Templeton Foundation Press Newsletter
Science and Religion v Spirituality and Health v Character Development v Business and Spirituality
We are currently featuring John C. Polkinghorne’s renowned trilogy on the compatibility of religion and science. These books have been widely acclaimed both individually and as a series. They are a must read for anyone interested in the science and religion dialogue.
One World: The Interaction of Science and Theology, originally published in 1986, introduces issues in science and religion that Dr. Polkinghorne subsequently continued in Science and Providence and Science and Creation.
A new preface has been written for One World by Polkinghorne that assesses his original writing of this book. He points to themes that have remained important to his thinking and topics that have been expanded and modified through recent scientific discoveries. In fact, he contends, in today’s postmodern culture “the issue of what we can know and how we can gain knowledge is one of even greater criticality than it was in 1986.”
In Science and Creation: The Search for Understanding fundamental questions about how scientific and theological worldviews relate to each other are addressed. Polkinghorne illustrates how a scientifically minded person approaches the task of theological inquiry, postulating that there exists a close analogy between theory and experiment in science and belief and understanding in theology. He offers a fresh perspective on such questions as: Are we witnessing today a revival of natural theology—the search for God through the exercise of reason and the study of nature? How do the insights of modern physics into the interlacing of order and disorder relate to the Christian doctrine of Creation? What is the relationship between mind and matter?
Science and
A modern understanding of the physical world is applied to questions of prayer and providence, such as: Do miracles happen? Can prayer change anything? Why does evil exist? Why does God allow suffering? God’s involvement in time is considered, from both a temporal and an eternal perspective. The roles of Incarnation and sacrament are discussed in terms of whether they have a credible place in today’s worldview. And the final anthropic principle (FAP) is presented, with its attempt at a physical eschatology, showing it to be an inadequate basis for hope. Real hope can reside only with God, Polkinghorne concludes.
Purchase the entire trilogy for the special combined price of $30. Offer valid through May 31, 2007.
To order: http://www.templetonpress.org/specialoffers.asp
Unexpected Grace: Stories of Faith, Science, and Altruism is a newly released book that explores the human side of scientific research. Author Bill Kramer goes behind the scenes of four scientific investigations on diverse aspects of the study of unlimited love and eloquently shares the personal stories behind the research.
First is the heartrending and inspiring story of Courtney
Cowart who was a part of a group of theologians that met at
The third study, from
Each story candidly unveils the transformations the researchers and their subjects experienced in the course of their work. This unique behind-the-scenes view of the research process is a powerful testament both to those who do the research and those who participate in the studies.
Bill Kramer is a freelance writer who has written for magazines, nonprofits, corporations, theater, and film. Several of his plays have been produced, and two of his screenplays have won independent film festival awards. For nearly thirty years, he has remained deeply interested in the way individuals attempt to integrate spiritual beliefs with the challenging circumstances of real world social agendas.
Please visit our Web site at www.templetonpress.org, and click on the “Look Inside” feature to view a full table of contents for this book.
Purchase a copy of Unexpected Grace for $22.95 and receive a free copy of Unlimited Love. Offer valid through June30, 2007.
To order: http://www.templetonpress.org/specialoffers.asp
Cosmic Impressions: Traces of God in the Laws of Nature is the first English translation of Kosmische Impressionen, first published in German in 2004. In this book, internationally renowned scientist Dr. Walter Thirring begins his study with a look at which main ideas of the Bible are substantiated by modern knowledge. He writes about such topics as the role of probability and chance in chaos theory, how chemical elements were created, the birth of stars, theories about the solar system, and life sciences.
Thirring’s goal is to make complex issues accessible to general readers with an interest in science. He interweaves scientific data with stories about advances that include the formulating of the Thirring model in quantum field theory (QFT). His recollections encompass conversations and interactions with many famous colleagues, providing priceless vignettes of Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrödinger, and Wolfgang Pauli, among others.
To Thirring, reflections on the creation of the universe inevitably lead to reflections about the Creator. He argues that science and religion must co-exist, rather than be seen as separate, conflicting areas. His perspectives on cosmology, the structure of matter, and the interplay among the laws of nature are illuminating. Thirring’s experiences with other great scientists of the twentieth century are engaging and enlightening and his tenure and influence in the scientific field make his arguments for the synthesis of science and religion compelling.
