Religion And The Physical Sciences (greenwood Guides To Science And Religion)

Religion and the Physical Sciences Recent Titles in Greenwood Guides to Science and Religion Science and Religion, 1450–1900: From Copernicus to Darwin Richard G. Olson Science and Religion, 400 B.C. to A.D. 1550: From Aristotle to Copernicus Edward Grant Science and Nonbelief Taner Edis Judaism and Science: A Historical Introduction Noah J. Efron Science and Islam Muzaffar Iqbal Science and Asian Spiritual Traditions Geoffrey Redmond Liberal Protestantism and Science Leslie A. Muray Evangelicals and Science Michael Roberts Catholicism and Science Peter M. J. Hess and Paul Allen Religion and the Physical Sciences Kate Grayson Boisvert Greenwood Guides to Science and Religion Richard Olson, Series Editor Greenwood Press Westport, Connecticut r London Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Boisvert, Kate Grayson, 1943– Religion and the physical sciences / Kate Grayson Boisvert. p. cm. — (Greenwood guides to science and religion) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978–0–313–33284–5 (alk. paper) 1. Religion and science. I. Title. BL240.3.B65 2008 201 .65—dc22 2007048217 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. C 2008 by Kate Grayson Boisvert Copyright  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2007048217 ISBN: 978–0–313–33284–5 First published in 2008 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Every reasonable effort has been made to trace the owners of copyrighted materials in this book, but in some instances this has proven impossible. The author and publisher will be glad to receive information leading to more complete acknowledgments in subsequent printings of the book and in the meantime extend their apologies for any omissions. To the Light That will illuminate The mystery of the cosmos Contents xi Illustrations Series Foreword xiii Acknowledgments xxi Chronology of Events Chapter 1. Chapter 2. xxiii Introduction: Physical Science and Religion in the Twentieth Century 1 Scientific and Religious Thought—Early Twentieth Century 2 Scientific and Religious Thought—Mid-Twentieth Century 5 Scientific and Religious Thought—The Latter Twentieth Century 8 The Growth of the Science and Religion Dialogue in the Latter Twentieth Century 14 The Beginning of the Universe: Scientific and Religious Perspectives 29 Discovering the Beginning and Our Place in the Universe 30 Philosophical and Religious Refle