Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number.
Download to your computer
Kindle Cloud Reader
Facebook Twitter Pinterest <Embed>
Free Shipping for Prime Members | Fast, FREE Shipping with Amazon Prime
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Belief in God in an Age o... has been added to your Cart
FREE Shipping on orders over $25.
Used: Good | Details
Sold by giggil
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Good

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and .

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you increase your sales. We invite you to learn more about Fulfillment by Amazon .

Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon
Flip to back Flip to front
Listen Playing... Paused   You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more
See all 2 images

Belief in God in an Age of Science Paperback – February 8, 2003

by John Polkinghorne (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars 27 customer reviews
See all 11 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Price
New from Used from
Kindle
"Please retry"
$6.99
— —
Hardcover
"Please retry"
—
$4.99 $0.01
Paperback
"Please retry"
$9.95
$4.82 $0.01
Best Books of the Month
Best Books of 2016
Looking for something great to read? Browse our editors' picks for the best books of the year in fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, children's books, and much more.
$9.95 Free Shipping for Prime Members | Fast, FREE Shipping with Amazon Prime In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
click to open popover

Frequently Bought Together

  • Belief in God in an Age of Science
  • +
  • Science & Religion: From Conflict to Conversation (Crossway Classic Commentaries)
Total price: $24.90
One of these items ships sooner than the other. Show details
Buy the selected items together

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Read more

From Library Journal

Read more
See all Editorial Reviews
NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE
Prime free two-day shipping

Product Details

  • Paperback: 133 pages
  • Publisher: Yale University Press; Revised ed. edition (February 8, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0300099495
  • ISBN-13: 978-0300099492
  • Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.4 x 7.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsIntellectually satisfying
By Fred101 on January 6, 2001
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
As a Christian with an undergraduate exposure to theology and a Ph.D. in physics (and a continuing interest in both), I am offended by the lack of intellectual integrity shown by so many authors who address science/theology issues. Whether from the "creationist" side (which seems to be the principal voice being heard from the Christian viewpoint) or the secular-humanist side (which has been the principal voice being heard from the scientific community) the "discussion" (if you can call it that) is all too often characterized by a circular kind of reasoning which begins with a particular world-view and then, by entertaining nothing but "evidence" congenial to that viewpoint, proceeds to arrive at the pre-held viewpoint as the only "logical" conclusion. Equally insidious are the "post modernists" and "subjectivists" who essentially question the point in seeking "truth" of any kind since they regard our perception of "reality" to be hopelessly distorted by our individual and societal agendas, or those who try to compartmentalize faith and reason as equally legitimate but incompatible activities -- as if the reality of faith is somehow different from the reality of the physical universe.
Polkinghorne is a refreshing change from this usual dismal discourse. If you are seeking confirmation that a first-rate scientific mind can exist in company with an unapologetically orthodox Christian faith, this book should do the trick. This is not to say that all readers will agree with all of Polkinghorne's stances. Those of the "Biblical literalist" stripe will undoubtedly be offended that Polkinghorne tolerates no traffic in the Creationist agenda.Read more ›
1 Comment 103 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsAn honest opinion from a respected physicist
By A Customer on December 14, 1999
Format: Hardcover
I found Polkinghorne very honest. It is refreshing to see a physicist clearly identify the almost "religious" faith that some scientists (and atheists) have in their explanations for the origin of the universe. Allow me to paraphrase Polkinghorne on pages 8 and 9. "Moving up the scale of bold speculation, one might evoke notions of quantum cosmology which suggest that universes of various kinds are continually appearing, bubbling up as quantum fluctuations in some universal substrate. Speculation becomes even more rash and desperate...maybe the laws of nature themselves fluctuate, so that a vast portfolio of worlds rise and fall within a sea of seething chaos. It is time to consider the other alternative: that there is a divine purpose behind this fruitful universe."
Polkinghorne has not convinced me of the existence of a God, though he has made the "godless universe" alternative look almost as bogus as some of the world's religions. Call me a happy agnostic. I cannot be atheist after reading this book. This book, coupled with John Barrow's "Impossibility", leaves me with hope.
1 Comment 44 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsAn Accomplished Physicist / Theologian Addresses THE Issue
By Mark S Armstrong on November 23, 2000
Format: Paperback
If you are interested in a shallow, simplistic and facile treatment of an extremely important question, you will have to look elsewhere. The same goes for those who approach the subject with a closed mind, whether they are fundamentalists or atheists. If you think you already know all the answers, this book will only annoy you.
However, if you've already spent some time studying this question, buy the book. Or if you are willing to hear from a gentle and thoughtful person who has the highest scientific and theological credentials, buy Polkinghorne's little book.
It's short, but it isn't a quick read. Polkinghorne assumes his audience has some knowledge of the points in question. You might read a few pages, put down the book and think about it for a few days. You might feel a need to learn more about a certain aspect of physics, evolution or even philosophy. You might even find yourself asking a friend, "Do you think God will remember everything about me after I've died, so that He can put me back together again? What is a soul anyways?" Then your friend will smile uncertainly and change the subject.
Right or wrong, Polkinghorne's ideas are reasonable, careful and thoughtful. Other physicists, more famous than Polkinghorne, have made pronouncements about God. They don't share Polkinghorne's expertise in theology. After reading his work, the difference is obvious.
Anyone interested in the interaction between science and religion should read this book.
1 Comment 28 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
3.0 out of 5 starsA Book I So Wanted To Like
By Amazon Customer on August 5, 2007
Format: Paperback
I love a good book that bridges (because yes there is a bridge) between science and theology. I bought this book after seeing all the praise it received here on Amazon, along with other places. And indeed the book did start out strong. It explored the nuances of how science and theology are woven together to show the purpose of the universe, from the smallest of particles to the largest of galaxies. The enjoyment rose, many considerations were given by the author, then something happened. It was as if a rousing discussion turned into a tedious lecture. My reading slowed down. I understand what Mr. John Polkinghorne is talking about, but the way he talks about all the considerations between science and theology, just seems like a heavy load with dwindling payoff. The sentence and paragraphs just seemed to start boggling down after half the book has been read. This doesn't mean that I don't like what is being said, it is just that what is being said is being said in a very laborious way. I highly suggest readers to read this book, it does have some very important considerations to be made toward the balance and the binding of theology (the exploration toward the mind of God and the will of God and the love of God) and science (how the will of God works on quantum natural, the Newtonian natural, and super-natural levels). At least in my opinion. However, I must warn you that there will be times that you will find yourself laboring through a few pages here and there just wishing the author to get to the point, at least in a more flowing way than he does.
1 Comment 19 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsJohn Polkinghorne is an excellent science and religious communicator

