The Cambridge Companion to Science and Religion (Cambridge Companions to Religion)

To quote the editor, Peter Harrison, "The aim of this collection has been to provide some historical perspectives, some general philosophical overviews, and coverage of some of the central topics in contemporary science and religion discourse." It is limited because of size to Western monotheistic religions, primarily Christianity. However, the authors include atheists, agnostics, scientists and professional theologians.The first five chapters (essays) deal with the interaction of science and religion over five periods of time (roughly AD 100-1500, 1500-1700, 1700-1859, 1859-1920, and 1920-the present) and is pretty standard stuff.The next five chapters discuss issues in religion and contemporary science. Ronald Numbers' coverage of scientific creationism and intelligent design in Chapter 6 is up-to-date and worldwide in scope. Simon Conway Morris covers the concept of convergence in evolution in chapter 7 (Evolution and the inevitability of intelligent life). Chapter 8 is an up-to-date summary of the current scientific thinking about the Big Bang by William R. Stoeger, SJ. It also briefly covers string theory, the anthropic principle, and the multiverse hypothesis. In chapter 9, Fraser Watts discusses how theology can make positive contributions to psychology and vice versa. Chapter 10 is a frank discussion by John H. Evans of the interrelationships of science, bioethics and religion during the period 1960-2009.The final four chapters cover philosophical perspectives, starting with Michael Ruse's chapter on atheism, naturalism and science, in which he briefly discusses the views of Karl Barth, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Edward O. Wilson, Alvin Plantinga and Daniel Dennett. With regard to "God genes" he suggests that the Pope has them, Richard Dawkins does not, and that the jury is out on whether Anglicans have them or not. In chapter 12, Nancey Murphy discusses the nature of scientific explanation, the rejection of reductionism in favor of downward causation and emergence, and divine action. In chapter 13, John Haught leads up to what he calls the aesthetic cosmological principle, which suggests "that the fundamental properties of the universe are oriented towards the ongoing production of instances of beauty and the intensifying of a capacity in some organisms for aesthetic experience." Chapter 14 is a well-organized and readable summary of ways of relating science and religion by Mikael Stenmark. He starts with Ian Barbour's four models (conflict, independence, dialogue and integration) and goes on to discuss a number of alternative though similar typologies and identifies the proponents of each approach.The book includes a well-organized seven-page guide for further reading and an index.I recommend this book for anyone who would like an overview of the history and current state of the interactions between science and religion and already has some familiarity with the subject.

very... sympathetic towards religion. Presented many refutable arguments for the compatibility of science and religion. somewhat frustrating, but I bought it for a class anyway. I'll keep it on my bookshelf.

I purchased this book because it was the subject of a philosophy seminar. We were going to spend 12 weeks dissecting it.After the 2nd week the group largely agreed it was utter tripe, unworthy of our time and effort. I gave my copy away.The authors of the articles are almost entirely religious, with some of them being the heads of theology at various institutions. This alone would not discredit the book, but the fact is with very few exceptions their religiosity overcomes reason. Indeed, clearly they subscribe to Martin Luther's observation that : "To be a good Christian one must pluck out the eye of reason."If you want a the inevitable mindless religious default explanation (i.e. "God did it") to punctuate every scientific theory and all scientific evidence for natural cause of the universe, then this accumulation of insipid religious delusion will be right down your ally.The religiously afflicted will love it. The thinking will be appalled that such ignorance and shortsightedness can survive three hundred years into the scientific age. But never underestimate the embrace of superstition by the religious, even those with a Phd. Or perhaps especially those with Phds.I donated my marked up copy to one of the seminar participants who couldn't afford his own. Good riddance.

This book is to be highly recommended. All the essays are accessible to nonspecialists and all are informative. It does not replace Lindberg &Numbers' "God and Nature," but should be consulted as an update for some of the essays.