Pascal's Fire: Scientific Faith and Religious UnderstandingGroundbreaking, ingenious and devastatingly clear, Keith Ward's "Pascal's Fire" is guaranteed to reignite the timeless dispute of whether scientific advancement threatens religious belief. Turning the conventional debate on its head, Ward suggests that the existence of God is actually the best starting-point for a number of the most famous scientific positions. From quantum physics to evolution, the suggestion of an 'ultimate mind' adds a new dimension to scientific thought, enhancing rather than detracting from its greatest achievements. Also responding to potential criticisms that his ultimate mind is unrecognizable as the God of Abraham, Ward examines our most fundamental beliefs in a new light. Emerging with a conception of God that is consistent with both science and the world's major faiths, this ambitious project will fascinate believers and sceptics alike. |
Contents
The Intellectual Beauty of Being | 24 |
The Evolution of Life on Earth | 49 |
Freedom Suffering and Omnipotence | 62 |
Copyright | |
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accelerating universe acts actual actualised Arthur Peacocke beauty belief brain causal complex consciousness consilience cosmic cosmos created creative creator David Hume deterministic divine action divine mind evolution evolutionary exist finite minds finite persons Galileo genes genetic goal God's happen human persons hypothesis idea important intelligent interaction John Polkinghorne knowledge laws of nature lives Martin Rees material mathematical mathematical beauty Matt Ridley miracles modern science moral multiverse mutations natural sciences Newton Newtonian objects observed organisms Origins of Virtue particles Paul Davies perhaps personal experience philosophers physical determinism physical reality physical universe physical world physicists possible universe principle purely purpose quantum physics quantum theory radical freedom rational realise religion religious responsibility scientific worldview scientists seems selfish selfish gene sense sort space-time specific spiritual structure suffering suggests supreme supreme intelligence things thought tion ultimate explanation ultimate mind understanding