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The Edge of Reason?: Science and Religion in Modern Society
Should scientists challenge religious beliefs? Is religion inevitable in human society? Is religion harmful to society? Can science itself inspire spiritual wonder? Confrontation between science and religion has defined much public debate about religion in recent years, most lately in bestsellers portraying a clash between scientists and religious believers, such as Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion and Sam Harris's The End of Faith or Letter to a Christian Nation . But what does this 'us versus them' divide mean for society? This collection of essays gives voice to social scientists, natural scientists and theologians whose experience holds direct relevance on these major issues, and clarifies the position of science in the modern debate.
Includes contributions by Mary Midgley (University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK), Denis Alexander (Cambridge University, UK), Richard Roberts (Lancaster University, UK), Bob Layton (Durham University, UK), Simon Coleman (Sussex University, UK), Michael Shermer (Executive Director of the Sceptics Society and monthly columnist for Scientific American ), Lewis Wolpert (University College London, UK), Andrew Newberg (University of Pennsylvania), Timothy Taylor (University of Bradford, UK), Steven Mithen (University of Reading, UK), David Sloan Wilson (Binghamton University), Herbert Maschner (Idaho State University), Ian Reader (University of Manchester, UK), Hiroko Kawanami (Lancaster University, UK), Andrian Kreye (Süddeutsche Zeitung), John Hedley Brooke (Oxford University, UK), Gordy Slack (Author of The Battle Over The Meaning Of Everything ), Seth Shostak (Seti Institute), William Calvin (University Of Washington), and David Wilkinson (Durham University, UK).
Includes contributions by Mary Midgley (University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK), Denis Alexander (Cambridge University, UK), Richard Roberts (Lancaster University, UK), Bob Layton (Durham University, UK), Simon Coleman (Sussex University, UK), Michael Shermer (Executive Director of the Sceptics Society and monthly columnist for Scientific American ), Lewis Wolpert (University College London, UK), Andrew Newberg (University of Pennsylvania), Timothy Taylor (University of Bradford, UK), Steven Mithen (University of Reading, UK), David Sloan Wilson (Binghamton University), Herbert Maschner (Idaho State University), Ian Reader (University of Manchester, UK), Hiroko Kawanami (Lancaster University, UK), Andrian Kreye (Süddeutsche Zeitung), John Hedley Brooke (Oxford University, UK), Gordy Slack (Author of The Battle Over The Meaning Of Everything ), Seth Shostak (Seti Institute), William Calvin (University Of Washington), and David Wilkinson (Durham University, UK).
248 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2008
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May 10, 2012
Alex Bentley (Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at Durham University, UK) brings together nineteen different contributions to accompany his introduction that with one voice claim that there should be a rational relationship between science and religion in the twenty-first century. They all affirm that Evolutionists are right in taking Creationists to task, but affirm simultaneously that evolutionists need to learn enough about religion to comment on its matters. Although this book does not dwell on metaphysical questions, it does use them as part of a case that argues that the complex issues of cultural evolution, science, and religious belief in society require knowledge of a rich variety of belief systems with reference to anthropology, archaeology, biology, natural science, philosophy, and theology. As the book title indicates, this voyage takes us to the 'edge of reason'.
The five essays that compose Part One of the book address the question of whether 'scientists should challenge religious beliefs in modern society?' One of the writers in this section argues that we would do well to move beyond the simplistic 'warfare' model to more complex alternatives for the relationship between science and religion.
Part Two is similarly composed of five essays, all of which are centered on answering the question of whether 'religion is inevitable?' Following this, Part Three addresses the interesting question: 'Is religion harmful?'
Part Four is composed of four essays that all relate to the theme of whether 'science itself can inspire spiritual wonder?' One of the writers in this section of the book, explores the question of whether scientific discovery can actually be a religious experience, by which he means a sense of the transcendent - he concludes that there is indeed a trajectory from an appreciation of beauty in nature to deeper reflections on human destiny.
In sum, the supposed confrontation between science and religion has defined much popular – and public – debate about religion in recent years. This collection of essays gives voice to social scientists, natural scientists, and theologians whose experience holds direct relevance on these major issues, and encourages a more forgiving dialogue between these two disciplines.
The five essays that compose Part One of the book address the question of whether 'scientists should challenge religious beliefs in modern society?' One of the writers in this section argues that we would do well to move beyond the simplistic 'warfare' model to more complex alternatives for the relationship between science and religion.
Part Two is similarly composed of five essays, all of which are centered on answering the question of whether 'religion is inevitable?' Following this, Part Three addresses the interesting question: 'Is religion harmful?'
Part Four is composed of four essays that all relate to the theme of whether 'science itself can inspire spiritual wonder?' One of the writers in this section of the book, explores the question of whether scientific discovery can actually be a religious experience, by which he means a sense of the transcendent - he concludes that there is indeed a trajectory from an appreciation of beauty in nature to deeper reflections on human destiny.
In sum, the supposed confrontation between science and religion has defined much popular – and public – debate about religion in recent years. This collection of essays gives voice to social scientists, natural scientists, and theologians whose experience holds direct relevance on these major issues, and encourages a more forgiving dialogue between these two disciplines.
Displaying 1 of 1 review