Science, Evolution, and Religion

Michael J. Reiss, Institute of Education, University College London "This book is a success. Unless already an expert in the science-religion field... any reader is bound to learn much of value in here."

The book provides a comprehensive and insightful discussion of what's really at stake in the "science and religion discussion" by two eminent philosophers who, speaking on behalf of their own opposing "worldviews," see the larger picture with remarkable clarity." - Kirk Wegter-McNelly, Union College

Michael Peterson is Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has written or edited several books including Reason and Religious Belief, Fifth Edition (OUP 2012), and Philosophy of Religion, Fifth Edition (OUP 2015). He is also managing editor of Faith and Philosophy, and winner of Templeton grants in science/religion. Michael Ruse is Lucycle T. Werkmeister Professor and Director of History and Philosophy of Science at Florida State University. He is well known for his work on the relationship between science and religion and is founding editor of the journal Philosophy and Biology.

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