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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Science and wisdom, September 28, 2006
This review is from: Scientific Theology: Volume 1: Nature (Hardcover)
This is the book I have been waiting to read ever since I got interested in science-and-religion issues: a detailed, comprehensive, erudite discussion of the science-religion dialogue which does not water down orthodox Christian belief. Finally, evangelicals have their 'Bible' in dealing with modern science. There are too many important issues which McGrath tackles to even begin to do it justice (the best thing to do is just read the book!), but among the highlights are: 1) a critique of transitory 'fads' in theology in an attempt to make theological language scientifically respectable, but which do not, in the end, do justice either to science or to orthodox Christian belief, such as Ian Barbour's process theology, 2)the promise of Christian theology, in dialogue with the sciences, to overcome the 'two-cultures' dichotomy between science and humanities in contemporary thinking and present an integrated, intellectually and spiritually satisfying account of our human experience, 3)a demonstration of the social construction of the concept of 'nature', making the valid point that it is not a neutral, uninterpreted standing point for dialogue, 4) a brief but effective preliminary (carried on in Volume 2, which I have yet to read) critique of scientific naturalism, in part based on the analysis of the concept of nature, 5)the implications of the doctrine of Creation for science-religion dialogue, including an account of the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics, human rationality, beauty in scientific theories, etc. validating C.S. Lewis' statement that "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but by it I see everything else" and finally 6)a very helpful reconceptualization of natural theology, viewed not as an attempt to prove the existence of God starting from a non-religious standpoint (probably impossible) but as 'faith seeking understanding' already within a theological framework.
Throughout McGrath's scholarship is thorough and exhaustive, lending real weight to his arguments. He takes history, sociology, theology, science, philosophy, etc. into account at each stage of his presentation. He is another fine example of how to engage with the best secular scholarship from a Christian viewpoint, without watering down one's convictions, along with Jeffrey Burton Russell, Nancey Murphy, etc. This book should be read by all Christians who are serious both about engaging with science and maintaining the integrity of their faith. The likes of Barbour and Peacocke, although they have insights which definitely deserve consideration, are essentially compromisers. McGrath shows how modern science and thought in general do NOT necessitate a radical revisioning of Christian belief. Definitely required reading in science-and-religion.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Prologomena to Natural Theology, July 19, 2005
This review is from: Scientific Theology: Volume 1: Nature (Hardcover)
McGrath has certainly distinguished himself as one of the more erudite theologians around. Characteristic of his previous writings is thorough acquaintance with the history of the theology at hand before engagement. This certainly typifies this work as well, a prologemena to a forthcoming work on scientific theology.
In this first of three volumes constituting this intro material, McGrath tackles the tough issue of "nature." Often talked about, but in very nebulous modes. Mother Nature, laws of nature, et al. Besides defining and debunking this definitional obstacle, McGrath also tackles the intellectual obstacles of Barthian response to natural theology as well as liberal elements as well.
His goal is establish a credible, apologetical response in dialogue with the natural sciences outside Christianity regarding the order of the created world as well as the regularity of such.
One quickly surmises that the author is easily at home on this turf of science and philosophy, as well as Reformed theology.
Not sure I will continue the other two volumes. Likely wait for his promised work on scientific theology.
Nice read, somewhat short of his own sustained ideas. More a sweep of the historical past to present, with his own reaction to such as he goes. Always an engaging author.
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21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Theology and Science, January 4, 2003
This review is from: Scientific Theology: Volume 1: Nature (Hardcover)
Alister McGrath is a moderately conservative Anglican theologian who has written a large number of works on Christian theology. He is also trained in the physical sciences as well (he is also a real smart guy, as he loves to tell you in the preface). A SCIENTIFIC THEOLOGY: NATURE is the first volume of a three-volume work which relates theology to the natural sciences. It is explicitly designed to follow the insights of the neo-Barthian theologian, Thomas Torrance. I can't say I didn't learn a fair amount from this work. There are many interesting background studies on various topics. It is fascinating to read how Plato, Aristotle, the Romantics and the post-Modernists define nature. The same is true with the doctrine of creation, in which we learn that the doctrine of creation out of nothing isn't a part of the Jewish heritage as is often suggested. McGrath also makes a number of interesting observations. For example, there is an interesting discussion what is meant by the term "nature." Many things that we consider "natural," such as nature parks, are a result of considerable human control. After all, many would have been destroyed long ago by fire if they were permitted run their "natural" course. Nature must in some sense then be a "mediated" and "socially constructed" concept. For this reason, a Christian cannot accept it as a neutral starting point for understanding the sciences. So this book contains lots of background studies with occasional analysis by McGrath. I guess that's my problem with this book. I'm at a loss to see how this approach constitutes a "sustained engagement" of the relationship between science and theology as it's billed. If the next two volumes follow this approach, the work will be one large introduction. There's nothing wrong with that, but we have seen numerous introductory works in this field lately. Volume 2 is out now, so I'll let you know after I finish it.
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