Book Reviews
Religious Studies Review - Vol. 34, No. 1
3/1/2008
This is essential reading for academics engaged in the science and religion dialogue and a thought-provoking textbook which exemplifies Templeton’s vision "to unite inquiry into the essential nature of the universe through the scientific method with humanity’s basic spiritual and religious quest to understand human and cosmic purpose." Highly recommended.
—Barry L. Whitney, University of Windsor
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Catholic Library World - Pittsfield, MA
3/1/2007
This book, presented to Sir John Templeton on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday, offers a hundred contributions on science and religion. These essays reflect fundamental themes at the core of Templeton’s philanthropic vision; the stimulation of progress in humanity’s spiritual journey and quest. Templeton’s goal is to bring together the dynamism of the sciences and that of the spiritual quests in order to generate new spiritual information. In the spirit’s quest there is no reason why the progressive model of science should not be effective. Templeton contends that the spiritual quest should be open to new insights. The various essays in this stimulating and important collection are characterized by critical open-mindedness.
A new day is dawning in the relationship between theology/spirituality and science. Emblematic of the change is a 1998 cover of Newsweek announcing; "Science Finds God." After the rupture between theology and religion following Darwin’s writings and the uneasy truce of the past years, both science and theology have found some common ground. Both are now facing a crisis of authority. In theology, the house of authority has collapsed under the weight of historical criticism. In science, a certain relativism has challenged the objectivity of science.
Sir John Templeton has described his vision as the "humble approach." The crisis of authority both in theology and science has produced a humbling effect. Humility often leads to docility in the quest for truth. This is elaborated in a contribution by Munawar A. Anees, "Humility and the Future of Islam." According to this author, humility is at once an agent of both spiritual and cognitive progress.
The contributions in this collection are organized in sections reflecting different and creative perspectives. I found the last four sections particularly interesting: perspectives on religion and health; perspectives on contemplation and the virtues; perspectives from theology and philosophy; and perspectives from world religion. Essays in these various sections reflect a move away from dogmatic and self-assured theological vision to a more open vision based on humility. They also deflect from a scientific, materialist and mechanistic vision of the universe that is closed in on itself to a universe open to transcendence. The last few decades have brought an important new opening for science-based reflection on the nature of God.
This collection makes a very important contribution to the dialogue of science and religion. The contributions, while short, are substantial. I highly recommend this book to any reader interested in one of the most important dialogues of our day, that of religion and science. The French novelist and essayist Andre Malraux is said to have once summarized humanity’s future with the following statement: "The twenty-first century will be religious or it will not be." The Catholic theologian Karl Rahner affirmed: "In the coming age we must all become mystics or be nothing at all."
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Christian Book Reviews
12/1/2006
The John Templeton Foundation has for the last few decades supported academic studies promoting research in the fields of science, philosophy, and religion in the pursuit of examing the "big questions". In conferences, books, and related endeavors, they have gathered noted scholars in these fields to interact with a degree of mutual respect that is unfortunately difficult to attain in the current cultural climate.
In Spiritual Information, Dr. Charles L. Harper Jr., the foundation’s Executive Director, has assembled 100 papers in honor of patron Sir John Templeton’s 90th birthday. The papers are divided into eight sections supplied from varying academic and spiritual perspectives. Throughout the work, there is a definite willingness to see the insights of science, religion, and philosophy to illuminate each other and no sign of the hostility that one often sees in the popular presentation as fields locked in mortal combat.
A given readers’ initial interest in a given essay will naturally be dictated by their general interest in the topic, but I have found it to be an excellent book to read when a particular topic piques your curiosity. Thus it is perhaps not a book one would read straight through but rather different articles will be drawn upon over time.
One thing that should be made clear is that this is not a book written as an apologia for Christianity or any other religion nor an attempt to make science conform to a preconceived model based upon the first religious texts. While perspectives from all major religions (and a few minor ones) are welcome, currently accepted scientific models concerning human origins are not disputed. If a defense of young earth creationism is what you seek, look elsewhere. However, if one wants a scholarly collection of interdisciplinary articles on important flashpoints between the related disciplines, Spiritual Information is a must read.
