Customer Reviews

Science and Christianity: Conflict or Coherence?

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Department of Chemistry and Physics
University of North Florida

Dr. Henry Schaefer is arguably among the top twenty living research chemists in the world in the influence of his work on chemistry. His research specialty is the same as mine, quantum chemistry. He is also a deeply committed thinking Christian. He is therefore ideally suited to address his subject. This book belies the common misconception that there is a conflict between the revelation of Christianity and the results of science. To be sure, there are sharp exchanges when Christians confuse the roles of religion and science, or when prominent and outspoken scientists pontificate about religion. The book deals with the specific claims of a few prominent scientist critics of Christianity. It also convincingly shows that by and large the people who know science best, those who do it professionally, have "the same range of attitudes about religious matters as does the general public." The book provides a veritable "who's who" of prominent scientists, past and present, who claim Christ as Lord. Dr. Schaefer addresses the most frequent general questions related to belief in God, as seen from the perspective of a scientist. He also addresses specific issues in scientific areas that overlap significantly with his specialized expertise: quantum mechanics, cosmology and the chemistry of the origin of life. Although the book is intellectually satisfying, it is not merely intellectual. Dr. Schaefer ends the book by describing his personal journey discovering Christ in the midst of a meteoric scientific career, and outlines the Christian revelation as it has found a home in his life. Though I do not agree with him in every detail, I recommend this excellent book to anyone interested in science or in Christianity, and who desires to integrate knowledge from these important streams of thought in modern society.

Dr. Schaefer's book is a well written book that covers many of the questions people have about the supposed conflicts of science with Christianity. Dr. Schaefer's credentials in the scientific community are well known and respected worldwide, making him a heavy-weight within that community. He shows magnificently how science and Christianity both uphold and point to certain truths that can't be denied. For those of the Christian faith, this book will bolster their faith, as Dr. Schaefer points out that many current and famous scientists were sincere, dedicated believers.For those that deny a creator of the universe, recent scientific discoveries mentioned in the book, make that a very hard position to adhere to.
Topics range from the creation of the universe to problems of the Theory of Evolution. His voice of reason also proclaims the truth found only in Jesus Christ.
Dr. Schaefer has spoken at almost every major university in existence today, and is a brilliant and humorous man. The chapters of his book are a culmination of years of personal reflection and experience, coupled with his faith in Christ.
This book is a wonderful voice of truth in a time when truth needs to be heard. Science and Christianity have a rich history together, and there is no conflict. Dr. Schaefer's book was worth every penny and I look forward to his next book, which I hope he writes someday.

Science and Christianity: Conflict or Coherence does an excellent job of pulling together a history of the thinking of a large number of scientists over the several centuries of modern science regarding the underlying belief systems that motivated their pursuits.

Dr. Schaefer also offers quick, concise answers to many questions people ask about the assumed conflict between true science and the Christian faith, and does so without being trite or simplistic.

Even those with a casual interest in the biological and physical sciences will recognize names of great men of science but they probably have never read about how their beliefs spurred them on in their research. Even in an age where we are more self-conscious about connecting the people to their scientific discoveries, books rarely delve into their personal lives.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious to learn about the real coherence between true science and a life-commitment to Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah sent to us by God.

William Bordeaux, D.A.
Professor of Chemistry
Huntington College

Schaefer has written an honest and highly personal account which shows that it IS possible to be a devout Christian AND an excellent scientist. To his credit, and unlike other books with similar purposes, he does not try to bully or trick the reader into agreement. Instead he presents his case and objectively and leaves it to the reader to judge for him/herself. This book will interest non-Christians looking for insight into how a Christian scientist reconciles reason and religion. It should be mandatory reading for Christian students considering a career in academic science, especially those who perceive that they must choose between the academy and the Church. Schaefer makes it clear that there is a mission to the academy which the Church has been neglecting for some time. There is a need for more Christians who are scientific leaders. This book will surely entertain and enlighten, but more importantly Schaefer's conviction will inspire Christians and non-Christians alike.

The best kept secret of science is how strongly it points towards a creator and dovetails with Christianity. In this marvelously lucid book, the eminent physical chemist Henry Schaefer unfolds the secret.

