There are many ways of understanding the reality of the world we live in and experience. Science, philosophy, art all offer us ample descriptions, explanations and intuitions. But Christian believers go beyond all that, for they attempt to understand the origins of the universe in terms of the creation of the world by God. Revelation tells us what God had in mind when he made the world ex nihilo, without presuppositions of any kind. God’s Gift of the Universe attempts to present the principal elements and stages of creation theology. The doctrine is to be found fundamentally, of course, in Scripture, both Old and New Testament, which describes the world in the light of God’s word. Yet since God actually gave existence to the world, down to the last detail, our reflection on God’s word not only explains the reality of creation, how it works, its nature, as science does. It also explains how creation came into being in the mind and heart of the Triune God, and, ultimately, why God created the world. In God’s Gift of the Universe, a considerable effort has been spent throughout the book on the Christological and Trinitarian aspects of creation, particularly in the theology of Church Fathers. Creation is presented besides in a deeply eschatological key, for God created the world for purpose of making his glory eternally manifest. The book also considers the way God ‘intervenes’ in the life of the created world, through conservation in being and providence. The meaning of time, matter and spirit are considered. The need for ecological awareness is central. One aspect of the mystery of creation that receives special attention is the presence of evil in the world. This is of particular importance once we accept that God made the world, whole and entire, thus assuming responsibility for the world as it is. The origin of evil through the sin of spiritual creatures provides the ultimate though not the only explanation of the mystery of evil. Particular consideration is given to the reality of ‘original sin’.

“Ann Druyan has unearthed a treasure. It is a treasure of reason, compassion, and scientific awe. It should be the next book you read.” —Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith “A stunningly valuable legacy left to all of us by a great human being. I miss him so.” —Kurt Vonnegut Carl Sagan's prophetic vision of the tragic resurgence of fundamentalism and the hope-filled potential of the next great development in human spirituality The late great astronomer and astrophysicist describes his personal search to understand the nature of the sacred in the vastness of the cosmos. Exhibiting a breadth of intellect nothing short of astounding, Sagan presents his views on a wide range of topics, including the likelihood of intelligent life on other planets, creationism and so-called intelligent design, and a new concept of science as "informed worship." Originally presented at the centennial celebration of the famous Gifford Lectures in Scotland in 1985 but never published, this book offers a unique encounter with one of the most remarkable minds of the twentieth century.

Science is an aspect of modern culture that carries a huge weight of prestige. It operates on a foundation of supporting presuppositions, understandings of reality that people assimilate from infancy. Such presuppositions constitute our worldviews, but we are generally unaware of them. In this book, Graeme Finlay argues that many presuppositions that were essential for the development of science were imbibed from Judeo-Christian faith in the creator God, and they remain vital for the continued vitality of science. Furthermore, theology and science share a feature that points towards their common engagement with reality. New findings catch us by surprise—so much so, that we must conclude that we encounter previously unrecognized realities in genuine experiences of discovery. We don’t invent those surprising phenomena. Both theology and science engage with an objective reality that is not of our construction. The subterranean connection between science and theology at the level of presuppositions and their openness to engage with reality indicate the potential for ongoing fruitful and mutually beneficial dialogue between the two disciplines. The author illustrates this potential through examples from the field of ecological economics.

This book is a clear, concise guide to Alister McGrath's ground breaking three-volume work A scientific theology. McGrath himself here summarizes his major project and sketches out its implications for many aspects of Christian doctrine. He then explores all of the major themes of his three-volume work, including the legitimacy of a scientific theology, the purpose and place of natural theology, the foundations of theological realism, the failure of classic foundationalism, the nature of revelation, and the place of metaphysics in theology.

This text is part of the Edinburgh Studies in Constructive Theology series, which aims to provide a dialogue between the history of Western theological traditions and the contemporary interpretative context. Intended for those with no particular historical or theological training, it guides students through the core theological issues, searching out common ground by surveying the classic works of the theological tradition.

This book focuses on the timelessness of God, providing a detailed analysis of the nature of time and eternity. Padgett offers a biblical and historical survey of the doctrine of eternity, rejecting both theories of eternity being both 'timeless' and 'everlasting'. Padgett argues that traditionally the doctrine of absolute divine timelessness is not compatible with God's actions in the world. "God is in some sense temporal, yet He is the ground of time, the Lord of time and is 'relatively' timeless.

In this provocative book, evolutionist and evangelical Christian Denis O. Lamoureux proposes an approach to origins that moves beyond the "evolution-versus-creation" debate. Arguing for an intimate relationship between the Book of God's Words and the Book of God's Works, he presents evolutionary creation--a position that asserts that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created the universe and life through an ordained and sustained evolutionary process. This view of origins affirms intelligent design and the belief that beauty, complexity, and functionality in nature reflect the mind of God. Lamoureux also challenges the popular Christian assumption that the Holy Spirit revealed scientific and historical facts in the opening chapters of the Bible. He contends that Scripture features an ancient understanding of origins that functions as a vessel to deliver inerrant and infallible messages of faith. Lamoureux shares his personal story and his struggle in coming to terms with evolution and Christianity. Like many, he lost his boyhood faith at university in classes on evolutionary biology. After graduation, he experienced a born-again conversion and then embraced belief in a literal six-day creation. Graduate school training at the doctoral level in both theology and biology led him to the conclusion that God created the world through evolution. Lamoureux closes with the two most important issues in the origins controversy--the pastoral and pedagogical implications. How should churches approach this volatile topic? And what should Christians teach their children about origins?

Did the Big Bang create the universe? Did life start by chance, all without a cause? Does God exist? New discoveries in science are now pointing to the need for a Creator to explain the unexplainable. Science is observing that many features of our universe could not have happened purely by chance. Despite the academic dominance of philosophical naturalism and materialism, many scientists are bravely putting forth the God Hypothesis as an alternate theory to the origin of the universe. Yet many students are being bombarded by unbiblical theories when they go to school, and they are thus losing their faith in God. In events like these, it is important to know how to articulate a Christian worldview. If you are interested in a cutting-edge debate between science and religion, then Discovering God in Science is a must-read. Join new author Charles E. Steele as he offers insight into this ongoing debate. Discovering God in Science is sure to equip, encourage, and guide students of all ages in their faith in the Creator. Charles E. Steele has had a lifelong interest in astronomy and science. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.S. in industrial design. In 1969 he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he was stationed at Ramstein A.B., West Germany. His interest in science and technology has allowed him to be awarded 11 U.S. Patents. He has been listed in Who's Who in the Midwest. He currently lives in Michigan with his wife and mother, where he remains semi-active as a design consultant.

This is an analysis of how 16th- and 17th-century astronomers and theologians in Northern Protestant Europe used science and religion to challenge and support one another. It argues that these schemes can solve the enduring problem of how theological interpretation and investigation interact.