Logo

 

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


Cosmic Chemistry - Do God and science mix? By John C. Lennox


Presents a comprehensive guide to the historic debates around the co-existence of scientific investigation and the existence of God - and will hopefully regenerate your faith

 
 

Cosmic ChemistryCosmic Chemistry - Do God and science mix?
By John C. Lennox
Lion Books
ISBN 978 0 7459 8140 6 
Reviewed by Martin M’Caw 

 
 
John Lennox is Emeritus Professor of Maths at Oxford University and Emeritus Fellow in Maths and the Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College, which is a graduate community at the heart of the University of Oxford. This college brings together students, academics and practitioners with a particular focus on business and management, health and medicine, and social sciences.
 
Cosmic Chemistry is a book that exercises the brain especially, if like me, you were a duffer at science in school. When I was chaplain to Mold Squadron of the RAF cadets, a very bright cadet told me just after a padre’s session that science has disproved the existence of God.  Not to be outdone I replied that wasn’t the case because God had invented science. Cosmic Chemistry presents a most comprehensive guide to the historic debates around the co-existence of scientific investigation and the existence of God, with 20 pages of reference at the end.
 
The book begins with an historical survey of the debate and reflects the limits of science in the allegory of Matilda’s cake. She has baked a beautiful cake which is taken to a group of the world’s top scientists for analysis. The nutrition scientists explore the calories, the biochemists concentrate on the structure of the proteins. The chemists investigate the elements involved. The physicists concentrate on the fundamental particles, and the mathematicians offer a set of elegant equations to describe the behaviour of the particles.  

The scientists give detailed analyses of how the cake was made and how the constituent elements relate to each other.  What they cannot tell is  who made the cake and why.
 
John Lennox carefully considers the balance between science and Christian faith. Section 6 is key, under the heading of ‘Science and Explanation’ where he examines Theism and its relationship to Science, God of Gaps, Complexity of God and Miracles.’

The climax of his review of science and Christian faith is comprehensively set out in the ‘Epilogue: Beyond Science but not beyond Reason.’ Given the twin considerations of ‘How’ and ‘Why’ he states ‘Since no explanation that does not involve a mind seems to work, it is surely perfectly rational to accept an explanation that does.’ He adds that the notion of science and God form ‘a rational conjunctive explanation, the notion that they are alternative conflicting explanations stems from failure to distinguish between different kinds of explanation – mechanism and agency.’  We’re back to Aunt Matilda’s cake.

You don’t have to be a scientist or a theologian, an atheist or a Christian to benefit from reading Cosmic Chemistry.  It may take time to work through it. It may challenge your perspective on the universe and God, but your mind will have been invigorated and hopefully, faith regenerated. It’s worth every penny.
 

The Revd Dr Martin M’Caw (Retired Baptist Minister and Wing Chaplain No2 Welsh Wing RAF Cadets) 


 

Baptist Times, 11/02/2022
    Post     Tweet
How Real is Hell? by Steve Barber
'Covers a lot of ground in a mere 80 pages. Barber considers the evidence for and against the three principle views of hell - a concise primer on this difficult and complex doctrine'
Unmaking Mary, by Chine McDonald
'Fascinating book' which deconstructs the myth of perfect motherhood and shines a light on the dark side of parenting
The Church, the Far Right and the Claim to Christianity, edited by Helen Paynter and Maria Power
Timely book which charts how rhetoric may be cynically employed by those whose allegiance and values are quite contrary to Christian ones - 'By their fruit you will know them.’
Forming Communities of Hope in the Great Unraveling, by Alan J. Roxburgh and Roy Searle
'Full of wisdom and discernment - it argues we cannot make the church work by following the current narrative of control and strategies; we need to reorient our attention, changing from the drive to fix things in order to stop, be still and listen'
Reclaiming Quiet, by Sarah Clarkson
Focuses on a deep inner quiet in which, if we cultivate it carefully, we might be more likely to catch the whisper of God - well written and challenging
The Art of Preaching Old Testament Poetry, by Steven D Mathewson
'After 55 years of ministry I found this book a great help, and the sample sermons are an encouragement to develop our own preaching from Old Testament poetry'
    Posted: 18/07/2025
    Posted: 21/03/2025
    Posted: 04/10/2024
     
    Text Size:  
    Small (Default)
    Medium
    Large
    Contrast:  
    Normal
    High Contrast