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Theologians and philosophers of religion are increasingly interested in physics. From the fine-tuning of universal constants to quantum mechanics, relativity, and cosmology, physics is a surprisingly common subject where religion is involved. Bridging the gap between issues in religion and those in physics can be quite difficult, however. Fortunately, the philosophy of science provides a middle ground between the two disciplines. In this book, a philosopher of science provides a critical analysis of the ways in which physics is brought into play in matters of religion.
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The Physics of Theism The Physics of Theism God, Physics, and the Philosophy of Science Jeffrey Koperski This edition first published 2015 © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Registered Office John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK Editorial Offices 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services, and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell. The right of Jeffrey Koperski to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services and neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Koperski, Jeffrey. The physics of theism : god, physics, and the philosophy of science / Jeffrey Koperski. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-118-93281-0 (cloth) – ISBN 978-1-118-93280-3 (pbk.) 1. Physics–Religious aspects. 2. Theism. 3. Religion and science. 4. Science–Philosophy. I. Title. BL265.P4K67 2015 211′.3–dc23 2014025620 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Cover image: © Brett Charlton / iStockphoto Set in 10.5/13pt Minion by SPi Publisher Services, Pondicherry, India 1 2015 To my family, Marie, Andrew, Marcus, and Christopher without whom this book would have been completed twelve months sooner. Not a bad tradeoff. Contents Introduction 1 I.1 Maps 1 I.2 Cosmology: Singularity and Creation 2 I.3 Overview 5 1 Science and Religion: Some Preliminaries 1.1 Conventional Wisdom 1.2 History 1.3 The Structure of Scie