Reason and Reality: The Relationship Between Science and Theology

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Summary: Detailed explorations of the science/faith relationship
Review: John Polkinghorne is perhaps the world's foremost authority on the relationship between science and theology. "Reason and Reality" brings together essays in which he pursues more deeply themes touched on in his earlier works. As such, the book, while generally accessible, is at a somewhat more advanced level than most of his other, more popular works. However, the extra intellectual effort required is well worth it, as the essays in this volume "tie up the loose ends." The result is a convincing, deeply satisfying interpretation of the nature and scope of human knowledge, the extent and limits of science, and the proper place of theology as what Polkinghorne calls science's "cousin under the skin." Perhaps the major achievement of the book is its demonstration of how both science and theology, despite postmodernist skepticism to the contrary, are fundamentally rational in character. The book is therefore both significant and highly timely.