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God, Science and The Cosmic Jigsaw

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Kingsley is following in the footsteps of giants when he tries to tackle the converging fields of science and Christian theology. Unfortunately, his poor bible scholarship and weak interpretations lead him down many a wrong path. His idea that Adam and Eve's sin was sexual intercoure with one another is obviously an error, since the bible states in Gen 2 that God made Eve for Adam, and that the two "shall become one flesh," a clear reference to sex. Also, in the curse, God claims that Eve's pain in chilbirth will "greatly multiply," implying that she already gave birth to children prior to their sin, and that the pain was minor. He also states his thought that the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil are on and the same, and that the Tree of Life refers to mortal life. If this is the case, then why do we read that God set a ward about the Tree of Life so that they could not eat of its fruit and live forever? He also shows a general lack of theological understanding, failing to understand that the "talking serpent" is a symbol of Lucifer. He never mentions any of these problems when discussing his interpretations (or any others throughout the book) demonstrating either a lack of understanding, or a dishonesty.

Other problems include his use of paraphrased english translations of the bible, rather than resorting to the Hebrew texts. His scientific references are vague and incomplete, making mere mentions of string theory, etc. Kingsley cites several dubious Soviet experiments as proof of telepathy and therefore some sort of "cosmic" or divine conscious that literally dreamed us up. Finally, an annoyance was his persistent use of exclamation marks all over the place, often several per page.

With all these failings and many more, there are much better books to read on the subject, including Gerald L Schroeder's "Genesis and the Big Bang," "The Hidden Face of God," etc.

God, Science, And The Cosmic Jigsaw by Jonathan Kingsley is a thoroughly "reader friendly" guide from a Christian perspective to the resolution of diverse conflicts between modern theology and hard science, conflicts and seeming contradictions that often cause people to hesitate to bring God into their life. Emphasizing logical argument and painting a picture of harmony and faith, God, Science, And The Cosmic Jigsaw is a spiritually enlightening, intellectually satisfying, and far-reaching advocacy of physical and spiritual truth, both here and in the hereafter.

This book provides a welcome shaft of light in a world experiencing a waning respect for spirituality. In today's world we rely upon a logical understanding of all we are normally prepared to accept as truth. Therein lies the problem with religion, for if we accept the findings of modern science, it can be difficult to believe all the Holy Bible has to tell us where there are perceived conflicts between the two. This book seeks to show that this is really down to differing perceptions resulting from contrasting views of the same truth.

Starting from the viewpoint that there must be truth in both science and the ancient beliefs detailed within the Bible, the author seeks to show us connections between the two. Throughout this inspiring work the author offers up scientific evidence, compares it with Bible extracts, and then uses powerful logic to lock the two together in a most convincing way. The results are amazing, with the kernel being that both natural evolution (science) and divine creation (the Bible) are detailed in Genesis 1 and 2, wherein we are really reading an account of a two-phase creation. In other words, God created a world which evolved as the scientist believes until, at a point where the Bible introduces the Garden of Eden, he took a personal hand and divinely created Adam and Eve alongside evolutionary man, using their genetics as a blueprint. In so doing, he disproves Erich von Daniken's theory that we were descended from spacemen, and also shows we are not directly descended from apes! The author points out there is clearly an evolving process in all of creation and we should give God the credit for starting this process, not leaping in at the middle of something with an implied back-story! By using evolution to produce a blueprint for a successful species, God had a perfect plan for the survival of his chosen `sons of God'. Genesis 6, he then shows us, describes how these two parallel races interbred against his will and how, as a result, God's anger brought about the Great Flood.

Remarkably, this work manages to build bridges between science and the Christian religion and, despite its subject matter, succeeds in being both entertaining and enlightening. It also seeks to prove life-after-death, faith healing, the significance of Jesus, and how an overall explanation scheme can take into account the entirety of the Bible and modern science. This is a work to arrest the atheist, ignite the agnostic, assist the Christian uncomfortable with the enigmas thrown up by science, and challenge the scientist who seeks to derive a `theory of everything' without recognizing the ultimate source of such unity has to be God. Although delving into the most difficult areas of human perception, this book is remarkably easy to follow, encyclopaedic in its coverage, rich and flowing in its style. It is a highly recommended read that provides a new and most valuable contribution to the science versus religion debate.

This book seeks to remove the barriers between science and religion. It comes up with the fascinating suggestion there was a two-phase creation - natural evolution followed by divine intercession - and it backs this up by a closer look at Genesis. Accepting the Bible was divinely inspired, the author proposes that because it was written for people without any comprehension of science, its simplistic interpretations have been passed down over the centuries with little thought about whether there are any deeper implications: ones that can throw new meaning on creation and God, if reviewed it in a modern light. This is just what Kingsley does. Using compelling logic he demonstrates how it is possible to accept all the findings of modern science and the basic message given to us in the Bible. He argues they are not diametrically opposed but truly complementary. Here is real grist for the atheist to work his mind around and material to strengthen the faith of the Christian whose personal integrity feels compromised because of the perceived conflicts between the Bible and science.
Although this is a work-out for the mind, it is written in such a way that you never lose the golden thread that seems to run right through the book. Within its covers lies the material to build a convincing bridge across the troubled waters of doubt, where most previous attempts to link science and religion have been limited to rather slippery stepping-stones. If you've read the likes of Ian Barbour, John Polkinghorne and Gerald Schroeder, then you must read this beautiful and inspiring work in which the author argues his case with considerable aplomb and fluency. It left me with a warm feeling that the route across his particular bridge had taken me a little closer to the mind of God.

