Beyond the Cosmos: What Recent Discoveries in Astronomy and Physics Reveal About the Nature of God (Hardcover)

by Hugh Ross (Author)
Key Phrases: blasphemy threshold, soulish animals, trillionth power, Holy Spirit, Time Figure, Jesus Christ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Ross (Creation and Time, NavPr., 1994) offers a variation on the argument proving the existence of God. He first examines the implications of the newest discoveries in quantum and particle physics that demonstrate the existence of more than four dimensions. Building also on Einstein's general and special theories of relativity, the author shows that science can not only point the way to the existence of the Creator but can also show that God is and has always been able to operate in all the universe's possible dimensions. Ross applies this extra-dimensionality of God to explain the apparent paradoxes of several theological doctrines (e.g., the Incarnation, the Trinity, free will and predestination, etc.). His blending of theology and science seeks to address the claim made by Paul Davies in his God and the New Physics (1984) that modern science provides a more convincing proof of God's existence than religion. But he weakens his argument by trying to interpret scripture in terms of science. A more successful response to this claim is found in Science, Technology and Religious Ideas (Univ. Pr. of America, 1994), which acknowledges the integrity of each methodology. Recommended only where there is demand.?Pius Murray, Holy Apostles Coll. & Seminary, Cromwell, Conn.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
What recent discoveries in astronomy and physics reveal about the nature of God.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 231 pages
• Publisher: Navpress Publishing Group (July 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891099646
• ISBN-13: 978-0891099642
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #853,351 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars you PhDs, please, let the layperson contemplate God, May 8, 2002

By	Ruth Sprague (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beyond the Cosmos: What Recent Discoveries in Astrophysics Reveal About the Glory and Love of God (Paperback)

For all of those who feel that Ross didn't do a very good job in relating the concepts of higher physics and theology, it would help to remind yourselves that this book wasn't written for scientists with a PhD, it was written for the layperson. If it had been written for you high-brow types, in a manner to suit you, it would no longer be a book that the average person could enjoy. I just want you to know that I am not uneducated, I have a degree in the mathematical sciences.
Sure, sometimes the thread between the cosmos and some of the paradoxes of theology aren't completely answered by this book, but then theologians have been arguing these points for centuries. At least, Ross is attempting to pursue these questions in an original manner, from a cosmological and physics perspective. This is highly unusual, compared to the regular reading fare on this subject.
It isn't that I necessarily agree with everything in this book, Ross writes as a Calvinist and I'm of the Arminian persuasion (for you science types, this is Protestant history and theology that I'm talking here), but he did give me provocative things to consider. For instance, how could the death of one be an atonement for so many people? How many dimensions does God have? Is God really in an infinite dimension? Why are we "stuck" in a space-time dimension which is extremely limited and where we die?
Another book that helped to round out some of this was a book "Hyperspace" by Kaku. This is written for the layperson, but is written from a secular perspective (so some of its conclusions I didn't agree with, although it occupied only a small part of the book). However, it helped to fill in some of the "holes" to round out my reading for fun on this subject.

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern physics undermines liberal theology, June 27, 2005

By	B. D. Weimer "lex rex" (Minnesota, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beyond the Cosmos: What Recent Discoveries in Astrophysics Reveal About the Glory and Love of God (Paperback)

Many Christian theologians, intimidated by liberalism, have retreated from the traditional view that God knows the future. They have adopted a small view of God, often known as "process theology." God does not know the future, because the future does not yet exist. God is discovering the future along with us.

In this great book, Dr. Ross fully restores the orthodox doctrine of God's transcendence. He does so with the aid of modern physics. Dr. Ross' argument is irrebuttable. Time is just one of the created dimensions. The Creator can see all of time at a single glance, just as He can see the rest of the universe. Our past, present and future are all in the present tense to God. His name, "I AM," is more than just semantics!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most fascinating book I've read in recent years, March 28, 2000

By	Greg Lhamon "bobadoodang" (Waterloo, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Beyond the Cosmos: What Recent Discoveries in Astrophysics Reveal About the Glory and Love of God (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book! Of particular interest was the discussion of the extra-dimensionality of God. It is worth the price of the book just to read the illustration about how challenging it is for a super-dimensional God to communicate with four-dimensional humans. Fascinating! I highly recommend this book.