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Title: Religion and Science by Ian G. Barbour ISBN: 0-06-060938-9 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 10 September, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $20.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.25 (4 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Interesting but ...
Comment: Barbour's book is interesting and, I think, worth a careful read. The first part of the book, which focuses on the historical dialogue between science and religion, is particularly good. His treatment of modern scientific thought and some of the controversies therein is worthwhile, as well. The author emphasizes the interrelatedness of science and religion and the respective ways in which they create knowledge. It is pretty clear that Barbour writes from a liberal, pluralist Christian perspective. Most of his examples and expertise seem to focus on the Christian tradition but he does talk about Buddhism a bit. The position that is perhaps least represented is that of the conservative, Bible believer. This book is best read as a summary of various philosophies as Barbour's theology is flawed.
Rating: 1
Summary: On Dinosaurs and Liberals
Comment: I find Barbour's book deeply offensive on several counts. First and foremost is the assumption underlying his entire project that somewhow science provides a kind of massive analogy for metaphysical speculation (see page 180). It is as if one has to forget the Kant ever lived. And this isn't just a small analogy here and there that Barbour is attempting. It is supremely monolithic. His basic working premise within his larger assumption -- of science driving our knowledge of God -- is that there is some kind of "dynamic and interconected" reality in the cosmos (ibid.). Changing, but still there (remember Kant?)in some kind of "intial aim" and "coherence." Of course Barbour is hanging his hopes on the eventuality of that greatest of all the secular desiderata -- a unified field theory. And what will that look like. Kind of like Anselm's God that is even greater than that which we CANNOT conceive?
But forget Kant, he is too difficult, too old, too dead. Let's talk Pomo. This is after all "ontic-theology" writ large across the entire cosmosmology. And you thought "phallo-logocentricism" died along with the dinsosaurs? Well wake up all you Branch Derrideans, you slumbering skeptics! Here comes Barbour! With yet another remake of Whitehead-does-God. How many categories do you we need? 138 at my last counting! (Only 7 in Process and Reality -- you better keep reading!) Boys and girls, do we got boxes for you! But we can now rest assured, God is not dead. On the contrary, he has been fully cataloged, compartmentalized, duly noted, and filed away, perhaps, for further use. Barbour has managed to de-transcedentalize the transcendal signifier in ways that Caputo, Taylor and Vattim could never even of imagined.
But I am not even sure if Barbour's God was ever transcendental. "It" surely was never omnipotent (page 326). And if God is not ominpotent then what of "transcendence"? What exactly might "God" be other than just another sytematically ambiguous signifier? -- not even a "transcendental" one! (Mixing my Wittgenstein and Derrida here -- but don't worry, Barbour has apparently read neither).
This "God" of Barbour's, like all of Process theology, is a God stripped of the history of the Christian Church. It is a new God, a better God, a one-size-fits-all. This is that weird kind of old liberal theology which will not die its final death, because it is kept alive on the artificail life support of that one strain of ossified university, seminary and divinity School style of theology. Stripped of the stories of Jesus, of the martyrs, of the councils, the great debates, the wars and the saints, we have a theology with out "theos," an "ology" with no subject matter but the metaphysical speculation of an obsolete professional class.
And ethics? Is there any sense of ethical resposibiltiy or obligation in this sytstem without a heart and without a face? There is an "interrelatedness" in this "continued journey toward greater harmony and enrichment" certainly (page 326). And is that supposed to be meaningful? The furthest Barbour can drag himself towards the ethical, is too quote that other dinosaur John Hick and say that the world is "an appropriate place for moral action" (page 302). Oh boy! But "process thought goes further" says Barbour (the excitment is almost unbearable). Because process theology knows that "evoulution is a long, slow, step-by-step process." Wow! Inspired for moral action and duty yet? I would say that is about as exciting as Walter Rauschenbusch, Hebert Spencer, and the rest of the social gospelers and evolutionists of over a hundred years ago.
If your idea of God is an amoral "process" stripped of all historicity and neatly compartmentalized for any liberal view, this is the book for you. Obviously, the only requirement for you to join the club, is that you must view all conservative Christians as "literalists," "absolutists," and equivialant to "nazis" (pages 82-85). Well, that should just about take care of half of all the practicing Christians in America. No need to "dialogue" with them! Kind of makes you wonder who the book was written to in the first place? (Maybe that tiny set of liberal "process" academicians of a dinosaur-persuasion?)
Rating: 5
Summary: Religion and Science: Historical and comtemporary issues
Comment: Barbour is known for his expertise involving the connection between science and religion. As a student of science/theology this is the best treatise i've seen on this subject. It will serve very nicely as a textbook and for personal reading.It should be part of every library. It will definitely go down as a classic.
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Title: When Science Meets Religion : Enemies, Strangers, or Partners? by Ian G. Barbour ISBN: 006060381X Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 16 May, 2000 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Science & Theology: An Introduction by John C. Polkinghorne ISBN: 0800631536 Publisher: Fortress Press Pub. Date: February, 1999 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: Paths From Science Towards God by Arthur Peacocke, Peacocke ISBN: 1851682457 Publisher: Oneworld Publications Pub. Date: 01 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Theology for a Scientific Age: Being and Becoming-Natural, Divine and Human (Theology and the Sciences) by Arthur Peacocke ISBN: 0800627598 Publisher: Fortress Press Pub. Date: December, 1993 List Price(USD): $18.75 |
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Title: Nature, Human Nature, and God (Theology and the Sciences Series) by Ian G. Barbour ISBN: 0800634772 Publisher: Fortress Press Pub. Date: July, 2002 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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