Given this book covers such an immense canvas - `the meaning of life', no less - it is hard to do it justice in a short review. Certainly it is quite unlike any other book I have ever read and much more down-to-earth than most works in this arena. To categorise it as `metaphysics' might be correct, but this would incorrectly imply it is dull and difficult to follow, where in reality it is entirely entertaining and readable throughout. To categorise it under `religion and spirituality' would also be correct yet would wrongly imply that, while it contains many Bible quotes, it is blinkered and out of touch with reality. For the truth is that this work makes a remarkably successful bid to marry modern science with the Bible in such a way that they complement and justify each other. Given these are conventionally opposing points of view, this achievement is all the more fascinating. And yet one comes out of this experience without the feeling of compromise. In fact, the very aim of this book is to demonstrate there need not be and that it is possible to accept the Bible and modern science without the need for any mental conflict at all. Scientists, of course, may wish to differ, but for those of us with less baggage to carry round, there are some remarkable new ideas here that are worthy of serious consideration.

I was particularly impressed with the author's fluency and the book's overall structure, not to mention his easy-to-read style. Kingsley begins by putting forth the case to justify the existence of God, follows this up with the nature of a creation evolving from the `consciousness of God', then goes head-on with the enigmas of Genesis to show how an unbiased sequential reading can show this to describe a 2-phase creation comprising both a natural evolution phase and a divine creation phase: hence his derived `Divine Evolution Theory'. Despite all this, the `Trinity' is central to his thesis. The author uses many helpful analogies to put over his theories clearly, and I particularly like the primary one of the `cosmic jigsaw' where, side-by-side, a scientist and a theologian try to piece together their own separate jigsaw puzzles, neither realising their pieces really only form a single picture which they should attempt to construct by co-operation. This, he argues, is the only sensible way forward to enlightenment.

If I have any criticism, it is that the author perhaps gets a bit evangelistic in places, but given that this work seeks to prove there is a God in terms the `thinking person' can accept, it is, I suppose, appropriate that it culminates by guiding the reader into the need for a personal response as a result of any new acceptance of this fact. And given that this includes a pretty solid case for life-after-death and faith-healing, it may certainly raise a few spirits!

The way Kingsley takes us into the realms of pure consciousness is sometimes awesome. His probing of our minds will set you off thinking for a long while to come, and his ideas and approach are bound to lead to new interest in the science v. religion debate. And not just the human mind. You really do come out with the feeling that, perhaps, you have glimpsed the mind of God and can see creation in a wider perspective. Does such a being as God really exist? Well, before you cast aside that possibility, as the author points out, given the time you spend choosing a car, a house, or clothes, does it not make sense to at least briefly consider the evidence for a God, for life-after-death, and the possibility that you can have some impact on the possibility of your own eternal life? Here is a convincing case, argued with powerful logic and a persuasive approach. Reading this book is an enjoyable way to see life - and the after-life - in a completely new perspective.

Given this book covers such an immense canvas - `the meaning of life', no less - it is hard to do it justice in a short review. Certainly it is quite unlike any other book I have ever read and much more down-to-earth than most works in this arena. To categorise it as `metaphysics' might be correct, but this would incorrectly imply it is dull and difficult to follow, where in reality it is entirely entertaining and readable throughout. To categorise it under `religion and spirituality' would also be correct yet would wrongly imply that, while it contains many Bible quotes, it is blinkered and out of touch with reality. For the truth is that this work makes a remarkably successful bid to marry modern science with the Bible in such a way that they complement and justify each other. Given these are conventionally opposing points of view, this achievement is all the more fascinating. And yet one comes out of this experience without the feeling of compromise. In fact, the very aim of this book is to demonstrate there need not be and that it is possible to accept the Bible and modern science without the need for any mental conflict at all. Scientists, of course, may wish to differ, but for those of us with less baggage to carry round, there are some remarkable new ideas here that are worthy of serious consideration.

I was particularly impressed with the author's fluency and the book's overall structure, not to mention his easy-to-read style. Kingsley begins by putting forth the case to justify the existence of God, follows this up with the nature of a creation evolving from the `consciousness of God', then goes head-on with the enigmas of Genesis to show how an unbiased sequential reading can show this to describe a 2-phase creation comprising both a natural evolution phase and a divine creation phase: hence his derived `Divine Evolution Theory'. Despite all this, the `Trinity' is central to his thesis. The author uses many helpful analogies to put over his theories clearly, and I particularly like the primary one of the `cosmic jigsaw' where, side-by-side, a scientist and a theologian try to piece together their own separate jigsaw puzzles, neither realising their pieces really only form a single picture which they should attempt to construct by co-operation. This, he argues, is the only sensible way forward to enlightenment.

If I have any criticism, it is that the author perhaps gets a bit evangelistic in places, but given that this work seeks to prove there is a God in terms the `thinking person' can accept, it is, I suppose, appropriate that it culminates by guiding the reader into the need for a personal response as a result of any new acceptance of this fact. And given that this includes a pretty solid case for life-after-death and faith-healing, it may certainly raise a few spirits!

The way Kingsley takes us into the realms of pure consciousness is sometimes awesome. His probing of our minds will set you off thinking for a long while to come, and his ideas and approach are bound to lead to new interest in the science v. religion debate. And not just the human mind. You really do come out with the feeling that, perhaps, you have glimpsed the mind of God and can see creation in a wider perspective. Does such a being as God really exist? Well, before you cast aside that possibility, as the author points out, given the time you spend choosing a car, a house, or clothes, does it not make sense to at least briefly consider the evidence for a God, for life-after-death, and the possibility that you can have some impact on the possibility of your own eternal life? Here is a convincing case, argued with powerful logic and a persuasive approach. Reading this book is an enjoyable way to see life - and the after-life - in a completely new perspective.

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