101 Great Big Questions about God and Science by Lizzie Henderson and Steph Bryant

Excellent book for children with questions about the universe and what it means to be human, and interesting for adults too

101 Great Big Questions about God and Science
By Lizzie Henderson and Steph Bryant (Eds)
Lion Hudson
ISBN: 978-0-7459-7836 9
Reviewed by Jeannie Kendall

This is a really fascinating book. The editors, who are Youth and Schools Programme Co-Directors at the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge, have collected 101 questions, as the title suggests, all of which have been asked by children. They have then brought together experts across a wide range of fields, scientific and theological, to answer them from both perspectives.

Details of the contributors are listed in the back which makes for interesting reading in itself, and there is also a helpful glossary and index. The questions are divided into eight chapters, varying from those about the universe, to life on earth, what God is like, and science and religious faith.

I’m not sure what age group, if any in particular, the book is aimed at, so asked my 12-year-old, super-smart granddaughter to take a look. She said it was really interesting (she started with ‘Could humans ever become mermaids’ and ended with the questions about black holes!) She thought it was excellent in format too, clearly laid out and with questions which really engaged her.

She also commented that because of the clear and accessible ways the questions were answered, she could also use it to help her seven-year-old brother who has additional needs with his questions. So, a great endorsement from the target audience!

I think it is a really excellent book for children with questions about the universe and what it means to be human, and as an adult I found it really interesting too. Highly recommended.

Jeannie Kendall is a recently retired Baptist minister, a current tutor on the Pastoral Supervision course at Spurgeon’s College, and the author of Finding Our Voice and Held in Your Bottle

Baptist Times, 10/06/2022

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