Science and Faith in Harmony?

 


A while ago I read and reviewed Sy Garte's The Works of His Hands: https://www.amazon.com/Works-His-Hands-Scientists-Journey/dp/0825446074/ I loved it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3155866467

Faith and science are both a big deal to me of course. Growing up Catholic in England, I was barely aware of any suggestion that they might not be in perfect harmony with each other. After all, weren't the first Western scientists Christians, believing the world consistent enough to be worth investigating because the God they believed in was consistent? Then I came to the US. Suddenly friends in church were asking how anyone could be Christian if they "believed in" evolution. What's to believe in? It's the world God made, revealed in the science that studies what God made. Luckily I was able (I know not how) to convince them that I am a Christian. Meanwhile I also have to convince scientist friends that I'm a scientist - math degree from Cambridge University England, post-grad studies in mathematical astronomy... it helps.

As a result, I have a growing collection of faith and science books (including my beloved Five-Minute Bible Story series - http://sheiladeeth.weebly.com/bible-stories.html - which I really must continue writing!). But Sy Garte's book stands out - eminently readable, emotionally as well as academically convincing, endlessly fascinating...

And now he has another book coming soon. I've pre-ordered it (something I rarely do), and I'm eager to read Science and Faith in Harmony: https://www.amazon.com/Science-Faith-Harmony-Contemplations-Distilled/dp/0825448158/ I know I shall love this one too.

Meanwhile, I think I need to get myself a copy of another Sy Garte book, Coming to Faith Through Dawkins: https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Faith-Through-Dawkins-Christianity/dp/0825448220/. I LOVE Dawkins' books, except for the anti-faith bits, which sound so similar to the anti-science rants I met when I came to the states. I love how he makes science accessibly, how he uses story as well as facts, and how wonderfully he conveys his love for the subject. But, yeah, I don't love how he suddenly drops all pretense of scientific argument when he attacks faith.

I have lots of Dawkins' books on that same bookshelf, together with faith books, faith plus science books, faith minus science books... I like books.

And I like harmony.

Science and Faith in harmony should be just the book for me!


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