The Science of God

Rating:
Summary: Excellent contribution to debate on origins of humanity
Review: Dr. Schroeder presents an easily readable treatise which should go a long way toward reducing the acrimony in the long-standing debate on origins. His ideas regarding the age of the universe are well worth contemplating by any serious scientist or theologian.

Before deciding to purchase this book in hardcover for my own library, I found myself copying extensive passages for future reference. Perhaps once every ten years I encounter a book that makes me re-think everything I have always believed. This was just such a book.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating but flawed - but fascinating
Review: An always interesting attempt to blend ancient Hebrew commentary with current scientific dogma. Some of his insights gleaned from the knowledge of the original OT texts almost drove me to sign up for Hebrew/Maimonedes 101; for example, a possible mention of Archaeopteryx in the Old Testament!

His attempt to reconcile Big Bang theory with Genesis is also fascinating. However, this is also a basic flaw of the book - trying too hard to please everyone without doing enough homework. Too much stock is put in ancient hints that long periods of time were involved in the creation. That would not be a flaw in itself if the science he is trying to reconcile were on solid ground; but he assumes a brand of theistic evolution without considering the horrendous problems therein, outlined so well in Lubenow's "Bones of Contention" and Cremo's "Forbidden Archeology".

Like many other scientists, he assumes that (1) the Big Bang is proven beyond a doubt (I wouldn't mind if it were true, but I'm not sure it is), and (2) the 15-billion year age of the universe is proven beyond a doubt; both traps fallen into by Denton. As Lubenow points out, the age estimate is built-into whatever cosmological model is used. Most people assume that the 15-billion year figure was arrived at independently. Not only that, as even John Eddy has admitted, due to the solar neutrino crisis, current theories of solar evolution get their time frames from paleontology (this is the fact of which even most scientists may be unaware). Problems such as the megawalls and red-shift discrepancies are not examined (but this is standard fare for "science" books - "don't confuse the layman with the facts that don't fit"). As Lubenow and Cremo also show that supposed fossil ancestors were contemporaries, even with "modern" Homo Sapiens, Schroeder is left with reconciling ancient wisdom with spurious science (albeit generally accepted - but then so was Piltdown, for 40 years), the value of which is questionable. Like many scientists outside their area of expertise, he assumes too much, trusts too much. On a theological note, his views might be acceptable in the OT context, but cause problems if the NT is included in the consideration, especially in what seems to be a description of God-in-process. But this is true of all theistic evolutionism.

So, ultimately, Schroeder becomes a victim of the "Galileo Effect" - science through censorship and dogma. He may be defending an incorrect cosmology. If he is indeed correct, well and good. But it would have been interesting to see his analysis of the problems facing Big Bang theory as well.

Still, the reading is enjoyable, especially his explanations of evidence of design and the role of the weirdness of quantum physics. One can only hope that his estimable talents may, in the future, be employed with reconciling problems in science itself before trying to reconcile scientific faith with religious faith. I eagerly await his next attempt. (Reprinted from "The Galileo Effect" website.)

Rating:
Summary: An outstanding, easily understood concept.
Review: Schroeder has done an outstanding job explaining a very complex topic. As a fundamental believer in the Bible I found it a breath of fresh air to finally have more than a "well, that's what it says, that's what it means position." I have always maintained that the creation account in the bible was true and literal and it is comforting to have as bit of scientific support to substantiate my belief. A high recommendation for anyone even remotely interested in biblical study. At a minimum it should cause even the steadfast nonbeliever to pause and consider the possibility of the literalism of the word of God.

Rating:
Summary: I learned how I got here (Big Bang) and why (God's Plan).
Review: After reading "Genisis and the Big Bang", "The Science of God" was a must.I'm on my third reading of it now. When Dr. Schroeder asked the question "if you could hitch a ride on a photon of light as it left the star Sandulec, in the Great Magellanic Cloud, l70,000 light years from here, as it blew up to become Supernova l978A, how long would it take you to get here?" Answer: Zip - Zero time! It blew my (layman) mind. Of course; Einstein's theory of General Relativety (no longer a 'theory' - but "law"), says that the closer you approach the speed of light, the more time slows down. If you reach it, time stops (a singularity?),as "in the beginning" or as in a black hole. Einstein also said that mass increases as the speed of light is approached, and that mass would become infinite if the speed of light was reached. Also it would take an infinite amount of energy to accelerate anything to the speed of light. According to General Relativety, nothing can exceed the speed of light. Paradoxically, Dr. Schroeder suggested that within the first nano-second of the big bang, the universe expanded to a size greater than our present solar system, known as the 'inflation', clearly faster than the speed of light. Only GOD could do that! I do wish that Dr. Schroeder would have addressed the "growing mass" thing in his book. So, based on the above, one new thought I had pertained to the transmission of Prayer. Now I see how it can be that our prayers are instantly sent to and received by our creator, who lives in a "singularity" God does trancend time! FIVE STARS

