Science, Evolution, and Religion A Debate about Atheism and Theism

by Peterson, Michael; Ruse, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780199379378
• ISBN10: 0199379378
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2016-07-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The science-religion debate is a hot topic in academic circles and contemporary culture, and evolution makes the subject particularly contentious. Does modern science tip the scales toward atheism? Or does religion have resources to support its credibility and relevance? And how does evolution influence both worldviews?

Comprehensive, balanced, and engaging, Science, Evolution, and Religion provides a dynamic yet respectful introduction to the science-religion debate, framed as a conflict between theism and atheism and structured around the impact of evolution on both perspectives. Philosophers Michael Peterson and Michael Ruse argue for theism and atheism, respectively. Peterson occasionally draws from Christian doctrine to supplement theism; Ruse often supports his atheism with elements drawn from the larger context of philosophical naturalism. The result is a rich dialogue on the nature and history of science, cosmic origins, biological origins, the anthropic principle, the foundations of morality, human uniqueness, the meaning of life, and other important topics in this area.

Author Biography

Michael Peterson is Professor of Philosophy at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of several books, including Philosophy of Religion, Fifth Edition (OUP, 2014), and Reason and Religious Belief, Fifth Edition (OUP 2012). He is also managing editor of the journal Faith and Philosophy and winner of Templeton grants in science/religion.

Michael Ruse is Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor and Director of the Program in History and Philosophy of Science at Florida State University. He is the author of Atheism: What Everyone Needs to Know (OUP, 2015) and is well-known for his work on the relationship between science and religion. He is also founding editor of the journal Biology and Philosophy.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
1. Autobiographical Reflections
Peterson: A Life Observed
Formative Experiences
Witnessing God Make a Comeback
Considering Intellectual Journeys to God
Engaging Science and Religion
Ruse: Apologia Pro Vita Sua
Early Years
Loss of Faith and Finding Darwin
Creationism
Accommodationism
2. Science
Ruse: Thinking about Science
What Is Science?
Metaphor
What Is Naturalism?
The Limits of Metaphor
Peterson: The Harmony of Science and Religion
Where the Conflict Really Lies
Does the Method of Science Support Naturalism?
Do the Laws of Science Disprove Miracles?
Theism as the Worldview Home of Science
3. Cosmic Origins
Peterson: A Theistic Understanding of the Universe
The Beginning According to Science
A Metaphysical Explanation of the Cosmos
The Fine-Tuned Universe
Naturalist Objections
Beauty, Elegance, Intelligibility
Ruse: In the Beginning
The Big Bang Theory
Religious Implications?
The Fundamental Question
Why Skepticism?
One God or Two?
4. Origin of Life
Ruse: It's All Purely Natural
Defining Life
A Natural Solution?
Impossible!
Miracles?
Where Do We Stand?
Peterson: There is Grandeur in This View of Life
The Biological and the Pre-Biological
Origin of Life Research
The Mystery of Life
God or Natural Process?
Theistic and Christian Belief
5. Darwin and Design
Peterson: A Wider Teleology
Darwin's Discovery
Natural Selection and Design
Understanding Evolution
Darwin's Gift
Teleology and Natural Theology
Ruse: Darwin Destroys Design
The Darwinian Theory of Evolution
The Problem of Final Causes
Does Darwinian Selection Refute Christianity?
So, What's the Answer?
6. Evolutionary Directionality
Ruse: No Direction to Evolution
Bottom-Line Demands
Does Evolution Go Anywhere?
Causes
Christian Escapes?
Is God Too Complex?
Peterson: The Trajectory of Evolution
How Did We Get Here From There?
Scientific and Meta-Scientific Questions
God and the World of Science
Creation, Providence, and Evolution
Emergence
7. Mind and Rationality
Peterson: The Preeminence of Mind
Consciousness and Self-Consciousness
Neuroscience and the Metaphysics of Mind
Evolution and Human Uniqueness
Rationality and Evolution
Ruse: Humans According to Evolutionary Naturalism
Sentience
Knowledge
Naturalism Defeated?
A Sensus Divinitatis?
8. Morality
Ruse: An Evolutionary Perspective on Ethics
The Moral Argument for God's Existence
Explaining Morality
Implications for the Science/Religion Interface
Christianity on Morality: Beyond Rescue?
Peterson: Morality and Personhood
A Darwinian Genealogy of Morals
A Moral Argument against Evolutionary Naturalism
Theism and Personal Dignity
A Theistic Genealogy of Morals
9. Evil and Suffering
Peterson: Theism, Atheism, and Evil
The Argument from Evil and Suffering
Science and Approaches to Theodicy
Theodicy for a Scientific Age
Evil and the Clash of Worldviews
Ruse: Darwinism and Evil
Does Darwinism Intensify the Problem?
Original Sin
Free Will
Natural Evil
10. Meaning and Purpose
Ruse: A Stark Picture Indeed
Where Are We?
Why Do We Believe?
Evolutionary Debunking?
Evolutionism as Religious Substitute
Peterson: The Deep Structure of the Universe
Science, Evolution, and the Search for Meaning
Naturalism and the Denial of Meaning
Theism and Meaning
Follow the Argument Wherever It Leads
References
Glossary
Name Index
Subject Index