science and Understanding

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John Polkinghorne, a theoretical physicist and an Anglican priest, has written a series of well-thought-out essays on the connection between science and religion. By avoiding the extremes of complete philosophical isolation and total integration, he provides us with not so much a conclusion as an understanding of an on-going dialogue. He takes an explicitly Christian approach to the subject, though he acknowledges that other faiths might come to different conclusions (and that the question of the existence of many different faiths deserves its own separate discussion.) Some key topics include:

Historical relations between science and religion in universities.
Being a person of both faith and science.
The importance of divine revelation.
Faith and science in the field of biology.
Scientific theories and theological concepts of current interest.
How God works in the universe.
Discussion of other important workers in the science and religion field.

All in all, this was a very worthwhile read. If you want to learn more about the connection between science and religion while avoiding the seemingly endless (and circular) discussions of "intelligent design," you will find that Polkinghorne has a very refreshing approach to the subject.

How can science be reconciled with a belief in a God active in creation, not evolution? Faith, Science & Understanding explores different aspects of science and theology, defending the place of theology in the scientific world and discussing how religious ideas and can still coexist within the scientific framework. Recommended for any interested in the science/theology debate.