A Scientific Theology: Nature

Rating:
Summary: Theology and Science
Review: Alister McGrath is a moderately conservative Anglican theologian who has written a large number of works on Christian theology. He is also trained in the physical sciences as well (he is also a real smart guy, as he loves to tell you in the preface). A SCIENTIFIC THEOLOGY: NATURE is the first volume of a three-volume work which relates theology to the natural sciences. It is explicitly designed to follow the insights of the neo-Barthian theologian, Thomas Torrance.

I can't say I didn't learn a fair amount from this work. There are many interesting background studies on various topics. It is fascinating to read how Plato, Aristotle, the Romantics and the post-Modernists define nature. The same is true with the doctrine of creation, in which we learn that the doctrine of creation out of nothing isn't a part of the Jewish heritage as is often suggested.

McGrath also makes a number of interesting observations. For example, there is an interesting discussion what is meant by the term "nature." Many things that we consider "natural," such as nature parks, are a result of considerable human control. After all, many would have been destroyed long ago by fire if they were permitted run their "natural" course. Nature must in some sense then be a "mediated" and "socially constructed" concept. For this reason, a Christian cannot accept it as a neutral starting point for understanding the sciences.

So this book contains lots of background studies with occasional analysis by McGrath. I guess that's my problem with this book. I'm at a loss to see how this approach constitutes a "sustained engagement" of the relationship between science and theology as it's billed. If the next two volumes follow this approach, the work will be one large introduction. There's nothing wrong with that, but we have seen numerous introductory works in this field lately. Volume 2 is out now, so I'll let you know after I finish it.

Rating:
Summary: Theology and Science
Review: Alister McGrath is a moderately conservative Anglican theologian who has written a large number of works on Christian theology. He is also trained in the physical sciences as well (he is also a real smart guy, as he loves to tell you in the preface). A SCIENTIFIC THEOLOGY: NATURE is the first volume of a three-volume work which relates theology to the natural sciences. It is explicitly designed to follow the insights of the neo-Barthian theologian, Thomas Torrance.

I can't say I didn't learn a fair amount from this work. There are many interesting background studies on various topics. It is fascinating to read how Plato, Aristotle, the Romantics and the post-Modernists define nature. The same is true with the doctrine of creation, in which we learn that the doctrine of creation out of nothing isn't a part of the Jewish heritage as is often suggested.

McGrath also makes a number of interesting observations. For example, there is an interesting discussion what is meant by the term "nature." Many things that we consider "natural," such as nature parks, are a result of considerable human control. After all, many would have been destroyed long ago by fire if they were permitted run their "natural" course. Nature must in some sense then be a "mediated" and "socially constructed" concept. For this reason, a Christian cannot accept it as a neutral starting point for understanding the sciences.

So this book contains lots of background studies with occasional analysis by McGrath. I guess that's my problem with this book. I'm at a loss to see how this approach constitutes a "sustained engagement" of the relationship between science and theology as it's billed. If the next two volumes follow this approach, the work will be one large introduction. There's nothing wrong with that, but we have seen numerous introductory works in this field lately. Volume 2 is out now, so I'll let you know after I finish it.

Rating:
Summary: Death of Anti-Realism
Review: Dr. McGrath has finally constructed the stake that needs to be driven into the heart of the vampire of 'Enlightenment' thinking. This profound and thoroughly well thought out work clearly outlines the problems faced by those who wish to see the world, not as it is, but as they wish it to be. There is a true Nature and correspondingly a true Nature's God. Both may be known by honest intellectual and spiritually discerning research. And both are disturbingly real or confortingly so, depending on your outlook.

I loved it!

JDM

Rating:
Summary: oxymoron .. is there a 0 star?
Review: gee.. putting science and theology together is oxymoron .. where is the demarcation of science? the author doesn't even know! it is typical of people who would like to take credits along with the word 'science' but do not want their own claims to be subjected to scientific methodology. If the author means Spinoza's Pantheism, it would not be the same theology everyone else would hope it to be. A typical feat of mixing up facts and hopes. I regret wasting time on it!!!