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Scientists as Theologians

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In this book, the noted scientist-theologian John Polkinghorne engages in constuctively critical dialogue with the thought of two of his leading colleagues in the field, Ian Barbour and Arthur Peacocke. He provides a remarkably fair and balanced presentation of his colleagues's views, while at the same time indicating where his own views diverge from these. Issues covered include the motivation for both scientific and religious belief, human and divine agency, creation, the dialogue with world faiths, and the particularity of Christian belief. Especially helpful is Polkinghorne's discussion of the three thinkers' positions in terms of the pursuit of strategies of "assimilation" versus "consonance"; this discussion helps readers of the author's other, more difficult works by situating his ideas in meaningful relation to those of Barbour and Peacocke. In short, this book is a useful and highly readable short introduction to the burgeoning dialogue between science and theology.