What do you think?
Rate this book
THEOLOGY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Christianity and Science: Toward a Theology of Nature
In this work, John Haught, a leading Catholic theological voice in the study of science and religion, offers his most systematic theological reflections on the relation between Christian revelation and the unfolding story of the universe. In the face of recent discoveries some maintain their faith by clinging to a pre-scientific world view; others conclude that perhaps ""the universe has outgrown the biblical God who is said to be its creator." For Haught, however, exploration of the "three infinities"--the immense, the infinitesimal, and the complex--serves as invitation to an unprecedented appreciation for the grandeur of God, creation, Christ, and redemption.
John F. Haught is Landegger Distinguished Service Professor of Theology at Georgetown University and the author of ten books, including God after Darwin and The Promise of Nature.
John F. Haught is Landegger Distinguished Service Professor of Theology at Georgetown University and the author of ten books, including God after Darwin and The Promise of Nature.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2007
3 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
John F. Haught
50 books37 followersJohn F. Haught is a Roman Catholic theologian, specializing with systematic theology. He has special interests in science, cosmology, ecology, and reconciling evolution and religion.
Haught graduated from St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore,, and he received a PhD in Theology from The Catholic University of America in 1970.
Haught received the 2002 Owen Garrigan Award in Science and Religion, the 2004 Sophia Award for Theological Excellence, and, in 2009, the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Leuven.
He is Senior Research Fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University. There, he established the Georgetown Center for the Study of Science and Religion and was the chair of Georgetown's theology department between 1990 and 1995.
Haught graduated from St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore,, and he received a PhD in Theology from The Catholic University of America in 1970.
Haught received the 2002 Owen Garrigan Award in Science and Religion, the 2004 Sophia Award for Theological Excellence, and, in 2009, the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Leuven.
He is Senior Research Fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University. There, he established the Georgetown Center for the Study of Science and Religion and was the chair of Georgetown's theology department between 1990 and 1995.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 12, 2009
John Haught has written numerous books on science and religion, seeking to bridge the gap often assumed to exist between the two. In this book Haught presents a theology that fully takes the findings of modern science into consideration. This is not a Christian defense of evolution (like Francis Collins' Language of God or Ken Miller's Finding Darwin's God). Rather, the truth of evolution is assumed, and the question is what affect this has on theology. Haught argues that in the eyes of many scientists theology and religion are simply uninteresting for the God they see the religious presenting is smaller than the majesty of science. Thus, we need a theology and a God big enough to appeal to the minds of modern scientists.
I read another book by Haught a few months back and in my review I was concerned that he did not emphasize historic Christian orthodoxy in his discussion. That concern is absent here for Haught, a Roman Catholic, is clearly within the realm of orthodoxy. But this is still by no means a systematic theology, rather he focuses on two points of Christian theology which he claims fit in best with the world modern science gives us: the descent of God and the focus on the future. Christians believe that in Jesus the Creator entered the Creation, bringing life out of death. For Haught, this emphasis is a way to remove the focus of scientific naturalists on death as the default with life as the mystery to be explained; instead we see the universe as teeming with life and propagating new life with death as the enemy to be overcome. Along with that, Haught picks up on themes from the likes of theologian Jurgen Moltmann to focus on the future. Modern science has given us a universe that is not complete but instead is going somewhere and this fits in nicely with Christian theology that is moving towards completion in God.
There is a lot more that could be said on this book. Perhaps heretic hunters or others might still take Haught to task for not going into detail on many aspects of Christian theology. There might be suspicion by some as he admits scientific findings do influence the kind of theology, meaning change in one may lead to change in the other. But this is not a systematic theology and it seems clear to me that Haught sees the essentials of historic orthodox Christianity as standing the test of time. So overall this is a helpful book for those who want to see how a theology that takes full account of modern science might look. It shows that one can hold to the findings of modern science but still hold a robust faith in Jesus Christ.
I read another book by Haught a few months back and in my review I was concerned that he did not emphasize historic Christian orthodoxy in his discussion. That concern is absent here for Haught, a Roman Catholic, is clearly within the realm of orthodoxy. But this is still by no means a systematic theology, rather he focuses on two points of Christian theology which he claims fit in best with the world modern science gives us: the descent of God and the focus on the future. Christians believe that in Jesus the Creator entered the Creation, bringing life out of death. For Haught, this emphasis is a way to remove the focus of scientific naturalists on death as the default with life as the mystery to be explained; instead we see the universe as teeming with life and propagating new life with death as the enemy to be overcome. Along with that, Haught picks up on themes from the likes of theologian Jurgen Moltmann to focus on the future. Modern science has given us a universe that is not complete but instead is going somewhere and this fits in nicely with Christian theology that is moving towards completion in God.
There is a lot more that could be said on this book. Perhaps heretic hunters or others might still take Haught to task for not going into detail on many aspects of Christian theology. There might be suspicion by some as he admits scientific findings do influence the kind of theology, meaning change in one may lead to change in the other. But this is not a systematic theology and it seems clear to me that Haught sees the essentials of historic orthodox Christianity as standing the test of time. So overall this is a helpful book for those who want to see how a theology that takes full account of modern science might look. It shows that one can hold to the findings of modern science but still hold a robust faith in Jesus Christ.
November 14, 2015
I think the central statement of this book can be found in chapter 7 „Cosmology and Creation“ where Haught promotes the relation between Christianity and science to be one of contact (as opposed to contrast, conflict, and confirmation). His proposition is that both are trying to find answers to quite distinct sets of questions, i.e. „limit questions“ versus scientific questions. I find this to be a very sensible and convincing approach, just as I find the rest of the book generally solid.
The reason I didn't give the book five stars is that it’s not clear to me for whom it is written. The way Haught freely and extensively uses theological concepts and terminology speaks for an intended target audience of people educated and comfortable in the matter. But these probably don’t need to be convinced of the important role theology should play nowadays. On the other hand, people with a more scientific background will probably find the book too abstract and incomprehensible. I frankly had to skip several parts because I got completely lost as to what Haught was trying to say, let alone understanding the reasoning behind it.
It certainly is a big undertaking trying to explain very different ways of looking at nothing less than the universe, its origins and purpose, and the role of humankind in it. Haught does a good job at explicating valid (and invalid) approaches to these topics and pointing to the merits and issues associated with them. For the sake of a more easily understandable text, though, the structure of many of the chapters could need some polish.
The reason I didn't give the book five stars is that it’s not clear to me for whom it is written. The way Haught freely and extensively uses theological concepts and terminology speaks for an intended target audience of people educated and comfortable in the matter. But these probably don’t need to be convinced of the important role theology should play nowadays. On the other hand, people with a more scientific background will probably find the book too abstract and incomprehensible. I frankly had to skip several parts because I got completely lost as to what Haught was trying to say, let alone understanding the reasoning behind it.
It certainly is a big undertaking trying to explain very different ways of looking at nothing less than the universe, its origins and purpose, and the role of humankind in it. Haught does a good job at explicating valid (and invalid) approaches to these topics and pointing to the merits and issues associated with them. For the sake of a more easily understandable text, though, the structure of many of the chapters could need some polish.
August 8, 2021
If there is any "go-to" author in the discussion on the relationship between faith and science, it is John Haught. I've read several of his books, and this one stands out as a thorough synthesis of many of his ideas, particularly as they have matured over the years.
March 25, 2011
Fantastic!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews