Customer Reviews

Science and Religion: A Historical Introduction

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As one who has read several books on science and religion, this book (edited by Ferngren) ranks high; currently one of the best. It contains a very good compilation of articles on historical and philosophical issues related to science and religion. The articles are from knowledgeable and respected history of science scholars such as Richard Westfall and John Hedley Brooke.

Overall, it is well written, easy to follow, and insightful. It covers many of the important issues and more. Scholars in this field will find the wide variety of topics infromative. It is also a good reference book. I repeatedly use the chapter on Galileo Galilei in one of my college classes. The students enjoy reading it and always learn something new.

Highly recommended for those interested in history, science & religion.

wow! The scope of this book, and the clarity of each of the articles, is fascinating. I haven't read something this good in a long, long time. Each of the essays is densely packed with lots of insights on the ever-growing realm of people, ideas and how they relate to science and religion.
The articles are fairly short, 3-5 pages. Yet each article is packed with references if you're really interested. What i enjoyed was learning the names of the many philosophers and scientists in this field. I'm interested in science (trained as one at University), and I spend too much time thinking about religion. I guess i'm not the only one.
It's a perfect overview.

What struck me about this book was its clear departure from the Science vs. Religion stereotype that one encounters in some older histories. Most of the work contained in this volume comes from historical studies performed during the last thirty years.

Most of the scholars who have contributed to this anthology adopt a Complexity Thesis to account for the historical relation between science and religion - as opposed to a Warfare model or other military metaphors which were popular in late Victorian anti-clerical literature.

It's refreshing reading for anyone whose understanding of science and religion has been influenced by, say, Prometheus Press.

This book was required for one of my courses this semester that covers Religion & Science. Being someone who has purchased and read numerous books regarding the relationship between religion and science (historically, philosophically, etc.), it is not an exaggeration to say that I was ecstatic about this book being required for the course. I had contemplated, and had come so close to purchasing it numerous times, however I never quite got around to actually doing it. Rest assured, I was happy to finally seal the deal and acquire such a gem. This book is a necessity for anyone interested in the historical relationship between the Western religious traditions (primarily Christianity) and science. Simply put, this work has no equals. Objectively written, this book is a compilation of academic essays composed by a number of leading historians of science and religion. In depth, insightful, and exceptionally accurate, there is simply no introduction to the historical relationship of the Western religious traditions and science. For all of those who are interested in the subject, there is no better place to begin learning about it. For those who are familiar with the subject, this book will still serve them very well, and forward their knowledge and understanding. A must read for all of those who are interested in this historical relationship! Other books that I also recommend checking out would be 'The Genesis of Science' by James Hannam, 'The Beginning of Western Science: The European Scientific Tradition in Philosophical, Religious, and Institutional Context, Prehistory to A.D. 1450' by David C. Lindberg, 'When World Converge: What Science and Religion Tell Us about the Story of the Universe and Our Place in it' edited by Clifford N. Matthews, Mary Evelyn Tucker, and Philip Hefner, 'When Science Meets Religion: Enemies, Strangers, or Partners?' by Ian G. Barbour, and 'Science and the Modern World' by Alfred North Whitehead.