Customer Reviews

Questions of Truth: Fifty-one Responses to Questions About God, Science, and Belief

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I was also at the AAAS launch of this book, and purchased my own (autographed) copy. It was also a pleasure to meet and speak in person with the authors in the exposition booth. When I asked a question during the formal launch session, Dr. Polkinghorne gave an insightful answer. What a great way to launch a book. Kudos!
Regarding the content, I have found many of the ideas and opinions to be stimulating and insightful, and the prose lucid. It is clear that that the authors have subjected each chapter to multiple editing passes, the product being concise prose and clear metaphors. And in a book like this, I find that it is less important whether or not one agrees with the author(s), and more important that the ideas and rationale are clearly stated.
I admit that I was a bit disappointed by the discussion of Intelligent Design. The authors seem to have accepted and reiterated the caricature promoted by its critics. The other sections seem to reflect more time in original thought.
On the whole, for a scientist and Christian in the middle of my life journey, it is a pleasure for me to consider the careful opinions and conclusions of individuals who have tread so much of the ground I enjoy trekking.

John Polkinghorne is a unique individual; an accomplished particle physicist, he decided to change careers about 30 years ago to become a minister of the Anglican church. A Templeton prize winner, his writing style is lucid and accessible. Questions of Truth is a departure from classics such as Exploring Reality and The Faith of a Physicist in that it is a collaboration between Polkinghorne and his associate Nicholas Beale, who helps with the deluge of e-mail that Polkinghorne receives.

This book, while quite short, covers a great deal of ground and effectively signposts the reader to other books by Polkinghorne that deal with specific subjects in greater depth. (page 81) "Every so often in the history of the universe something intrinsically new emerges from within the deep potentiality with which creation has been endowed. This happened with the coming-to-be of life and again with the dawning of animal consciousness. I believe it also happened in the genus Homo with the emergence of human self-consciousness." (page 68) "At some point in hominid evolution, self-consciousness - a deep self-awareness and the power to project our thought far into the future - dawned on our ancestors. At the same time, I believe that a new form of God-consciousness also dawned for them. The fall was the process by which they turned away from God into the self, an error of which we are all the heirs." I am an avid fan of Polkinghorne; he understands the flaws in the quasi-scientific arguments often advanced against faith, but even when he is dealing with crass abuse of logic or science he always tempers his great wisdom with humility and congeniality.

and refuses to read. Too often, the media tries to create a polarized conflict between of religion and science. Thus, scientists like Polkinhorne are 'inconvenient truths' - a man with solid scientific credentials, yet devoutly religious (Polkinghorne is an ordained Anglican minister and in no way a "Bishop Spong"). The other author, I was not as familiar with, but runs the 'star course' website- a site devoted to learning about the relation between science and religon.

This book is a great q@a of many "typical" questions such as:
1. Leading Questions 5
1. Science and Religion 5
2. Human Nature 9
3. The Existence of God 11
4. Creation and Evolution 15
5. Evil and Suffering 16
6. Divine Action 17
7. Jesus Christ 20
8. Final Destiny 22
9. Atheism 25
2. The Concept and Existence of God 27
10. Can God's Existence Be Proved? 27
11. Is God a Delusion? 28
12. How Can God Inhabit Eternity? 32
13. Does God Know Everything? 33
14. Is Everything Divinely Predestined? 35
15. Is God the Source of All Morality? 36
16. What about the Trinity?
..................................
Will atheists be converted? Will Creationists give up the 'false God' of creationism? Probably not, but this is refreshing nuanced DISCUSSION which is so absent from the media. Personally, it (and Polkinhorne's other works) have helped me understand how science and religion are not only not in conflict, but in many ways, in harmony and when both studied correctly enhance our understanding of the universe and human condition.

I think its a great 'jumping off point' for questions that probably people who believe in God, and might even raise enough 'doubt' in atheists that they could a least consider the possibility of God.

Don't get me wrong. Thais is a good book and I recommend it. But it is, alas, too short and the content, therefore, too brief.

What it needed, since a "slim volume" was apparently in the design objectives, was a list of relevant books and internet links on each of the 51 chapters. And, specifically, references to one or more of Polkinghorne's other (longer) books. All of which, I can recommend more highly than this one -- this one just tantalizes. It does give, however, a good summary of each of the 51 questions. As such. I'm enjoying reading it -- one chapter at a time just before sleep.

"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." -- John 4:24

If you are like me, it's often frustrating to read what pastors have to say about science because they may not know much about science. The potshots that atheists take at Christianity are often based at least in part on scientific-seeming comments. Wouldn't it be nice to read what a scientist has to say about science and Christianity?

Questions of Truth takes you to the doorway through which you can begin to learn about how science and Christianity stack up, side-by-side. John Polkinghorne is a former professor of physics who often writes about Christianity and science. Nicholas Beale is a management consultant who speaks eloquently in defense of Christianity. Both write from a faith-based perspective that will seem familiar to many Christians.