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Spirit-Works.net
8/1/2006
"Spiritual Information" has a beautiful picture of a part of the cosmos on the cover. How apt a thought! We are mysteriously tied to the Universe. To ’All That Is’.
On the advent of Sir John Templeton’s 90th birthday he was presented with a collective of essays on the Science-Religion discussion. This collection was a tribute to his mission which was enveloped by his quote, "How little we know, how eager to learn". (Truly, the heartfelt cry of every spiritual ’seeker’.)
There are various themes throughout the book; some will enthrall, some will cause one to pause & reflect, others will niggle at one’s mind to open to ’new’ thought. It’s all good. When I started sampling through this book, one thought kept returning to mind. What a tremendous ’text’ this would be for a study group! 100 essays…100 weeks of discussion in a study group. Each one holds a unique thought which eventually would appeal to every one of us. To enter into a discussion with the open mind of gaining ’Spiritual Information’…what an experience! I hope that many of you take this to heart & initiate that study group now.
While there are many essays that gravitate to the scientific mind, there are also the tender earthy essays that speak to the ’natural’ and/or spiritual sentiment.
My Personal Favorites:
’Spiritual Information and the Sense of Wonder’ by Alister E. McGrath
’Science, Semiotics, and the Sacred’ by William Grassie
’Playing God’ by Noah J. Eforn
’Choose Your Own Universe’ by Andrei Linde
’From Now to Infinity’ by Michael Heller
’Naturalistic Spiritual Information’ by Ursula Goodenough
’Can the Body Heal the Spirit?’ by Ted Peters
’Technology and Human Dignity’ by Jonathan Sacks
But don’t let the limitations of my personal ’faves’ affect yours. Read through the book…or flip through it and see what grabs your fancy. Like I said, share the experience with a group of fellow like-minds and see what fantastic discussions come of it.
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Reidsville Review - Reidsville, NC
6/30/2006
To help people better understand themselves as spiritual beings, 100 essays from diverse fields have been collected into a volume that shows what we have learned from studying ourselves, our planet an the universe.
Critics say "Spiritual Information: 100 Perspectives on Science and Religion," edited by Charles L. Harper Jr., conveys the excitement of discovery, the challenge of debate, the diversity of thinking and the excellence of multidisciplinary research.
The essays reflect the motto of Sir John Templeton: "How little we know, how eager to learn."
Sir John’s vision has inspired people throughout the world to open-mindedly seek new spiritual information that related to such diverse fields as the physical world, unlimited love, laws of nature, quantum reality, the problem of evil in theology and the ways in which prayer and mediation affect daily lives, among many others. The book is a tribute to his mission. Themes of the essays incorporate Sir John’s principal domains of interest and expertise: spiritual capital and spiritual information.
The History and Future of the Science - Religion Dialogue
Cosmology, Physics and Astronomy
Quantum Mechanics, Mathematics, and Symbolic Logic
Evolution and Purpose
Sociology and Ethics
Religion and Health
Contemplation and the Virtues
Theology and Philosophy
World Religions
In his preface to the book, Dr. Harper notes that Sir John’s commitment to expanding the science-religion dialogue has enabled us to edge ever closer to the frontier where knowledge meets wisdom at the threshold of "ultimate reality".
The hope, he adds, is that these essays "will inspire others to pursue his quest to discover "over one hundredfold more spiritual information than humankind has ever possessed before."
You can learn more about "Spiritual Information: 100 Perspectives on Science and Religion" and the Templeton Foundation Press online at www.templetonperess.org
This review also appears in the Beacon of Columbiana, Alabama, Christian Way of Corbin, Kentucky, and Over the Hump Saver of Pahrump, Nevada
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South Dade News Leader - Homestead, FL
6/30/2006
To help people better understand themselves as spiritual beings, 100 essays from diverse fields have been collected into a volume that shows what we have learned from studying ourselves, our planet and the universe.
Critics say "Spiritual Information: 100 Perspectives on Science and Religion," edited by Charles L. Harper, Jr., conveys the excitement of discovery, the challenge of debate, the diversity of thinking and the excellence of multidisciplinary research.
