Science, Life, and Christian Belief

by Jeeves, Malcolm A.; Berry, R. J.

• ISBN13: 9780801022265
• ISBN10: 0801022266
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-07-01
• Publisher: Baker Pub Group

Summary

In 1633 Galileo proposed to the Church that the earth rotated around the sun. History records that the results were devastating. Since then the relationship between science and religion has often been one of contention and animosity. Many in the church today, however, are sympathetic to the views of science. In Science, Life, and Christian Belief, scientists Malcolm Jeeves and R. J. Berry focus their attention on some of the controversial issues that spark discussion between the scientific and religious communities. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Malcolm A. Jeeves is honorary research professor at the University of St. Andrews and president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. R. J. Berry is professor of genetics at University College, London.

Table of Contents

Preface	11	(4)
Hebrew-Christian and Greek influences on the rise of modern science	15	(18)
Greek influences	16	(3)
Reciprocal influences on Greek science	19	(1)
The Hebrew-Christian view of nature	20	(2)
Interacting streams and the rise of science	22	(2)
Enlightenment and later	24	(2)
Science and faith: friends or foes?	26	(1)
Evolution and Christianity	26	(2)
`Creationism' and fundamentalism	28	(1)
`Bible-science'	29	(1)
`Creationism' in Britain	29	(4)
God, creation and the laws of nature	33	(16)
Gaining historical perspective	34	(1)
Modelling the laws of nature	35	(5)
Miracles and the laws of nature	40	(9)
The scientific enterprise	49	(22)
Is there such a thing as `the scientific method'?	51	(2)
The history of science and the philosophy of science	53	(1)
Widely discussed accounts of the nature of science	54	(8)
Worldviews and pictures	62	(4)
Paths to knowledge: scientific and others	66	(2)
Values and the scientific enterprise	68	(1)
Conclusions	69	(2)
Explanations, models, images and reality in science and religion	71	(18)
The nature of explanation in science	71	(5)
Some widely held views	72	(2)
A Christian view of scientific explanation	74	(2)
Levels of explanation	76	(4)
Relating explanations, models and reality in science and religion	78	(2)
Divine upholding	80	(2)
The use of analogies, models and images in scientific and religious thinking compared and contrasted	82	(7)
Models, images and reality in religious thinking	84	(3)
Models and myths	87	(2)
The God of the physical Universe	89	(18)
God and the origin of the Universe	90	(8)
Big Bang or Big God?	90	(1)
No gaps for God?	91	(3)
A surer path to God?	94	(3)
Fruitful interaction	97	(1)
God's action in the world	98	(1)
Models of God's action in the Universe	99	(6)
The `all in the mind' God	99	(1)
The `sit back and watch' God	100	(1)
A `persuasive' God	101	(1)
A `bodily' God	101	(1)
A `chaotic' God	102	(2)
A `big enough' God	104	(1)
Conclusions	105	(2)
Creation	107	(10)
Biblical interpretation	107	(2)
Humankind and imago Dei	109	(1)
The fall	110	(3)
Evolutionary ethics	113	(2)
Conclusions	115	(2)
Evolution	117	(18)
Scientific background	120	(1)
Lamarck	121	(1)
From Lamarck to Darwin	122	(1)
Darwin	123	(2)
The effectiveness of natural selection	125	(3)
Cases of special difficulty	125	(1)
The origin of novelty	126	(1)
The strength of natural selection	127	(1)
Evolution and Genesis	128	(7)
Biblical portraits of human nature	135	(22)
The background	136	(1)
Partnership in understanding	137	(1)
Human nature: a partnership of complementary accounts	137	(1)
The biblical portrait of human nature	138	(6)
A contemporary issue	138	(2)
The human person as a living soul	140	(2)
Is the soul immortal?	142	(2)
The spiritual dimension of humankind	144	(3)
Death	147	(2)
An intermediate state?	149	(3)
Resurrection	152	(1)
Conclusions	153	(4)
Human nature: biology and beginning	157	(14)
Human variation	158	(4)
Genetics and epigenetics	160	(1)
Genes and environment	160	(1)
Foetal death	161	(1)
Life -- and death	162	(1)
Reproductive developments	163	(4)
Christian assumptions	163	(4)
In vitro fertilization	167	(1)
Conclusions	167	(4)
Brain, mind and behaviour	171	(26)
Converging lines of scientific evidence	172	(1)
Determinism	173	(1)
The mind-brain link and Christian faith	174	(2)
Mind-brain: dual aspects of a single reality	176	(7)
What constitutes freedom to choose?	180	(1)
The liberty of indifference	180	(1)
The liberty of spontaneity and logical indeterminacy	181	(2)
Consciousness restored	183	(4)
Brain and behaviour and genetics	187	(1)
The search for a biological basis for sexual orientation	187	(3)
Personality traits and brain processes	190	(1)
Biopsychosocial influences on spiritual experiences: some salutary case histories	191	(4)
A balanced view and the way ahead	195	(2)
Psychology	197	(22)
The `warfare' metaphor in interactions between psychology and religion, past and present	198	(6)
Defining psychology today	200	(2)
Psychology and the relevance of faith	202	(2)
Human nature and animal nature	204	(1)
The picture emerging	205	(2)
A Christian perspective	207	(1)
Psychology, psychotherapy and the humanizers of science	208	(4)
Social psychology and Christian belief	212	(5)
Rationality and irrationality	213	(1)
Self-serving bias and self-esteem	214	(1)
Attitudes and behaviour	214	(1)
Persons and situations	215	(2)
The continuing search for a constructive partnership	217	(1)
Christians and psychology	217	(2)
Our common future	219	(20)
Biblical teaching about creation	219	(3)
Ex nihilo	219	(1)
Nature is distinct from God	220	(1)
Nature is not divine	221	(1)
Nature is intrinsically valuable	222	(1)
Stewardship	222	(1)
Criticisms of Christian environmentalism	223	(2)
Green religion	225	(4)
Creation spirituality	227	(1)
Gaia	228	(1)
Deep ecology	228	(1)
Green science	229	(1)
Convergence of religion and secularism on the environment	230	(2)
Transcendence and immanence	232	(3)
A fallen world	235	(1)
Weaknesses in current perceptions	236	(1)
Accountable action	236	(1)
Land and wilderness	236	(1)
Conservation and rhythm	237	(1)
Doctrinal foundations	237	(1)
Conclusion	237	(2)
The implications of science	239	(16)
Presuppositionalism	242	(1)
The limits of science and the nature of revelation	243	(5)
Guidelines for a constructive relation between science and faith	248	(7)
We live in a world which is in principle understandable	248	(1)
God has revealed himself to us	248	(1)
We live in God's world, and we are his stewards	249	(1)
Developing a Christian mind	250	(1)
Dynamic conviction, not dogmatic certainty	251	(1)
Christian behaviour and science	252	(1)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom	253	(1)
God has a purpose	253	(2)
Notes	255	(26)
Further reading	281	(2)
Bibliography	283	(18)
Index	301