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The Faith of Scientists: In Their Own Words

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We live in a society that wants to pit science against faith. I am a scientist and a Christian; many of my science friends that I am quaint, and my Christian friends worry that I'm a heretic. I have chosen to stake my life to the conviction that science is a search for truth, my religious beliefs are truth, and that the truths must mesh.

Within that context of the interface between faith and science this is a superb book. It contains 21 chapters that present what 21 scientists have had to say about their spirituality. It is my opinion that Nancy Frankenberry has done a very good job of presenting each scientist as a separate readable authentic voice.

This is not a book of theology. Do not read it in search of a consistent vision of the juxtaposition of science and faith. It is not written by theologians but by scientists. What it is is an extended conversation, a conversation in which you can dip into the minds of the scientists and their musings about spirituality.

From a historical view, it is interesting to watch the shifting patterns of questions and concerns that the writers grapple with. Clearly, our collective understanding of the interplay between religion and science has shifted substantially over the centuries covered by this volume. However, personally I am most intrigued by my reaction; as I read it I feel as if I am sipping coffee with the author sitting at my table as we discuss these issues. I don't fully agree with any of the writers, and often I want to interject clarifications or questions.

But this is a book that leaves ideas to linger in your mind. For example, from Stephen Hawkins (p. 410): "Is everything determined? The answer is yes, it is. But it might as well not be, because we can never know what is determined." Now there's a thought to chew on.

In conclusion, I like this book very much. It will be one I pick up and quasirandomly read segments from time to time. The writers have left intellectual thrusts and parries that I will mull and modify. But do not read this book in a search for prescriptive answers and tidy solutions. Rather, read it as a prolonged exploration into the minds of scientists, scientists who end up spread considerably over the cognitive map of the interplay between science and faith.

So, congratulations to Nancy Frankenberry on a great addition to my bookshelf. A book to read and think about, and a great addition to our grappling with faith and science today.

This is an anthology of the writings of selected scientists from the 1600's to the present, regarding their views and thoughts about transcendence. Each section begins with a short biography of the scientist, as well as a review of their contributions to science.

The anthology begins with Galileo, and an inauguration of the apparent conflict with his empirically-established views regarding the solar system, and the dogma of the Church.

Through the subsequent readings we slowly trace the evolution of a perspective which begins with an empirical view that will only "know" based on observable evidence, to one that will eventually come to hold that measureable reality is all there is. In thus allowing no place for an intelligent supernatural god, we come to the hypothesis that reality and the life in it are simply emergent through an inherent tendency of self-organization. The final selections describe a viewpoint wherein we accept this state of affairs as sufficient, calling it "Mystery" and sacralizing physical existence in the cosmos and biosphere, holding this as the foundation of morality and social relationships, replacing the function of obsolete god-centered religious structures.

According to this "faith," however, when we are dead there is still nothing after. In my view, this is simply nihilism dressed up in prettier clothing, and a "faith" based on it just as unsatisfying.

The fundamental issue with religion is what happens to individual consciousness after death. A "faith" that does not provide a satisying answer to this question will not attract many adherents. It is easier however, to defer the question until the moment of one's own demise, when Pascal's Wager must still be made.

It's my opinion that some of the scientists profiled in the latter half of the book are selected in order to arrive at a particular viewpoint, a "religious naturalist" perspective. But that is just my suspicion. It's my impression that a more balanced presentation would have included other viewpoints of scientists such as geneticist Francis Collins (who is mentioned in passing in the Introduction).

Also, it is important to appropriately weight the views of any scientist, even a scientist of great stature, if he/she presumes to speculate regarding disciplines of study in which he/she is not credentialed.

In any case, this is an interesting book to chronicle the evolution of the dialogue between faith and science, and perhaps trace the initial root of Biblical literalism in the time of Galileo that led to today's exclusion of traditional religion from empirical credibility.