Science and the Doctrine of Creation - by Geoffrey H Fulkerson & Joel Thomas Chopp (Paperback)

About the Book

Exploring the theological reception of developments of modern science, this collection of studies from the Henry Center's Creation Project examines how influential modern theologians--from the turn of the nineteenth century through the present--have engaged the scientific developments of their times in light of the doctrine of creation.

Book Synopsis

Can Christians take seriously the claims of modern science without compromising their theological integrity? Can theology contribute to our understanding of the natural world without reducing the doctrine of creation to a few flashpoint issues? While there is no shortage of works that treat the intersection between science and religion, little attention has been paid to the theological reception of developments of modern science. Yet a deeper look at the history of Christian thought offers a wealth of insight from theological giants for navigating this complex terrain.

Science and the Doctrine of Creation examines how influential modern theologians--from the turn of the nineteenth century through the present--have engaged the scientific developments of their times in light of the doctrine of creation. In each chapter a leading Christian thinker introduces readers to the unique contributions of a key theologian in responding to the assumptions, claims, and methods of science. Chapters include

• Kevin J. Vanhoozer on T. F. Torrance
• Katherine Sonderegger on Karl Barth
• Craig G. Bartholomew on Abraham Kuyper
• Christoph Schwöbel on Wolfhart Pannenberg

Edited by Geoffrey Fulkerson and Joel Chopp of the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding, this book grows out of the Henry Center's Creation Project, which promotes biblically faithful and scientifically engaged dialogue around the doctrine of creation. From Warfield's critical appraisal of Darwinian evolution to Pannenberg's pneumatological reflections on field theory, these studies explore how Christians can think more carefully about the issues at stake using the theological resources of their traditions.

Review Quotes

"Science and the Doctrine of Creation presents ten of the most influential nineteenth- and twentieth-century theologians writing on dialogue with the sciences, analyzed by ten leading contemporary scholars in the field. With this new book, Geoffrey Fulkerson and Joel Chopp confirm the leading position of the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding as a forum for informed scholarly debate, bringing theology and science into fruitful interaction."

"For too long Christians have weaponized the seeming conflict (or harmony) between science and theology. Good historians urge us instead to pay attention to the actual practice of particular theologians and scientists: 'Don't generalize in the abstract; look and see!' they say. Science and the Doctrine of Creation is a wonderful example of this salutary approach, drawing on theological luminaries like Barth, Torrance, and Pannenberg as guides into the rich meaning of creation. These learned essays remind us that the dogmatic issues surrounding God's creation extend far beyond the customary debates over origins. Readers will naturally gravitate to some chapters over others, but the ten chapters taken together offer a banquet of stimulating analysis for famished readers. What a welcome addition to the science and theology dialogue!"

About the Author

Joel Thomas Chopp (PhD candidate, University of Toronto) is project and communications manager for the Henry Center's Creation Project. He also serves as associate editor of Sapientia.

Geoffrey H. Fulkerson (PhD, TEDS) is director of the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is founder and editor-in-chief of HCTU's periodical, Sapientia.