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Addressing fundamental questions about life, death and the universe, Science and the Spiritual Questexamines the ways in which scientists negotiate the complex frontiers between their scientific and religious beliefs. Distinguished cosmologists, physicians, biologists and computer scientists of different faiths explore the connections between the domain of science and the realms of ethics, spirituality and the divine. Through essays and frank interviews, they offer honest, stimulating, and often intensely personal thoughts about life's most impenetrable mysteries. This unique volume presents radical new approaches to the religion/science debate and highlights the continued importance of the 'spiritual quest' in a world transformed by the developments of science.
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Science and the Spiritual Quest Addressing fundamental questions about life, death and the universe, Science and the Spiritual Quest examines the ways in which scientists negotiate the complex frontiers between their scientific and religious beliefs. Distinguished cosmologists, physicists, biologists and computer scientists of different faiths explore the connection between the domain of science and the realms of ethics, spirituality and the divine. Through essays and frank interviews, they offer honest, stimulating, and often intensely personal thoughts about life’s most impenetrable mysteries. This unique volume presents radical new approaches to the religion/science debate and highlights the continued importance of the “spiritual quest” in a world transformed by the developments of science. W. Mark Richardson is Professor of Theology at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. Robert John Russell is the founder and director of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, and Professor of Theology and Science in Residence at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. Philip Clayton is Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at California State University (Sonoma). Kirk Wegter-McNelly is a doctoral candidate at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. Science and the Spiritual Quest New essays by leading scientists Edited by W. Mark Richardson, Robert John Russell, Philip Clayton and Kirk Wegter-McNelly London and New York First published 2002 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004. © 2002 W. Mark Richardson, Robert John Russell, Philip Clayton and Kirk Wegter-McNelly All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data A catalog record for this book has been requested ISBN 0-203-39814-9 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-39957-9 (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0–415–25766–2 (hbk) ISBN 0–415–25767–0 (pbk) Contents Preface ix Introduction 1 W. M A R K R I C H A R D S O N 1 Jocelyn Bell Burnell Interview by Philip Clayton 17 Essay: Science, spirituality and religion – an exploration of bridges and gaps 21 17 2 Kenneth S. Kendler Interview by Gordy Slack 28 Essay: Must not the judge of all the earth do justice? God’s nature and the existence of genetic diseases in man 32 28 3 Kevin Kelly Interview by Gordy Slack 42 Essay: Theology for nerds