Test of Faith: Spiritual Journeys with Scientists

Is God a delusion? Are science and Christian faith incompatible? Ten scientists tell their stories. There is a popular myth at large in both modern society and in many churches. According to this myth science and Christianity have been engaged in a long battle over the centuries. For many secularists this means that we must embrace science and reject religion whilst for some Christians it means the exact opposite. But are science and Christian faith really in conflict? In this book ten respected scientists share their life stories and their reflections on science and faith. What led them to become scientists? Why did they embrace Christianity? And how do they relate their religious beliefs to the science that they do in the lab? The stories that they tell help us to see that when it comes to answering some of lifes big questions we do well to listen for the insights from both science and faith. Samples and DVD trailer at www.testofaith.com Contributors Dr Francis Collins Former Director Human Genome Project Revd Dr Alasdair Coles Cambridge University and St Andrews Church Cambridge Dr Jennifer Wiseman Astrophysicist NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Prof. John Bryant Professor Emeritus of Cell and Molecular Biology Exeter University Prof. Bill Newsome Professor of Neurobiology Stanford University School of Medicine Prof. Rosalind Picard Professor of Media Arts & Sciences MIT Dr Ard Louis The Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics Oxford University Revd Dr John Polkinghorne Former President of Queens College Cambridge Dr Deborah B. Haarsma Associate Professor in Physics & Astronomy Calvin College Prof. Alister McGrath Professor of Historical Theology Harris Manchester College Oxford Dr Ruth Bancewicz The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion St Edmunds College Cambridge The level of human insight matching scientific expertise in these chapters is high and they have left me feeling that here are folk with whom as a mere theologian I would love to spend some time. I hope other readers will enjoy this set of testimonies as much as I have done. Professor J. I. Packer Regent College Vancouver Canada Test of Faith provides a rare and valuable glimpse into the lives and thought of Christians who are also cutting-edge scientists and explodes the myth that science and faith need be enemies. Professor Jeff Hardin Chair Department of Zoology University of Wisconsin-Madison This fascinating volume of essays by prominent scientists who are Christians deserves wide circulation. Here are scientists trying to think clearly humbly and wisely about the Christian faith. Intuitively one feels that prolonged discussion with these essayists would be a great pleasure whether or not one always reached consensus. Any thoughtful Christian will delight in the way the grace of God reaches men and women in the scientific disciplines as in all other domains. Professor D. A. Carson Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Illinois Just the book to give to anyone who thinks science disproves religion. Powerful testimonies from ten distinguished scientists reveal why their faith in God enhances their research. A very worthwhile read! Professor Gordon Wenham Trinity College Bristol UK Dr Ruth Bancewicz is a research associate at the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion St. Edmunds College Cambridge (UK) where she is Project Leader of Test of Faith.