Well researched and informative. John Polkinghorne is an excellent science and religious communicator.

Published 9 months ago by Anthony Burridge
1.0 out of 5 starsOne Star

Book was in horrible condition.

Published 15 months ago by curt
5.0 out of 5 starsTHE PRIEST/PHYSICIST SEES SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY AS “PARTNERS IN A...

Rev. Dr. John Charlton Polkinghorne (born 1930) is an English theoretical physicist, theologian, writer, and Anglican priest; he has written many other books, such as Serious Talk:... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Steven H Propp
5.0 out of 5 starsTHE PRIEST/PHYSICIST SEES SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY AS “PARTNERS IN A...

Rev. Dr. John Charlton Polkinghorne (born 1930) is an English theoretical physicist, theologian, writer, and Anglican priest; he has written many other books, such as Serious Talk:... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Steven H Propp
5.0 out of 5 starsYes it is possible what the title promises

Great reading, making sense , in a scientific environment of human suffering while keeping near God. As a catholic I envy in a way the freedom of the Anglicans.

Published 22 months ago by Albert Godts
4.0 out of 5 starsBelief in God in an Age of Science

A fine attempt to marry science and religion

Published on July 10, 2014 by Gene Canfield
5.0 out of 5 starsA scientist-theologian looks at the intersection

John Polkinghorne provides a view from both perspectives. There is no conflict for him between science and religion, particularly Christianity. Read more

Published on January 6, 2014 by Jimi Hendricks
1.0 out of 5 starsAn Interesting but inadequate explanation

An Interesting but Inadequate explanation

John Polkinghorne is, or was, a theoretical physicist of distinction. Read more

Published on December 4, 2013 by Hugh Noble
2.0 out of 5 starsToo difficult a read for an educated non-theologian

I have a college degree in chemistry so am used to reading fairly difficult technical papers. I found this book almost unreadable. Read more

Published on December 1, 2011 by Happy chemist
5.0 out of 5 starsThere are prerequisites

The review title is in reference to the actual book contents and some of the previous reviews. Yes, this is one of the meatiest books I've ever read. Read more

Published on May 13, 2010 by Erik Namløs

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Belief in God in an Age of Science
Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway
This item: Belief in God in an Age of Science
Set up a giveaway

There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

Pages with Related Products. See and discover other items: christianity, science history