The God Experiment: Can Science Prove the Existence of God? - Hardcover

Stannard, Russell

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1587680076 ISBN 13: 9781587680076

Publisher: HiddenSpring, 2000

Synopsis

Can Science Prove the Existence of God? "When scientists investigate the physical world, provided they ask the right questions and adopt good, sound scientific methodology, nature has no alternative but to yield up its secrets. But applying that methodology to God is not a guarantee of success. God might simply decide not to cooperate..." Down the centuries there have been various attempts to prove the existence of God, and to demonstrate God's action in the world. Russell Stannard, the distinguished physicist and author, looks at what modern science can bring to the discussion. Are the difficulties of 'knowing' God the same difficulties physicists now confront in 'knowing' the physical world? Comparing the latest scientific theories and age-old religious thinking, Stannard produces some startling parallels. He examines creationism and the Big Bang, biblical miracles and quantum physics, and the idea of an omniscient God in the context of 4D space time. Written in a clear and lucid way, The God Experiment is a fascinating challenge to our assumptions about God, science and our place in the universe. †

About this title

About the Author

Russell Stannard is one of the worlds leading authorities on the meeting points between science and religion. A distinguished high energy nuclear physicist, he headed the Physics Department at the Open University in London for the past twenty years. The author of several bestselling books on science and religion, he is also a regular commentator for BBC radio and television.

Reviews

Adult/High School-The author, a nuclear physicist, is fascinated by the meeting points between science and religion. He discusses the laws of physics and moves from chaos theory and random quantum probabilities at the atomic level to evolution, genetics, and DNA, using language that general readers can understand. In a clear, sequential scheme, one idea or concept leads to the next, and a body of knowledge both science-based and faith-based reveals itself as intricately bound together. In the chapter titled "Do Miracles Happen?" Stannard postulates that, for most people, a miracle is a violation of a law of nature. After examining a number of biblical miracle stories, he concludes that these phenomena are not intrinsically impossible; not that they necessarily happen, but that "-belief in miracles is not irrational." He makes clear that there are no simple answers to the questions he poses. Acknowledging that there will be no definitive proof of God's existence, he suggests that readers ask themselves if it doesn't make better sense to assume there is a God. He states, "Scientists and theologians alike must approach their respective data with humility, fully prepared to change their theories in the light of new evidence and insights." Teens are grappling with many of the issues and questions that Stannard addresses, and this book will provide them with interest- ing and arresting views to consider.
Molly Connally, Kings Park Library, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

F o r e w o r d b y P a u l D a v i e s

WHEN SCIENTISTS INVESTIGATE THE PHYSICAL WORLD, provided they ask the right questions and adopt good, sound scientific methodology, nature has no alternative but to yield up its secrets. But applying that methodology to God is not a guarantee of success. God might simply decide not to co-operate

Down the centuries there have been various attempts to prove the existence of God, and to demonstrate Gods action in the world. Russell Stannard, the distinguished physicist and author, looks at what modern science can bring to the discussion. Are the difficulties of knowing God the same difficulties physicists now confront in knowing the physical world?

Comparing the latest scientific theories and age-old religious thinking, Stannard produces some startling parallels. He examines Creationism and the Big Bang, Biblical miracles and Quantum physics, and the idea of an omniscient God in the context of 4D spacetime. Written in a clear and lucid way, The God Experiment is a fascinating challenge to our assumptions about God, science and our place in the Universe.

Edition details

• Publisher: HiddenSpring
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1587680076
• ISBN 13: 9781587680076
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256