Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Inventing the Universe by Alister McGrath 

Why we can't stop talking about science, faith and God

Inventing the universeInventing the Universe
By Alister McGrath
Hodder and Stoughton
ISBN 978 1 444 79845 6
Reviewed by John Biggs

Yet another book on the tensions between science and faith? Early in Inventing the Universe McGrath quotes the Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega: “Scientific truth is characterised by its precision and the certainty of its predictions. But science achieves these admirable qualities at the cost of remaining on the level of secondary concerns, leaving ultimate and decisive questions untouched."
 
McGrath believes an attitude that sets science and faith in conflict with each other is now dated. Rather, if we are to do justice to the complexity of the world, we need a richer and deeper level of discussion to do justice to its reality.

He uses his own journey from atheism to Christian faith as a framework: this is a personal testimony of what happens when science and faith are allowed to critique and enrich each other. 

If the reader finds some of the argument a little difficult to follow – though throughout it has to be said this is a text beautifully and clearly written – then take a tip from those who cheat by reading a detective story’s last chapter first; here the first half of the last chapter makes clear the objective in view. Our universe is just too rich to be exhaustively described by one tradition of investigation or one angle of approach.
 
McGrath is unsympathetic to any dogmatic views that “have no place for the tentativeness, open-mindedness and, above all, the intellectual humility which (are) the characteristic of both science and religion at their best”.  It follows that the likes of Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins and other “new atheists” are treated to unremitting criticism. 

McGrath joins with Mary Midgeley, who is much quoted in this book, who pointedly asks “How could anyone know the universe is meaningless? How would they show that it has no purpose?”
 
The metaphors used are wide. No single way of thinking is adequate to explain, on its own, the meaning of our universe, a number of different conceptual tool-boxes have to be used together, a rich palette of colours is needed to “interweave the narratives” so as to represent and enjoy it.
 
There is a useful chapter on Darwin and Evolution and the implications for faith.  McGrath’s reading is staggeringly wide in science, philosophy and religion. He has done the hard work for us, and the result is both informative and stimulating.


John Biggs is a former President of the Baptist Union


 
Baptist Times, 03/06/2016
    Post     Tweet
Mindful Formation by Shaun Lambert
'Blends academic, practical, and devotional content seamlessly - a modern spiritual classic'
Slow Wisdom by Ruth Moriarty
'If taken on board, it should see the church meeting becoming more of what it should be: a dynamic, prayerful, joyful space of listening to God as we listen to one another'
What’s Up, by Joanna Adeyinka-Burford
Recommended devotional book for Key Stage 2 children who have some knowledge of Christianity, created by someone with a strong understanding of the world of the child
Mind Fuel for Young Explorers, by Bear Grylls and Will Van Der Hart
'A brilliant tool to aid our young people as they navigate our changing modern world, non-preachy yet shot through with Christian wisdom'
The Martyr and the Red Kimono by Naoko Abe
'I am personally very grateful to Noako Abe for this outstanding piece of work... Through her assiduous research she has retrieved the whole of Maximilian Kolbe’s life story'
Unforgiveable? by Stephen Cherry
'Explores forgiving and forgivability in the aftermath of serious, traumatic and life-changing harm. An important book, which deserves serious study'
    Posted: 04/10/2024
    Posted: 01/03/2024