Provides background to the 'science and religion' debate, and focuses on themes where discussion of the relation between science and religion has been concentrated. This book deals with the: history of the interrelation of science and religion; the implications of work in cosmology; and 'conceptual issues' underlying, or implied, in the debates.

Does science pose a challenge to religion and religious belief? This question has been a matter of long-standing debate - and it continues to concern not only scholars in philosophy, theology, and the sciences, but also those involved in public educational policy. This volume provides background to the current 'science and religion' debate, yet focuses as well on themes where recent discussion of the relation between science and religion has been particularly concentrated.The first theme deals with the history of the interrelation of science and religion. The second and third themes deal with the implications of recent work in cosmology, biology and so-called intelligent design for religion and religious belief. The fourth theme is concerned with 'conceptual issues' underlying, or implied, in the current debates, such as: Are scientific naturalism and religion compatible? Are science and religion bodies of knowledge or practices or both? And, do religion and science offer conflicting truth claims?By illuminating contemporary discussion in the science-religion debate and by outlining the options available in describing the relation between the two, this volume will be of interest to scholars and to members of the educated public alike.

Introduction: rethinking relations between religion and science, William Sweet. Part 1 History and Contexts in Biology and Evolutionary Theory: The scientists' declaration revisited: youth, religion and science in mid-Victorian Britain, Hannah Gay
Theological insights from Charles Darwin, Denis O. Lamoureux
A model of interaction between science and theology based on the scientific papers of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Lodovico Galleni and Marie Claire Groessens van Dyke
Biology and a theory of evolution, Arthur Peacocke. Part 2 Physics, Philosophy, and Fine Tuning: Creation, Metaphysics, and cosmology, Lawrence Dewan
Cosmological theories and the question of the existence of a creator, John L. Bell
Whitehead, God, and relativity, Richard Feist
Design inferences, fine-tuning, and the prior probability of divine intelligent agency, Kenneth Einar Himma. Part 3 Naturalism and the Non-Natural: On scientific explanations of mystical experience of God, Jerome Gellman
The human genome revolution, society, and religion, Job Kozhamthadam
Partner of the sciences or object of study? Theology and religion in relation to the natural and social sciences, Willem B. Drees
Beyond naturalism: scientific creativity and theological knowledge, Paul Allen. Part 4 Conceptual Issues: Can science provide evidence for metaphysics?, Leslie Armour
Science and religious belief: some conceptual issues, William Sweet
Index.