The book opens with about 100 pages of questions and brief answers. In a few cases, the answers are elaborated on in appendices concerning the extreme delicacy of the universe that allows for us to live, the mind and the brain, and evolution. All sections of the book generously refer to more detailed arguments in other sources through commentaries, footnotes, and a bibliography. In many cases, you won't find what you are really looking for until you get into those more detailed treatments.

This book, rather, mimics the Web site that Nicholas Beale maintains to publicize John Polkinghorne's views about Christianity. As such, it's brief and to the point: That the book's strength.

The authors separate respond to each question so you get at least two perspectives in each case. Here are a few of the key points that the book makes:

1. Science is about "how" things work and Christianity is about "why" they work. The two perspectives can exist side-by-side because they are looking at different questions.

2. The unknowns about the physical world exceed the knowns. As a result, it's premature to say that science can prove much of anything about Christianity in many cases. The seemingly quirky characteristics of quantum physics suggest a world made to permit and encourage free will and loving cooperation.

3. Many of the atheistic arguments made by Richard Dawkins in The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion don't look so good when you quantify the points.

4. In many areas concerning Christianity and science, you can't prove or disprove key beliefs and theories.

Whimsical arguments sometimes take off in good humor which lends the book some lighthearted moments, such in as the section about how Christian believers live longer and produce more children than atheists suggesting that "natural selection" favors Christian belief.

Although your time would probably be better spent in reading the Bible or in prayer than reading this book, I think you'll find Questions of Truth will increase your appreciation of the truths that the Bible relates.

This book is a series of questions and their answers covering God, belief, the universe, evil, religion and more from the viewpoint of respected scientists. The individual answers aren't particularly long (most one to two pages) but a few are explored in more depth in the appendices. Richard Dawkins is mentioned frequently and the book contains much helpful information about a scientific response to Dawkins' assertions.

The book was strongest in its discussion of how science and Christianity can interact but weaker where the authors strayed more towards philosophy and Christian apologetics. However overall it was a good read; although technical in places there was enough for the layperson to understand and appreciate.

One of the most informative and thought-provoking treatments of the material on offer. Very accessible in its arrangement. Even those who disagree with some of the arguments in this book should be encouraged to read it. Whatever your current perspective, this book will add to your knowledge and encourage you to think through difficult issues for yourself.

This is one of three books that I selected to explore the science versus religion or science with religion reflections. Although I awarded the six star ranking to the shortest of three, God and Science: Coming Full Circle?, it must be acknowledged that John Polkinghorne, co author of this book, and Hans Kung, author of the third book I chose, The Beginning of All Things: Science and Religion are Nobel-level pioneers on the topics of God's existence and the complementarity of science and religion.

In general all three of the books slam Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion, which my own review found to be sophmoric, but I was too quick to accept God and reject religion. The three books together make a very persuasive case for the value of the spiritual, which I have always accepted, and also for religion as organized emphathy, which I now see as a spectacular offset for uncaring governments and corporations, if, if, if inter-faith collaboration can recognize that secular corruption is the obstacle to creating a prosperous world at peace [see my letter to the Pope at Phi Beta Iota the Public Intelligence Blog, or tiny URL Assisi-Intelligence.

I certainly recommend prospective buyers use the Inside the Book feature, and always appreciate publishers that use that feature offered from Amazon. Organized into sections including the concept and existence of God, the universe, evolution, evil, human being, and religion, the book benefits from being a well-organized mix of intelligent questions from others, and then a duality of answers from each the two co-authors.

Here are my notes, unless specifically noted, all from the book:

+ Man a psychosomatic unity of mind and matter
+ We are not in an either/or world--dualities co-exist
+ Energy integrated with information as parts are integrated with whole
+ Good and bad are intertwined, without the bad could not have choice of the good
+ Earthquakes may be considered bad, but they push mineral deposits up and are part of Earth's life
+ Science was about exchanges of energy, but the new meme in town is "active information"

This book can be said to be a very pro-Christian version that specifically excludes non-Christian religions from being the one true religion because it focuses on Jesus being unique among all the prophets, the only one that died in mid-life and was resurrected.

QUOTE (23): Souls is an "infinitely complex information-sharing pattern."

QUOTE (24): "There are many problems facing humanity whose tackling requires the utmost cooperation between people of good will and concern for the common good, both religious and non-religious."

QUOTE (27): "Faith involves trust in well-motivated beliefs..."

Game theory proves that "generous tit-for-tat" beats "selfish tit-for-tat"

QUOTE (34): "One of the major advanced in theology and philosophy over the last fifty years is a deeper understanding of the connection between love and freedom."

Love leads to cooperation which leads to (constructive) evolution.

