A Brief Summary of Polkinghorne Science and Creation
John C. Polkinghorne, internationally renowned priest-scientist, addresses the fundamental question about how scientific and theological worldviews are related; all within the second volume of his famous trilogy, ‘Polkinghorne Science and Creation: The Search for Understanding’ which was originally published in the year of 1988, which includes Science and Providence and One World.
*Note: if you’re wondering who exactly John Polkinghorne is, then feel free to check out our “John Polkinghorne” post.*
In this book Sir John Polkinghorne illustrates how a scientifically minded person goes about such a task of theological inquiry, postulating that there exists a close analogy between theory and experiments in science and belief and the understanding in theology. Offering a fresh perspective on popular questions that trouble so many minds: Are we witnessing today a revival of natural theology—the search for God through the exercise of reason and the study of nature? How do the insights of modern physics into the interlacing of order and disorder relate to the Christian doctrine of Creation? What is the relationship between mind and matter?
Polkinghorne in this book states “remarkable insights that science affords us into the intelligible workings of the world cry out for an explanation more profound than that which it itself can provide. Religion, if it is to take seriously its claim that the world is the creation of God, must be humble enough to learn from science what that world is actually like. The dialogue between them can only be mutually enriching.”
If you’re looking for many more snippets into John’s mind and how he thinks; then check out our ‘John Polkinghorne Quotes‘ post which features numerous quotes from his article, interviews and books he has written over the years.
Science and Creation: The Search for Understanding: Review
Polkinghorne Science and Creation is split up into 6 different main content areas which make up the following:
- Natural Theology
- Insightful INquiry
- Order and Disorder
- Creation and Creator
- The Nature of Reality
- Theological Science
Each content area has its own purpose and the topics which are spoken about in such areas are assorted to that chapter; however after reading through the book, I feel as though the main key features are apparent throughout the course of reading and have plenty of reference to; about ‘God’ himself and the creation, discussing how science can benefit faith rather than water it down and it encourages the readers to be “Scicere lovers of and earnest inquiries after truth”
As for a personal opnion on this book, its hard to give one. Books like these offer insight into how John thinks, you can form an opinon about if you believe him or not but the book isnt meant for that. Its about getting insight on someone’s viewpoint, from someone who stands in a very perculiar postion when it comes to the Science V Relgion debate.
However what I would recommend is that if you’re looking to learn more on these specific topics, John has also wrote a book on both Science and Theology titlted: “Polkinghorne Science and Theology” which discusses the two areas in depth; offering insight into the ‘Science Mind’ and the ‘Religious Mind’ of John similar to what it does in this book.
Purchase Science and Creation
Besides Amazon where you can purchase Science and Creation: The Search for Understanding at a relatively competitive price, there are many other ‘unpopular’ places which you can purchase the book.
A personal favourite of mine is Logos.
Here you can purchase the books you want at the price you love BUT the great part about Logos is that it features more functionality than any other copy you could find on the web, due to the online download feature the site offers you. In this edition, Polkinghorne Science and Creation features scripture citation link directly to English translations, and important term link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in their digital library. You will be able to perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for in seconds. Thanks to the download feature from Logos you will be able to take the discussion anywhere with you on your tablet or mobile.
Although known but underused, you are able to find the Polkinghorne Science and Creation 1988 version (original) and the modern day version of Science and Creation over on Google Books; which will compare all of the sites that are selling this book, such as WHSmiths and Amazon, on their prices so you can get the version you want on the platform you need (physical or digital) at the best possible price.