Particles of Faith: A Catholic Guide to Navigating Science

by Stacy A. Trasancos

What is the origin of life? Hasn't the Catholic Church always been hostile to science? Can a Christian accept the scientific theory of evolution?How can you, as a Catholic, explain what the Church teaches about the relationship between science and faith? Scientist, writer, and scholar Stacy Trasancos gives us ways we can talk about how science and our Catholic faith work together to reveal the truth of Christ through the beauty of his creation. As a scientist who was led to Catholicism through her work, Stacy Trasancos has confronted some of the basic questions we all face. In Particles of Faith, she teaches us how to explain the symbiotic beauty between our curiosity expressed through science and our love of Christ and his Church.Trasancos uses her own story, as well as encyclicals such as Pope Francis's Lumen Fidei, the deep reflections of theologians such as St. Thomas Aquinas, and the exacting work of Catholic scientists like Rev. Georges Lemaître (who proposed the game-changing Big Bang theory), to show how science and faith are interwoven and meant to guide us on the path to truth. By the time you finish reading Particles of Faith, you'll be able to answer questions about, generate discussion on, and explain why science helps deepen your faith.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Catholic, Theology, Faith, Religion

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2016

About the author

I am a wife and homeschooling mother of seven. I hold a PhD in Chemistry from Penn State University and a MA in Dogmatic Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. I worked as a chemist for DuPont in the Lycra® and Teflon® businesses.

Now I teach chemistry and physics for Kolbe Academy online homeschool program, where our kids are enrolled. If you are interested in enrolling your homeschooled student in a homeschool or an online course, visit the Kolbe Academy page. I am teaching these online courses this 2016-17 school year: Introduction to Physics and Chemistry, Core Chemistry, Core Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1. The AP courses are College Board approved and prepare a student for advanced placement (AP) exams for college credit.

In the fall and spring 2016, I am teaching a “Reading Science in the Light of Faith” at Holy Apostles College & Seminary. The course is funded by a John Templeton Foundation grant through John Carroll University for teaching science in seminaries. I am on the Board of Directors for ITEST (the Institute for the Theological Encounter with Science and Technology) where the essays from the course will be shared with the public. The course is tuition-free (thanks to the grant) for seminarians. If you are interested, contact Holy Apostles to inquire about admissions and enrollment. (Note: This course is processed on an individual basis due to the tuition discounts.)

In the Spring 2017, I will begin teaching a new course developed at Seton Hall University where Fr. Stanley L. Jaki was a Distinguished Professor. The course is titled “Catholic Theology of Science.” Fr. Jaki’s work was the subject of my first book, Science Was Born of Christianity: The Teaching of Fr. Stanley L. Jaki.

My newest book, Particles of Faith: A Catholic Guide to Navigating Science came out from Ave Maria Press in October 2016.

I teach, research, and write from our family’s 100-year old restored lodge in the Adirondack mountains. My updated CV is linked above.

You can find me on Facebook mostly. I post lots of pictures of our family’s activities. I also use Facebook for discussions about faith and science, to gather ideas and learn what is on people’s minds. I have a Twitter account, but I am bad at it.

Reviews

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a physician who teaches Chemistry at a Catholic high school, I have found this book to be so valuable to students. The author does a great job helping students understand how they can be Catholic and scientists! Great book to read in science or theology!

[Austin Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just taught my first course on Faith and Science for a senior Catholic high school, I have searched through the relatively small number of books out there. Transacos book is by far the best and most nuanced of what is out there. She does a great job of presenting the science at a high level (at least for high schoolers) without being bogged down in it. Her thesis on “sorting the wills” excellently helps one navigate faith in light of scientific questions without eagerly jumping in and expecting science to “prove” faith (she’s great and emphasizing the dangers of this approach). But perhaps what is best is that she doesn’t give the answers to these questions (as she notes repeatedly that they aren’t there, at least not in the ways we want or expect) but teaches how think through these questions, holding on to faith but appreciating the science. Lastly, where this book differs and where I find it most helpful is that it is not a textbook that coldly layouts the pertinent questions, responses, subsections, etc. This is told in an almost story like format that represents some of her own experience but is also universal, which is a great reminder that we encounter these questions as part of our own life journey, the totality of the human experience, and not in cold, isolated, instances.
This is an excellent starting place for any one curious or challenged by the relationship of faith and science, whether you lean more on science or the religious.

[Helen Lobron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave Particles of Faith a 3/5-star rating because it was interesting, I would recommend it, and it gave me a greater knowledge of truth and a new perspective on life. However, it lacked consistently vivid style making it unappealing at times and I would be hesitant to reread it.