The essays reflect the motto of Sir John Templeton: "How little we know, how eager to learn."
Sir John’s vision has inspired people throughout the world to open-mindedly seek new spiritual information that relates to such diverse fields as the physical world, unlimited love, laws of nature, quantum reality, the problem of evil in theology and the ways in which prayer and meditation affect daily lives, among many others. The book is a tribute to his mission.
Themes of the essays incorporate Sir John’s principal domain of interest and expertise: spiritual capital and spiritual information.
The History and Future of the Science-Religion Dialogue
Cosmology, Physics and Astronomy
Evolution and Purpose
Sociology and Ethics
Religion and Health
Contemplation and the Virtues
Theology and Philosophy
World Religions
In his preface to the book, Dr. Harper notes that Sir John’s commitment to expanding the science-religion dialogue has enabled us to edge ever closer to the frontier where knowledge meets wisdom and the threshold of "ultimate reality."
The hope, he adds, is that these essays "will inspire others to pursue his quest to discover more spiritual information."
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Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith - Ipswich, MA
12/1/2005
Sir John Marks Templeton, international financer and philanthropist, has supported scientific research in a variety of fields through the John Templeton Foundation (JTF). This collection of one hundred solicited essays was created in honor of Sir John’s ninetieth birthday in 2002 and edited by Charles (Chuck) Harper, Jr., Senior Vice President of JTF and planetary scientist. The essays reflect the exceedingly wide range of Sir John’s philanthropic and research interests and summarize research that has been conducted under JTF funding as well as research funded by others.
The professional backgrounds of the contributors span anthropology, astronomy and astrophysics, biology, economics, education, ethics, geology, history, history and philosophy of science, mathematics, medicine, philosophy, physics, political science, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, theology, and religious studies. Sixty-three of the contributors are associated with institutions or organizations in the United States, eleven from the UK, six from France, and the remaining twenty contributors are associated with institutions or organizations in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, and Switzerland. Several contributors have won prestigious awards from the scientific or social science communities and quite a few are current or former advisors to JTF. Many contributors, e.g., Robert Barro, Peter Berger, George Gallup, Martin Marty, Michael Novak, and Robert Wuthnow, are well-known social commentators and thought leaders. Others are out-standing (primarily physical) scientists whose names are associated with fundamental discoveries or theories in the sciences. Several Templeton Prize winners are among the group as well as winners of various international science awards. Consistent with Sir John’s mandate for JTF, the contributors represent a wide range of religious and theological perspectives including atheism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, panentheism, Roman Catholicism, and evangelical Christianity.
Ten sections comprise the volume dealing respectively with spiritual capital and spiritual information (two terms favored by Sir John), the history and future of science and religion dialogue, cosmology, and physics, quantum mechanics and mathematics, evolution and purpose, sociology and ethics, religion and health, contemplation and the virtues, theology and philosophy, and world religions. A typical essay is five pages long and includes a brief bibliography. Many essays admirably summarize selected key recent developments within a field and show their value to core concerns about spiritual realities (as Sir John terms them) such as unlimited love, accelerating creativity, worship, and the benefits of purpose in persons and the cosmos. ASA readers will find insightful ideas in topics of interest to them and stimulating reading in areas well beyond their own fields of expertise. The overall quality of entries is excellent and good editing has resulted in a smooth flow to most essays despite the wide range of cultures, native languages, and disciplines included in this unique volume. Charts, diagrams, tables, and other illustrative material are incorporated in selected essays when warranted by the topic or the discussion. Paragraph biographies of each contributor appear at the end of each respective essay and an alphabetical list of all contributors and their institutional affiliations appears at the end of the book. It is regretful that an index was not produced but the organization of the entries by topics makes up somewhat for this decision. This is an important addiction to a personal or institutional library on science and religion.
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Charleston Post & Courier, The - Charleston, SC
10/19/2005
"Science seeks the truth, and so too does faith." This is Sir John Templeton’s belief.