Walter Thirring is a distinguished mathematical physicist and inventor of the soluble model of
a quantum field that bears his name. He received his Ph.D. from the
Please visit our Web site at www.templetonpress.org, and click on the Look Inside feature to view a full table of contents for this books.
Templeton Foundation Press is pleased to announce the launch of the Templeton Publishing Subsidy Program, which offers publishers the opportunity to apply for grants from $5,000–$15,000 to assist with the publication of books that contribute to the science-religion dialogue. The program is funded by the John Templeton Foundation in accordance with its mission to further the spread of spiritual information worldwide.
“Publishers often hesitate to publish an excellent manuscript because of financial projections that indicate a likely loss of revenue,” notes Joanna Hill, executive director and publisher of Templeton Foundation Press. “This program provides subsidies to make the publication and marketing of these books feasible.”
Applications may be made for:
Financial Assistance Subsidy: Publishers request a grant that will be applied to the actual publication costs of a book that might otherwise be unprofitable; or a grant that enhances the value of a publication, like a DVD, a color-plate section, or supplemental marketing.
Translation Subsidy: Publishers apply for a grant that underwrites all or part of the translation costs.
For more information, visit www.templetonpublishingsubsidy.org
The Science and Religion Bookstore content continues to grow. Newly added to the site are such books as The Handbook of Forgiveness by Everett L. Worthington Jr., Incarnation by Alister E. McGrath, and Taking Philanthropy Seriously by Bill Damon and Susan Verducci.
For a comprehensive listing of books published in the fields of science and religion, visit the online Science and Religion Bookstore. Here you will find more than 1,000 books published by more than 300 publishers. While you are there, you will be able to access the online Research Library.
All books featured on the Science and Religion Bookstore are offered at a 20 percent discount. Visit today at: http://www.scienceandreligionbooks.org/
Cosmic Impressions
Traces of God in the Laws of Nature
Walter Thirring
“At turns brilliant, difficult, enthusiastic and quirky, the text breathes with Thirring's passion for solving scientific and mathematical puzzles.”
April 9, 2007
When Sickness Heals
The Place of
Religious Belief in Healthcare
Siroj Sorajjakool
“[T]his book provides indispensable insight into the religious transition and spiritual journey the patients must navigate.”
—American Medical Student Association
March 13, 2007
Christianity and Process Thought
Spirituality for a Changing World
Joseph A. Bracken, S.J.
“[A]ppeals to both the interested layman and the specialist. For the priest or minister it can be a great source of topics for sermons. I highly recommend it. ”
G. K. Chesterton
Thinking Backward, Looking Forward
Stephen R. L. Clark
“
“This is not a
fluffy book;
—Catholic Library World
March 2007
Passionaries
Turning
Compassion into Action
Barbara R. Metzler
“General-interest public library collections with readers interested in social issues will find Passionaries inspirational.”
—
December 2006
Full reviews may be found on our Web site at www.templetonpress.org.
The current best sellers for Templeton Foundation Press are listed below. The statistics are an accumulation of both domestic and foreign sales and are updated monthly.
1. Passionaries
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=91
2. Hand of God, The
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=1
3. Noble Purpose
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=61
4. Something There
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=98
5. Street Saints
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=71
6. One World
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=101
7. Science
and
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=83
8. Spirituality in Patient Care
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=47
9. Inside the Mind of God
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=49
10. God for the 21st Century
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=8
1. Power of Forgiving
http://www.templetonpress.org/audio_books.asp
2. The Healing Connection
http://www.templetonpress.org/audio_books.asp
3. Templeton Plan
http://www.templetonpress.org/audio_books.asp
4. Thrift and Generosity
http://www.templetonpress.org/audio_books.asp
1. Unlimited Love
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=58
2. Spirituality in Patient Care
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=47
3. Research on Altruism and Love
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=59
4. Dimensions of Forgiveness
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=38
5. Words of Gratitude
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=17
Templeton Foundation Press is pleased to provide an examination copy of textbooks to qualifying professors. Copies are limited to one copy per title per professor, for possible textbook use only.
For more information or to download the request form, please visit http://www.templetonpress.org/textbookexamination.asp
Books from Templeton Foundation Press are available at better bookstores and through our Web site at www.templetonpress.org. You may also order by calling our distribution center at 800-621-2736. Orders placed through our Web site receive a 20 percent discount.
Templeton Foundation Press
West
Email: tfp@templetonpress.org
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