• Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • About
  • Home

Pathway

Baptist & Christian News

  • Missouri
    • MBC
    • Churches
    • Institutions & Agencies
    • Policy
    • Disaster Relief
  • National
    • SBC Annual Meeting
    • NAMB
    • SBC
    • Churches
    • Policy
    • Society & Culture
  • Global
    • Missions
    • Multicultural
  • Columnists
    • John Yeats
    • Don Hinkle
    • Pat Lamb
    • Rhonda Rhea
    • Rob Phillips
  • Ethics
    • Life
    • Liberty
    • Family
  • Faith
    • Apologetics
    • Religions
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Bible Study & Devotion

More results...

Three meaty books tackle science, theology, society

June 7, 2007 By The Pathway

Three meaty books tackle science, theology, society

Here are three outstanding books, all published by Crossway, that tackle issues related to science, theology, and society. None are lightweights, so pick one and dive into a conversation that stimulates the mind in new areas of thinking.

Science and Grace: God’s Reign in the Natural Sciences by Tim Morris & Don Petcher (Crossway, $15, 352 pages).

Morris and Petcher poured themselves into this book in order to show that the conversation about science and Christianity must travel far beyond the Creation vs. Evolution debate. Their labor of love has produced a remarkable theology of science that stirred my heart to consider the worship-producing qualities of scientific discovery. They write, “We wanted to present science as the multifaceted, wonderful, and wonder-producing enterprise we found it to be in our scientific work,” and that “science provides many opportunities to bring Christian thinking and creativity to bear on its tasks.”

The authors begin by outlining the history of philosophy regarding science and faith. Next, they spend three chapters talking about laws of nature, miracles, and grace, under the theme, “Jesus Christ, the Lord of Creation.” The second half of the book is a Christian manifesto for doxological scientific activity. 

Put this book into the hands of a young Christian who is inclined toward science. It will certainly help shape their motivation for a vocational call to science.

Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach by Vern S. Poythress (Crossway, $20, 381 pages)

What is the relationship between science and faith? Poythress serves as our capable guide in thinking through this basic question. By the end of the book he also supplies us with full-orbed creational theology. Working outside the box, Poythress finds beauty in science where Christians have grown accustomed to seeing antagonism.

He says, “I would like to kindle our appreciation for science as it ought to be, science that could serve as a path for praising God and serving fellow human beings. …A God-centered worldview restores a
correct response, where we praise the God who created nature and cares for it.”

Poythress holds a doctorate in both New Testament and mathematics. As such, this book is not light fare, but his prophetic words are worth the concerted effort. I particularly loved reading his discussion about the mathematical beauty revealed in the universe.

Take time to work through this book slowly, and you will gain a fuller appreciation for the beauty of God as revealed in the beauty of creation.

Creation & the Courts: Eighty Years of Conflict in the Classroom and the Courtroom by Norman Geisler (Crossway, $22, 400 pages).  

This book is different than the first two in that it is a legal history rather than a theology of science. However, the content of the legal history concerns the ongoing court decisions regarding evolutionism and creationism. 

Beginning with the Scopes Trial of 1925, Geisler covers five trials that took place because of battles regarding what view of origins should be taught in public schools. I only had a cursory knowledge of most of these cases, so this book gave me a feast of new historical understanding. Geisler summarizes each case and explains errors made, often on both
       sides of the issue.

While not difficult to understand, the point and counter-point style of the chapters may get hard to
     follow after a while. Geisler closes with some
      chapters of application – “Should creation
 be taught as science in public schools?” and “Lessons to be learned”.

Plan on using this book as a reference tool when needing expert knowledge of these technical legal cases. With new cases coming around the corner all the time, it is good to have some historical perspective of where the debate has come from. (Scott Lamb pastors Providence Baptist Church in St. Louis, and is a regular book reviewer
   for The Pathway. To respond to this review or to read about other books, visit w
ww.wisdomofthepages.com.)

Comments

Trending

  • Third season of ‘The Chosen’ series: entertaining, but controversy grows
  • Four examples of where the New World Translation gets it wrong
  • The prophecy of Enoch in Jude
  • 10 key biblical doctrines denied by Jehovah’s Witnesses
  • Responding to Islam: Has the gospel been corrupted?

Ethics

Proposal from United States health department would roll back conscience rights, ERLC says

Tom Strode

A proposed regulation regarding conscience protections actually would result in fewer safeguards for the right of Americans to act according to their beliefs, a Southern Baptist entity has told the Biden administration.

ERLC’s Leatherwood interviews former MBC president about racial reconciliation

Benjamin Hawkins

More Ethics Stories

Missouri

MBU’s Master of Social Work program fully accredited by Council on Social Work Education

Missouri Baptist University

The accreditation of MBU’s online master’s program in social work, by the nation’s sole accrediting body for social work programs, is retroactive to the program’s launch in 2020 and is granted through Feb. 2031.

Copyright © 2023 · The Pathway