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Science and Christianity is an accessible, engaging introduction to topics at the intersection of science and Christian theology.
* A philosophically orientated treatment that introduces the relationship of science to Christianity and explores to what extent the findings of science affect traditional Christian theology
* Addresses important theological topics in light of contemporary science, including divine action, the problem of natural evil, and eschatology
* Historically oriented chapters and chapters covering methodological principles for both science and theology provide the reader with a strong foundational understanding of the issues
* Includes feature boxes highlighting quotations, biographies of major scientists and theologians, key terms, and other helpful information
* Issues are presented as fairly and objectively as possible, with strengths and weaknesses of particular interpretations fully discussed
List of contents
Introduction xx
1. Conflict and Independence xx
1. Ways that science and Christianity might be related
2. Conflict
3. Independence
4. Two Books
2. Christianity and the Origin of Modern Science xx
1. The handmaiden of theology
2. Christianity's role in the rise of modern science--20th century views
3. Recent developments
3. Secularization xx
1. Scientists and religious belief
2. Broadening the definition
3. A secular age
4. Young Earth Creationism and Intelligent Design xx
1. Setting the stage for Young Earth Creationism
2. Today's Young Earth Creationism
3. Intelligent Design
4. Irreducible complexity and information
5. The Bible xx
1. Two books vs. sola scriptura
2. Interpretation
3. What kind of inspiration?
4. Science and the Bible
6. Methodological Naturalism xx
1. Defining methodological naturalism
2. Duhem and the aims of science
3. Methodological naturalism and the problem of demarcation
4. Reasons for abiding by methodological naturalism
7. Natural Theology xx
1. Classic arguments of natural theology
2. Objections to natural theology
3. Natural theology for the twenty-first century
8. Cosmology xx
1. Big Bang cosmology
2. Fine tuning
3. The Multiverse
9. Evolution xx
1. Evolution and the Bible
2. Creation through randomness and death
3. The uniqueness of human beings
4. Consonance between evolution and Christianity
10. Divine Action xx
1. The development of deism
2. Miracles
3. Non-interventionist objective divine action
4. Alternatives for explaining divine action
11. Mind, Soul, and Brain xx
1. The Christian tradition of the soul
2. Descartes and dualism
3. Challenges to dualism
4. Cognitive dualism
12. The Problem of Natural Evil xx
1. Articulation of the problem
2. Some potential solutions
3. A more robust theodicy
4. Eschatological fulfillment
Conclusion: The Last Things xx
Timeline xx
Glossary xx
Index x
About the author
J.B. Stump (PhD, Boston University) is senior editor at BioLogos, where he oversees the development of new content and curates existing content for the BioLogos website and print materials. He has also been a philosophy professor and academic administrator. He is co-author of
Christian Thought: A Historical Introduction (2010), and co-editor of
The Blackwell Companion to Science and Christianity (Wiley-Blackwell 2012) and of
How I Changed My Mind about Evolution (2016).
Summary
Science and Christianity is an accessible, engaging introduction to topics at the intersection of science and Christian theology.