This book would be a lot more approachable if I was a college level researcher as the author tends to explain the science behind the examples she uses in an elevated fashion. You don't necessarily have to understand her examples to get the message, but it made me unnecessarily confused. I think I probably missed some valuable insights throughout this book. Her overall style of long, 30-page chapters did not particularly delight me, but I did appreciate how she wrapped up her points at the end of each chapter. Despite this criticism, I am overall glad that I read Particles of Faith. What the author said was very important and interesting and it helped me to gain a better understanding of how many people view the relationship between faith and science as well as how it should be viewed. I would recommend this to any Catholic person who is unsure about how the faith and science are related and the importance of both in making your way through the world seeking for truth. I would also definitely recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to find faith amidst a scientific career or despite living in this beautifully designed, wonderful world.

[Hannah Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particles of Faith by Stacy A. Trasancos is a scientist’s rationale for being both Catholic and a scientist. It begins with her story of losing and finding her faith through science. She then proceeds to answer some common questions people have regarding the connection between faith and science, including the Big Bang and Evolution and goes deeper by discussing quantum mechanics and their connection to free will. Through this work, Trasancos uses chemistry, biology, and even physics to show that science will always lead one back to God. She proves that even though some scientists, including herself once, are so determined that science is the only way to explain things, that they fail to see the bigger picture where God is working through science to make the world the way it is.

I give this book four out of five stars. It was very interesting and challenged me to think while reading. It was short and concise while describing complex ideas thoroughly. However, it was hard to get into in the beginning. I would like to reread this book when I am not doing so for a deadline so I can take the time to properly appreciate all it has to offer.

[Christopher Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening look at the intersections (and divisions) of science and faith. Stacy is a credentialed scientist and a practicing Catholic. She sees not contradiction in being both.

As a somewhat “recovering creationist” her discussions of biology and evolution were enlightening. As someone who knows next to nothing about chemistry, I feel like I learned a little, but mostly it illustrated how little I know.

She points out the dependence of science on faith, and the places where science (or mor accurately scientists) push their field beyond its limits. Her critiques of young-earth creationists and intelligent design theorists are fair, and I think, accurate.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who feels tension between “faith and reason” or “faith and science” and has a genuine desire to explore what it, and is not, actually in tension.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of a thought process, not on how to demonstrate or support faith through science, as might be expected, but on how to understand science in the light of faith. The main take-away from this book, for me, was her point that science does not support or undermine faith in any way. Faith is the primary and first reality and in its light we can see science more clearly, whereas science has nothing to say about faith, because faith exists outside the realm of science.

Her critiques of creationism and of intelligent design are harder to follow, but essentially correct, I believe.

Worth the read, and enjoyable.

[BrandonCWalters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dives into science and particle physics to demonstrate how even with our advanced understanding of our physical world is still limited and must be accepted through faith. This was a clear book and for those that may have little experience with particle physics, they will be able to learn it at a fundamental level. Despite the advancements in science there are always questions. This helps us realize how much we do not know. Faith is the only answer and the examples in this book guide the reader towards this conclusion. It was a neat read and I would recommend it to others.

[Acenith Claassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. There are areas that tend to be a little over my head scientifically speaking, but I understand the need to provide the information in the context of the book and it’s aims. I can honestly say that I learned how not to fall into the trap of justifying my faith based on small snippets of science that I believe support it. The explanation of how faith and science go hand in hand, and that faith begat science is more clearly laid out in this book than I have seen it done before.

[Vance J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well-written, concise book that nests Science and the Catholic faith. Addresses some key theological issues and helps build momentum for challenging the 'Church is against Science' claims that date from the late 1800s. Many nice references identified for further study. Recently published, I recommend it highly for those just beginning to take on this issue.

[Páidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and well written look at the relationship between science and faith.

Plenty to think about and lots of citations to follow up.
Heartily recommended to anyone who wants to show that faith has nothing to fear from science and that science has nothing to fear from faith.

Fundamentalists would learn a lot.

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book overall. The author does seem to delve a little too deep than is necessary into the science behind her examples at times. The book is a great jumping off point for many other conversations and questions the reader may have in regard to the intersection of the Catholic faith and science.

[Jeff Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just excellent.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking read

This book will open your eyes to see how scientists think about the world. Gives you a lesson on science and how to look at things with an open mind.

[Almachius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for teachers, parents and teenagers. Beautifully, passionately written. I hope there is much more to come from this author.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated how comprehensive this book was on different areas of science. The author wrote on various issues in chemistry, physics and biology. I found the section on evolution to be the most fascinating! I could see how beautifully the creation stories in Genesis align with what science has discovered. God is truly stunning. Also, I thought her perspective and arguments on when life begins were very insightful.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting viewpoint

A good follow up to her previous work on Jaki. A worthwhile book for all science students. Kindle version works well on the Fire and on a Paper White.