And the Trees Clap Their Hands: Faith Perception and the New Physics

Ever since Newton people - including Christians - have considered matter to be strictly mechanical uninformed by any spirit and without sentience. Such a view says Virginia Owens demotes to mere metaphor all the natural imagery of Scripture that calls for creation to participate in the praise of its maker. Now however contemporary physical theory offers us an expanded view of the cosmos which suggests that it is indeed sentient and informed with knowledge. For Christians Virginia Owens argues in this book the cosmos bears witness to the Incarnation itself. Owens offers a brief history and exploration of physics interwoven with vivid and provocative perceptions of the physical world (reminiscent of the writings of Annie Dillard). The heavens really do proclaim the glory of God Owens insists. The prophets figure of trees clapping their hands is a living reality. And the Trees Clap Their Hands will appeal to all general readers who are interested in the relationship between faith and our understanding of the physical world. We can no longer be satisfied with a religious truth that fails to implicate matter - and vice versa....In the last few decades many writers not themselves scientists have interested themselves in the transition from classical to modern physics and its consequences - few of them with such well-considered documentation and none with such abiding verve and personally persuasive emphasis as Virginia Owens. - Owen Barfield Virginia Stem Owens has written over fifteen books that include three mysteries and nonfiction on a wide range of topics from media to metaphysics. Her memoir of her grandfathers last years won the Texas Institute of Letters prize for best nonfiction book in 1990. Living Next Door to the Death House written with her husband David takes readers inside the prison culture that pervades her hometown Huntsville Texas. She is on the editorial board of Books & Culture. She also served for seven years as Director of the Milton Center an institute dedicated to fostering excellence in writing by Christians.