R.J. (Sam) Berry is Emeritus Professor of Genetics at University College, London, a former President of the Linnean Society, British Ecological Society, European Ecological Federation, Mammal Society, and Christians in Science. In 1996 he received the UK Templeton Award.

Select Guide Rating

• Contents:1. The Nature of Things What We Don’t Know 12“Proofs” for the Existence of God 14Science and Its Strengths 21The Sociology of Science 23The Merton Thesis 24Science 26Scientism 27Providence and Miracles 29Positivism and Logical Positivism 33Diverse Explanations 36“God of the Gaps” 38Evidence in Christianity 40Christian Perspectives on Science 43God: Immanence and Transcendence 44Creation and the Beginning of the Universe 46Worldviews 49Belief Systems 51Relationships between Science and Christianity 52The “Two Books” 57Science and Religion in the Modern Period 59The Conflict Thesis 60The Galileo Affair 62Huxley v. Wilberforce: “Great Debate” or Historical Myth? 64Values in Science and the World 67The Bases of Values 68So What for Philosophy, Science, and Religion? 692. Science, Faith, and the BibleReading the Bible, Reading the World 72Science, the Bible, and Christian Theology 79Psalm 19:1–6 81Wisdom 13:1–7 81The Role of Science in Biblical Interpretation 83Ancient Cosmology 84The “Spiritual Body” (1 Corinthians 15:35–57) 94Conclusion 963. Physical and Earth SciencesFrom Newton to Einstein: Relativity 99God and Time 104Quantum Theory: Subverting Common Sense 107Chaos: Uncertainty at the Everyday Level 111God’s Action in the Universe 114Cosmology and the Origin of the Universe 117Stephen Hawking and Quantum Gravity 120Anthropic Balances, Design, and Many Universes 122The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) 126The History of the Earth 129Dating Methods 133The End of the Universe and New Creation 135Historical Understanding of the Age of the Earth 136Theological Perspectives on the Age of the Earth 138The Biblical Future 1404. Life SciencesLife on Earth 145Origin of Life 147Creation in the Bible 148The Origin of Life 149Darwin and Evolution 151“Days” in Genesis 152Theological Issues about Evolution 160Human Evolution 163Was Adam an Individual? 168On the Creation of Woman 170Historic Fall? 171Creation Care 174Environmental Theology 175Teleology 181Intelligent Design 184Creationism 1885. Humanity and HumannessNothing but Molecules and Cells? 193Rivalry between Theories at Different Levels: The Example of Schizophrenia 196The Naturalistic Approach to Humanness 202Human Ancestry 203Modern Human Origins 204Brain and Mind 205The Soul and the Question of Dualism 211Artificial Intelligence and the Soul 217Determinism and Freedom 219The Evolution of Religion 222The Origins of Religious Belief 223Genes for Religiosity 226Conclusion 2266. Science, Ethics, and ChristianityChristian Ethics 231Ethics and the Practice of Science 232Technology, Biotechnology, and Environment 233Ethics and Risk 234Nuclear Power 237Biofuels: Striking the Balance between Land for Food and Land for Fuel 240GM Crops 242Nanotechnology and the Environment 246Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis 250DNA Sequencing and the Human Genome Project 254The “Moral Status” of the Early (Pre- Implantation) Human Embryo 260Nanotechnology and Health 263Human Enhancement 265GLOSSARY 268Significant People and Events 270Further Reading 275Index 281PICTURE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 288