THEOLOGY AND PHYSICS FORTY YEARS LATER

Ian G. Barbour; Ian G. Barbour

doi:10.1111/j.1467-9744.2005.00679.x

Abstract

Abstract. Almost forty years later I look back on a 1966 article on theology and physics by Sanford Brown and my response published with it. I reflect on his hope that theological seminaries would give attention to the methods used in scientific inquiry. I compare our comments with subsequent thought on three issues: (1) the role of models in science and religion; (2) the relation of wholes to parts in physics and other sciences and the debate over reductionism and emergence; and (3) the implications of quantum physics for theology, including the possibility of divine action at the quantum level.

Keywords

Sanford Brown, reductionism, divine action, indeterminacy, emergence, models, wholes and parts, quantum theory, levels

How to Cite

Barbour, I., (2005) “THEOLOGY AND PHYSICS FORTY YEARS LATER”, Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 40(2), 507–512. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2005.00679.x

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References

Barbour, Ian G.1966a. “Commentary on Theological Resources from the Physical Sciences. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 1 (March): 27–30.

Barbour, Ian G.1966b. Issues in Science and Religion. Englewood Cliffs , N.J. : Prentice Hall.

Barbour, Ian G.1974. Myths, Models and Paradigms. London : SCM Press.

Barbour, Ian G.1990. Religion in an Age of Science. San Francisco : HarperSanFrancisco.

Brown, Sanford1966. “Theological Resources from the Physical Sciences: Can Physics Contribute to TheologyZygon: Journal of Religion and Science 1 (March): 14–21.

Clayton, Philip2004. Mind and Emergence: From Quantum to Consciousness. Oxford : Oxford Univ. Press.

Gregersen, Niels Henrik2003. “From Anthropic Design to Self‐Organized Complexity .”In From Complexity to Life: On the Emergence of Life and Meaning, ed. Niels HenrikGregersen. Oxford : Oxford Univ. Press.

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Murphy, Nancey1996. Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism: How Modern and Postmodern Philosophy Set the Theological Agenda. Valley Forge , Pa. : Trinity Press International.

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Peacocke, Arthur1984. Intimations of Reality: Critical Realism in Science and Religion. Notre Dame , Ind. : Univ. of Notre Dame Press.

Peacocke, Arthur1993. Theology for a Scientific Age: Being and Becoming—Natural, Divine, and Human. Minneapolis : Fortress.

Peacocke, Arthur2001. Paths from Science Towards God: The End of All our Exploring. Oxford : Oneworld.

Polkinghorne, John1991. Reason and Reality: The Relationship between Science and Theology. Philadelphia : Trinity Press International.

Russell, Robert John, PhilipClayton, KirkWegter‐McNelly, and JohnPolkinghorne, eds. 2001. Quantum Mechanics: Scientific Perspectives on Divine Action. Vatican City State : Vatican Observatory , and Berkeley , Calif. : Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences.

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Abstract

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4

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