E-Book Overview
Are there parallels between the "moment of insight" in science and the emergence of the "unknowable" in religious faith? Where does scientific insight come from? Award-winning biologist Robert Pollack argues that an alliance between religious faith and science is not necessarily an argument in favor of irrationality: the two can inform each other's visions of the world. Pollack begins by reflecting on the large questions of meaning and purpose—and the difficulty of finding either in the orderly world described by the data of science. He considers the obligation to find meaning and purpose despite natural selection's claim to be a complete explanation of our presence as a species—a claim that calls upon neither natural intention, nor design, nor Designer. Next, the book focuses on matters of free will, from the choice of a scientist to accept evidence, to the choice of a religious person to accept a revelation, to a patient's loss of free will in medical treatment. Here Pollack addresses questions of ethics and offers a provocative comparison of two difficult texts whose contents remain incompletely understood: the DNA "text" of the human genome and the Hebrew record of Jewish written and oral law. In closing, Pollack considers the promise of genetic medicine in enabling us to glimpse our own future and offers a reconsideration of the possible utility of the so-called placebo effect in curing illness. Whether refuting a DNA-based biological model of Judaism or discussing the Darwinian concept of the species, Pollack, under the banner of free inquiry, presents a genuine, vital, and well-argued assay of the intersection of science and religion.
E-Book Content
—Biologist “Pollack’s short book is a thoughtful addition to current efforts to integrate the messages of objective science and subjective spirituality.” —Network “Pollack’s insights are original and often engagingly personal, conveying the authentic flavor of his passionate engagements with both biology and his Jewish faith.” —Booklist “Pollack writes gracefully, and is able to make science—in particular, molecular biology— accessible to the layman.” —The Jewish Week —Publishers Weekly Columbia Series in Science AND Religion Robert Pollack is professor of biological sciences at Columbia University. ISBN#: 978-0-231-11507-0 ISBN: 978-0-231-13435-4 9 780231 134354 Printed in the U.S.A. Cover design: Teresa Bonner Columbia Columbia University Press New York cup.columbia.edu The Faith of Biology & the Biology of Faith “A thought-provoking and refreshingly good read.” “Pollack lucidly explores the interface between science and religion, and thoughtfully discusses the bioethical issues that loom large as the twentyfirst century begins. Drawing on his own faith and his work in molecular biology, he highlights striking parallels between the seemingly disparate practices of science and Torah study.” POLLACK Award-winning biologist Robert Pollack argues that faith and science can inform each other’s visions of the world. He begins by reflecting on questions of meaning and purpose—and the difficulty of finding either in the orderly world described by the data of science. He then focuses on matters of free will: from the choice of a scientist to accept evidence, to the choice of a religious person to accept a revelation, to a patient’s loss of free will in medical treatment. Pollack concludes with a reconsideration of genetic medicine and the utility of the so-called placebo effect in curing illness. theeht faithhtiaf offo biologyygoloib & ehtthe ygoloibbiology foof htiaffaith robert pollack The Faith of Biology & the Biology of Faith The Columbia Series in Science and Religion Columbia University Press Publisher