From Publishers Weekly
An eminent cast of scientists and science-and-religion writers is ultimately unable to achieve the loosely conceived goal of this conference volume: to discuss the theological implications of cosmic evolution and the possibility of extraterrestrial life and intelligence. Most essays read like opening statements rather than genuine dialogue. Readers may easily become disoriented by elliptical discussions of "the astounding facts of the new universe" while sifting through radically different portrayals of what science says about cosmic origins and biogenesis. These scientific debates are interesting in their own right, but the book lacks even a provisional consensus on these issues, so advocating the "religious implications" of discoveries in these fields is highly uncertain. Few contributors seem intimidated by this uncertainty, although physicist Freeman Dyson and Vatican Observatory director George Coyne, proponents of otherwise very different views, sound similar calls for humility. Several others, including editor Steven Dick and Jill Tarter, director of the private-sector continuation of SETI and the model for Ellie in the 1997 movie Contact, look forward to a time when humanity will outgrow its native spirituality, perhaps disposing of such notions as transcendence and faith. Overall, the volume falls short of the insight conveyed in ContactAthat questions of ultimate meaning remain mysterious whether or not we find ourselves alone in the universe. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
A provocative collection examining science's impact on theology.Based on a 1998 conference sponsored by the Templeton Foundation, this collection of essays opens with the observation that the Copernican revolution looks insignificant when compared to the discoveries made about the earth and the universe in the last century: we now know, for example, that the universe is billions (not thousands) of light-years big; that it is expanding, not static; that our galaxy is just one of many, not the entirety of the universe. But from looking at modern theology, you wouldn't think anything had changed. The contributors (who include physicists, philosophers, historians of science, and theologians) suggest that cosmological advances might reshape the very fundamentals of theology. Paul C.W. Davies argues that if the universe turns out to be biofriendly (i.e., if given enough time and the right conditions, life will emerge as a matter of course), scientifically savvy thinkers may be compelled to reject atheism and embrace intelligent design theory. The contributors are especially interested in extraterrestrial life: philosopher Ernan McMullin, for example, argues that extraterrestrial intelligence will force Christians to do some hard thinking about original sin, the human soul, and the Incarnation. Some of the contributors conclude that new discoveries about extraterrestrial life will render our current conceptions of God useless, while others suggest that traditional ideas about God will still be relevant. A few of the essays are disappointing and utterly derivative--such as John Leslie's Intelligent Life in Our Universe (which does little more than rehearse Platonic ideas about God) and Christian de Duve's banal assertion that though advances of biology have forced us to abandon many myths . . . mystery remains, more profound and more beautiful than ever before. The essay by Anglican priest and physical chemist Arthur Peacocke--which assesses Jesus in evolutionary perspective--is the most satisfying, both scientifically sophisticated and theologically rich.An uneven anthology, with real gems (like Peacocke's) mixed in with many costume jewels. --
Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