Key book of note: Physics, Philosophy, and Theology: A Common Quest for Understanding

Universe is only 4% "matter," the rest is 22% "dark matter" and 74% "dark energy"

Evolution as Darwin's search engine

QUOTE (51): "...the ways in which deep order arises apparently spontaneously from chaotic systems is also very surprising--it is bevcoming understood a bit better and John's idea that 'active information' is a causal principle seems to have increasing merit."

QUOTE (52): Godel's theorem shows us that truth can never be totally caught in any purely logical system..."

+ "Inherent potentiality"
+ Evil appears essential to maturing self-consciousness
+ Moral choices are a defining and inherent potentiality of humanity
+ Genetics, environment, AND choice define humanity, with the latter being the major aspect
+ Evolution beyond body and community is about cultural evolution

On this latter point, see everything by Will Durant, but especially:

Philosophy and the Social Problem: The Annotated Edition
The Lessons of History

Core Concept (88): There is no algorithm for devining truth--it is a human function, the more minds the better.

See these two books that I funded:

INTELLIGENCE for EARTH: Clarity, Diversity, Integrity, & Sustainaabilty
Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace

QUOTE (96): "The more we know, the more interesting questions we can ask. One difference between wisdom and mere knowledge is that wisdom deepens your understanding of how much you don't know."

On page 97, the bottom line comes together:

01 No conflict between science and religion.
02 No territoriality of knowledge should be entertained
03 Potential knowledge is infinite
04 Brain is the most complex system known to exist

Three appendices:

A Anthropic fine-tuning. Covers six numbers (very high math)

B Brain and mind. Fallacy of brain being same as mind. Morality plays big. Everything in the universe has a physical aspect and an informational aspect.

C Evolution. Emergent behavior, emergent properties, evolution appears to show benefits of religion, role of religion in enhancing cooperation [all three books note the atrocities associated with both religion and secular despots].

Overall this is a really good book that is easy to explore "by the question." Each chapter has additional reference works suggested by the co-authors.

This book more so than the other two leads me to suggest the reader explore, at Phi Beta Iota the Public Intelligence Blog, the following two lists, and within the first list particularly, the sub-lists:

Worth a Look: Book Review Lists (Positive)

--Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Civilization-Building

--Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Collective Intelligence

--Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Common Wealth

--Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Conscious, Evolutionary, Integral Activism & Goodness

--Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Dialog for Truth & Reconciliation

--Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Diversity of Voices & Values (Other than USA)

--Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Diversity of Voices & Values (USA)

--Worth a Look: Books Reviews on Education for Freedom & Innovation

--Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Evolutionary Dynamics

Worth a Look: Book Review Lists (Negative)

Questions comes from the questions asked of two working physicists, and their answers to those questions. the goal is to present a set of Christians beliefs that can work with science (or rather Science), rather than a set of Christian beliefs that are, apparently, contrary to current scientific thinking. The entire underlying thesis of this work is questionable; science changes it's mind about every 20 years, but God hasn't changed his mind, ever.

To understand the model the authors take it's best to let them speak for themselves.

"The Bible is not a book but a library, with various types of writing in it. There is much history, but there are also symbolic stories that convey truths so deep that only a story form could express them. (That is the true meaning of that much-abused and misunderstood word myth, very different from that of a simple fairy story.) In interpreting the Bible it is important to work out what kind of writing one is reading. For example, Genesis 1 is not a literal account of a hectic six days of divine activity, given to save us the trouble of using science to discover the remarkable history of the universe. Instead, it is a piece of theological writing that uses a symbolic story to convey the theological truth that nothing exists except through the creative will of God ("and God said, let there be...")." -Page 7

Here, God is a god of the gaps. That which can be explained by science we should leave to science. That which cannot be, well, that's a fine place for religion to do it's stuff. The questions are divided into several sections, including the concept and existence of God, the Universe, Evolution, evil, human beings, and finally religion.

The most useful part of this book comes after the last chapter and conclusion. Specifically, the appendix on the arrangement of the Universe in a way that allows for life is explained in detail to a level that almost anyone can grasp. It's worth buying this book for this single appendix, even if you don't read the remainder of the book itself.

This book is useful for engaging skeptics on their turf. However, from a Christian perspective it is decidedly liberal in its approach to Scripture. I understand that it is common to take Genesis 1-11 as a myth which was not meant to represent reality. I also recognize that such an approach is not heretical. However, this puts the Bible reader on a slippery slope because then every story must be scrutinized similarly. Was Job a real person? Maybe and maybe not (Polkinghorne and Beale don't think that he was). Where does that kind of thinking end? How about David? Do we need archaeological proof of a story before we accept it as factual? What about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ? The authors don't go that far, but these are logical questions to ask based on their hermeneutic.

This book does a fine job of doing what it means to do. I just want to point out that there is a liberal slant to the authors' theology. It does ask and answer some great questions.