Dr. Schaeffer discusses issues at the cutting edge of scientific discovery and their consonance with Christian belief without compromising either. His book is honed through many years of presentation and vigorous discussion before the finest scientific minds of the world in university settings. Woven through his discussion are accounts of the Christian beliefs and observations of pioneers of scientific discovery, many of them household names and Nobel laureates. I highly recommend this book for scientists who want to explore the validity of Christian belief from a scientific viewpoint or for non-scientists who are concerned whether their belief can stand up to modern scientific discovery. The book is eminently readable and does not require scientific credentials to be understood.

In "Science and Christianity: Conflict and Coherence?", an internationally
distinguished chemical physicist and one of the principal architects of
modern quantum chemistry, Professor Henry F. Schaefer III, has
accomplished a remarkable feat. The book is based on countless lectures
that he courageously presented all over the world and touches on
everything from the deepest secrets of Creation to postmodernism, while
providing a fascinating and unequalled insight into the scientific mind
that is brought to life by both personal and historical anecdotes,
skillfully and entertainingly woven into the text.
This is a very captivating and personally highly engaging work, bringing
the philosophical and theistic attitudes of various scientists to a
general audience without causing offense to anyone. A very engrossing
piece of work for its breadth, its thought-provoking, witty and whimsical
- yet compelling and highly winsome - narrative, always lucid, very
readable and richly rewarding to an attentive reader. Last but not least,
a marvelous treasure trove of references and of their critical assessment.
A book to treasure, to savor and to re-read.

Dr. Schaefer is an articulate and convincing writer who winsomely attracts non-scientists to science and unbelievers to Christ. Had this book been available in my teen years, I might have pursued a scientific career--or at least enjoyed many more science courses. I might also have become a Christian early in life. Any scientist, artist, agnostic, aetheist, Christian or religious person would find this book worthwhile and stimulating.

I rated this book at 3 stars because Amazon wouldn't let me bypass the rating. I tried to bypass the rating because I know the author too well to be able to be objective. Also I'd like to see one or two thoughtful reactions from people who are hostile to Christianity. They're the ones he wants to engage. The book is very like the author himself...outrageous and fascinating and funny and very serious and hard to put down. Neither author nor book needs a `put-down' because both are completely genuine and unpretentious creations. Although he's quite convinced himself that Christianity is `right' he knows it can't be `proved right'. So instead of knockouts or put-downs, he goes for the infinitely superior `please consider this'. That's the closing sentence of the book and it's what made it so appealing to me.

Discovery Institute fellow Henry F. (Fritz) Schaefer is one of the most distinguished physical scientists in the world. This book describes how Dr. Schaefer became a Christian as a young professor of chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley.

Schaefer sees design in the universe reigning from the cosmic level to the life's history as revealed in the fossil record, and down to the microscopic cell. He argues that Big Bang cosmology provides compelling evidence for the notion of creation out of nothing. Moreover, the rapid origin of the phyla in the Cambrian explosion provides a powerful challenge to Darwinian accounts of life. Schaefer also observes that the simplest living cell, the parasitic bacteria Mycoplasma requires 300 genes. Schaefer asks "If the synthesis of life has eluded the tremendous design capacities of modern science, is there any good reason to be confident these incredibly intricate molecular systems just assembled themselves by chance?"

In a highly personalized chapter, Schaefer also recounts a debate he participated in against the Nobel Prize winning physicist and atheist Steven Weinberg. While Weinberg and Schaefer disagreed on many points, Schaefer applauds Weinberg for observing that "[s]cientists and others sometimes use the word `God' to mean something so abstract and unengaged that He is hardly to be distinguished from the laws of nature." (quoting Weinberg, pg. 39)

Finally, Schaefer recounts the influence of scientism on science and society. When Richard Dawkins was asked if his reductionist view of reality made him depressed, Dawkins replied, "I don't feel depressed about it. But if somebody does, that's there problem. Maybe the logic is deeply pessimistic, the universe is bleak, cold and empty. But so what?" (quoting Dawkins, pg. 134) But this view is apparently not shared by many scientists today, at least half of which participate in religious services on a regular basis.

Throughout, the book retains the highly personal character of Schaefer's university lectures, general respect for those with whom the author disagrees, and a delightful sense of humor. This book provides insights from experience on the ease with which a Christian can be a world-renowned scientist without compromising basic Christian doctrine.