Science and Providence
God's Interaction with the World
Published on 1. October 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
140 pages
978-1-932031-92-8 (ISBN)
Description
Internationally renowned priest-scientist Dr. John C. Polkinghorne examines whether a personal, interacting God is a credible concept in today's scientific age. Encouraging the belief that there is a compatibility between the insights of science and the insights of religion, this book, previously published in the United Kingdom, focuses on the viewpoint that the world is one in which both human beings and God have the freedom to act.
A modern understanding of the physical world is applied to questions of prayer and providence, such as: Do miracles happen? Can prayer change anything? Why does evil exist? Why does God allow suffering? Why does God need us to ask him?
God's involvement in time is considered, from both a temporal and an eternal perspective. The roles of incarnation and sacrament are discussed in terms of whether or not they have a credible place in today's worldview. And the Final Anthropic Principle (FAP) is presented, with its attempt at a physical eschatology, showing it to be an inadequate basis for hope. Real hope can reside only with God, Polkinghorne concludes.
A modern understanding of the physical world is applied to questions of prayer and providence, such as: Do miracles happen? Can prayer change anything? Why does evil exist? Why does God allow suffering? Why does God need us to ask him?
God's involvement in time is considered, from both a temporal and an eternal perspective. The roles of incarnation and sacrament are discussed in terms of whether or not they have a credible place in today's worldview. And the Final Anthropic Principle (FAP) is presented, with its attempt at a physical eschatology, showing it to be an inadequate basis for hope. Real hope can reside only with God, Polkinghorne concludes.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Radnor
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 215 mm
Width: 141 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
195 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-932031-92-8 (9781932031928)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
John C. Polkinghorne is an Anglican priest, a fellow of the Royal Academy past president of Queens' College, Cambridge University, and former professor of mathematical physics at Cambridge. Polkinghorne resigned his chair in physics to study for the Anglican priesthood. After completing his theological studies and serving at parishes, he returned to Cambridge. In 1997, Dr. Polkinghorne was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for distinguished service to science, religion, learning, and medical ethics. He was the recipient of the 2002 Templeton Prize. He lives in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Content
Preface / ix
Acknowledgments / xv
Introduction / 3
1. The Problem / 7
2. Embodiment and Action / 23
3. Providence / 43
4. Miracle / 53
5. Evil / 69
6. Prayer / 80
7. Time / 88
8. Incarnation and Sacrament / 97
9. Hope / 108
Notes / 113
Bibliography / 123
Index / 127
Acknowledgments / xv
Introduction / 3
1. The Problem / 7
2. Embodiment and Action / 23
3. Providence / 43
4. Miracle / 53
5. Evil / 69
6. Prayer / 80
7. Time / 88
8. Incarnation and Sacrament / 97
9. Hope / 108
Notes / 113
Bibliography / 123
Index / 127