Science & Religion. Alister E. McGrath
216
220 217
221 218
222 219
223 220
224 221
225 222
226 223
227 225
228 226
229 227
230 228
231 229
232 230
233 231
234 232
235 233
236 234
237 235
238 236
239 237
240 238
241 239
242 240
243 241
244 242
245 243
246 245
247 246
248 247
249 248
250 249
251 250
252 251
253 252
254 253
255 254
256 255
257 256
258 257
259 258
SCIENCE & RELIGION
A NEW INTRODUCTION
THIRD EDITION
Alister E. McGrath
This edition first published 2020
© 2020 Alister E. McGrath
Edition History 1e 1999 Blackwell, 2e 2010 Wiley‐Blackwell
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by law. Advice on how to obtain permission to reuse material from this title is available at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
The right of Alister E. McGrath to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with law.
Registered Offices John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK
Editorial Office The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK
For details of our global editorial offices, customer services, and more information about Wiley products visit us at www.wiley.com.
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats and by print‐on‐demand. Some content that appears in standard print versions of this book may not be available in other formats.
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty While the publisher and authors have used their best efforts in preparing this work, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives, written sales materials or promotional statements for this work. The fact that an organization, website, or product is referred to in this work as a citation and/or potential source of further information does not mean that the publisher and authors endorse the information or services the organization, website, or product may provide or recommendations it may make. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a specialist where appropriate. Further, readers should be aware that websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read. Neither the publisher nor authors shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication data applied for Names: McGrath, Alister E., 1953– author. Title: Science & religion : a new introduction / Alister E McGrath. Other titles: Science and religion Description: Third edition. | Hoboken, NJ : Wiley‐Blackwell, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2019048793 (print) | LCCN 2019048794 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119599876 (paperback) | ISBN 9781119599883 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781119599869 (epub) Subjects: LCSH: Religion and science. Classification: LCC BL240.2 .M413 2020 (print) | LCC BL240.2 (ebook) | DDC 201/.65–dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019048793 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019048794
Cover Design: Wiley
Cover Image: © Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock
Preface to the Third Edition
The study of science and religion brings together two of the most significant – and different – forces in human culture. The remarkable surge in books and television documentaries dealing with God and physics, spirituality and science, and the great mysteries of human nature and destiny are a clear sign of the growing interest in this area. Many colleges, seminaries, and universities now offer courses dealing with the field of science and religion, which often attract large and appreciative audiences. This book introduces this field, offering a window into some of its more interesting themes and debates.
Based on lectures given to students at Oxford University over the period 2014–2019, this book aims to be accessible and engaging, encouraging its readers to take its themes further. It sets out to introduce this fascinating field on the assumption that its readers have no detailed knowledge about either the natural sciences or theology. The main themes and issues in the study of religion and the natural sciences are carefully explored and explained without making unrealistic assumptions about what its readers are likely to know already.
My own interest in the field of science and religion goes back to the early 1970s. I began my studies at Oxford University by studying Chemistry, specializing in quantum theory, before going on to gain an Oxford doctorate in molecular biophysics. After this, I studied theology at Oxford and Cambridge, focusing particularly on the historical interaction of science and religion, particularly during the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is my hope that my own experience of relating the two areas of study may be of value to others seeking to do the same.
This book represents a major revision of the