Biology Religion and Philosophy

The intersection of biology and religion has spawned exciting new areas of academic research that raise issues central to understanding our own humanity and the living world. In this comprehensive and accessible survey Michael L. Peterson and Dennis R. Venema explain the engagement between biology and religion on issues related to origins evolution design suffering and evil progress and purpose love humanity morality ecology and the nature of religion itself. Does life have a chemical origin - or must there be a divine spark? How can religious claims about divine goodness be reconciled with widespread predation suffering and death in the animal kingdom? Peterson and Venema develop a philosophical discussion around such controversial questions. The book situates each topic in its historical scientific and theological context making it the perfect introduction for upper-level undergraduates graduate students scholars and the interested general reader.