To this end, Charles L. Harper Jr., vice president of the John Templeton Foundation, edited this impressive book. "Spiritual Information" is a collection of 100 essays written in celebration of the 90th birthday of Templeton, worldwide investor and founder of the Templeton Funds.
The book is divided into 10 sections, each focusing on one area of study. The first section provides some background on the man who is the benefactor of the John Templeton Foundation and noted worldwide philanthropist. The essays center on the theme that is Templeton’s core philanthropic vision: to stimulate progress in the domain of the spirit. His aim has been to bring together the dynamism of the sciences and the diversity of the spiritual quest. In this pursuit, the book includes essays by theologians, physicists, chemists, biologists, historians, mathematicians, psychologists and sociologists, all well-known and respected in their fields.
Mark Twain and others noted years ago that as our knowledge of science increased, our faith and belief in God would decrease. This has not proven to be the case. While science cannot prove the existence of God, neither can it prove that he does not exist. As Carl Sagan suggested, "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."
Clifford Pickover, Ph.D. from Yale’s department of molecular biophysics and biochemistry, states, "Not only do many lay people believe in God, but various scientists have used evidence from physics and astronomy to conclude that God exists." He notes, however, that "the scientists’ ’God’ may not be the God of the Israelites…but rather a God that established various mathematical and physical parameters that permitted life to evolve in the universe."
Several essayists discuss the mathematical and astrophysical order of the universe, stating that it could not have occurred without a master plan, and a master to plan it.
Owen Gingerich, research professor in astronomy, states: "Looking backward is clearly essential to understanding the particulars of the biological world in which we live. History matters! It also illumines the very process by which we have come to understand the world about us. And, ultimately, it may help us to better understand God."
It has been Templeton’s goal to better understand God, as well as the sciences and show how they do not conflict, but work together throughout the universe.
The 10 sections address various perspectives: Spiritual Capital and Spiritual Information; the History and Future of the Science-Religion Dialog; Cosmology, Physics, and Astronomy; Quantum Mechanics, Mathematics, and Symbolic Logic; Evolution and Purpose; Sociology and Ethics; Religion and Health; Contemplation and the Virtues; Theology and Philosophy; and World Religions.
The authors are renowned experts and are active researchers and practitioners throughout the world. Many of the scientists acknowledge their faith in God. Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of Britain and the Commonwealth since 1991, says, "Science tell us what is. Technology tell us what could be. But the great faith tell us what should be."
Peter Berger, professor emeritus at Boston University and sociologist, tells us that "many natural scientists - especially physicists, astronomers, and biologists - have testified to an increasing sense of wonder and awe resulting from their work and have consequently become very open to religious interpretations of the world. A lively dialogue now exists between natural scientists and theologians."
The vast knowledge presented in this book requires serious reading time. As many of the essays are highly technical, access to resources for information is recommended. One need not read the entire book to enjoy many of the essays and thought-provoking ideas. One may also find the information useful for "spirited" discussions.
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Market Wire – Marina Del Rey, CA
9/1/2005
As a tribute to Sir John, his vision, his inspiration, and his philanthropic support of the science-religion dialogue, one hundred essays have been collected into a volume that illustrates the excitement of discovery, the challenge of debate, the diversity of thinking, and the excellence of multidisciplinary research: Individually and together, the essays show how the study of ourselves, our planet, and the universe help us understand our place as spiritual beings within God’s universe.
The book begins with essays that reflect on Sir John’s principal domains of interest and expertise: spiritual capital and spiritual information.
Themes of the sections that follow are: The History and Future of the Science-Religion Dialogue Cosmology, Physics, and Astronomy Quantum Mechanics, Mathematics, and Symbolic Logic Evolution and Purpose Sociology and Ethics Religion and Health Contemplation and the Virtues Theology and Philosophy World Religions Sir John’s leadership has enabled us to edge ever-closer to the frontier where knowledge meets wisdom at the threshold of “ultimate reality,” Charles Harper says. In his Preface to Spiritual Information,” he adds: “Our hope in presenting this one-hundredfold tribute to Sir John is that it will inspire others to pursue his quest to discover ‘over one hundredfold more spiritual information than humankind has ever possessed before.”
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