Rating:
Summary: Excellent! Shows that Science and God do not 'disagree'
Review: Was the universe created in 6 days or in 15 billion years? Both! This was the most fascinating knowledge I found in the book. Within the first few chapters, Schroeder explains how time dilation (time passing at a slower rate in a stronger gravitational field or when an object travels at a greater velocity) and Einstein's Theory of Relativity (the portion dealing with differences in observed phenomenon depending upon the frame of reference of the observer) allows BOTH answers to be correct. He then demonstrates how this dual mapping of time places events in the right time-slots when referencing either "our" time or "cosmological" time (that is, the timing of key events is synchronized whether using a 15-billion-year or a 6-day reference point). Schroeder also discusses the "Science of Free Will'. And what about Dinosaurs - don't they prove the Bible to be incorrect? No - read the book for the reasoning! Other interesting concepts presented include a "latent library" of genetic codes (genes appear to have been present in the first cells eventhough the feature for which they code did not appear until much later) and statistical anaylsis showing the unlikelyhood of certain forms of evolution. Finally, it is worth noting that Dr. Shroeder has credentials that ensure the reader that the information being presented is of high quality.

Rating:
Summary: ...For those who suspect science doesn't have all answers
Review: As a Christian fundamentalist who has never been concerned with HOW God created the universe, I appreciated this book. It provides clues as to how creation may have occurred given current scientific theory of the orgins of the universe and life. Schroeder's most perceptive insight is that neither believers nor scientists can properly judge each other until they truly study each others' body of work.

I got the feeling Schroeder did venture a bit into broad speculation in the last few chapters, but it did seem to me that his science (as men currently understand it) is pretty solid.

I'm not sure I can share this book with my fellow fundamentalists due to their belief in the literal, miraculous six-day creation. I do know, though, that in reading it, I felt a profound thankfulness to the Lord for the beauty and precision of His creation. The Bible tells us that all creation points to God, and I am grateful that He has given man the faculties to understand ever more the workings of His universe.

I did find an interesting anomoly. I can only assume Schroeder is an orthodox Jew; yet in one of his passages he referenced John 1:1.

Rating:
Summary: It was an excellent book
Review: The book is a fascinating study on how hard science can agree with biblical teachings. This book will definately not be welcomed in certain quarters, both in the religious and especially the scientific communities. As a scientist myself I commend Mr. Schroeder on his methods of research. Whether you agree or disagree with the premise, you should take the time to pick up the book. It WILL make you think and that's the most important thing any book can do.

Rating:
Summary: Dem bones, dem bones....
Review: Books like this are, and should be, fun. And it is! But...taking empirical data and misinterpreting and misapplying, leaving out critical factual items, and generally filtering it through a major religious philiosphy will achieve the desired results for any author. Perhaps we are really beginning to get the picture that mixing faith and science makes a poor cocktail. If other reviewers have decided that this book will change their lives, then so be it. I felt the same way after my first Spenser P.I. novel. Well, maybe not completely. Dr. Schroeder should be commended on a "good try." If he had written a similar tome 100 years ago with the then current level of knowledge, we would be all having a good hoot at his expense. I don't think it will take another 100 to dissolve much of the author's conclusions. "Abraham born in 1948"....actually a very appropriate way to start the book. Now....where's that copy of "Chariots of the Gods"? ! That was fun too.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but Flawed
Review: A good and refreshing read, but the quotations from Jewish sources are very selective, and in some places outright misleading. Also, sometimes sounds too patronizing.

Rating:
Summary: A bad idea to mix Science and God!
Review: This person sounds like he is no scientist at all.
He is trying to mix Science and God, not a good mix!