From Booklist
Ten renowned scientists weigh the possibility of intentional design in the universe. They cover a broad spectrum of theological and philosophical conviction, yet all see evidence of a deep meaning written into the laws and processes of nature. Astronomer Owen Gingerich writes that nature, with its astonishing details (a blade of grass or a cone shell, for example), suggests a God of purpose and design. Paul Davies, a professor of mathematical physics, says that the fact that the universe's form is linked so intimately with our own existence is evidence that the universe exists for a purpose, and that in our small yet significant way, we are part of that purpose. Among the other essayists, John Eccles, winner of a Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine, analyzes the evolution of purpose, and science professor Waiter Hearn discusses the evidence of purpose in the universe, taking into consideration the subject of science as a challenger of religious concepts. The book may be too scholarly for some readers, but for those willing to stick with it, there is much to be gleaned.
George Cohen
Book Description
For nearly a century, the central theological message of science seemed to be that there was no need for theology: science could stand alone to explain the universe. But today that message is changing, as many scientists find that their research leads them into a world of philsophical and theological speculation where science is not itself God, but only a way of approaching God. Scientists from a wide variety of disciplines have become united in their opinion that there is something about the universe, and about us as human beings, that indicates not randomness, but design. In a phrase, their scientific findings show evidence of purpose.
In this volume, Sir John Marks Templeton brings together a gallery of respected scientists who describe new developments in their fields and the relationship between these developments and a theological views of the universe. What emerges is a universe permeated by creativity, organization, intention: a universe reflecting God's existence and will.
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