Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship

This has been a fun read. It’s the first of Polkinghorne’s I’ve ever read, so I’m still getting used to his style. But, fortunately, for such a smart guy, he writes in a pretty straight-forward way. The scientific concepts he engages, though, can get pretty deep. And he slides into them so easily one can start to drown without realizing he or she is in slightly above their head.In general the book argues that science and theology share a common pursuit of truth, specifically concerning reality. In that what both pursue is essentially the same (albeit both traverse much different paths), there have arisen a few similarities in their individual endeavors. These are what the bulk of his book explores. Every chapter introduces a main theme and then he has more specific concepts undergirding this main theme, each concept being accompanied by examples from both scientific and theological development.The primary scientific development he has in view are those developments in the last century or two concerning the advent of quantum physics. As a theologian who also loves science, this was a great book for me because he helped provide a little transition from surface level concepts of quantum theory to deeper explanations, and his pairing of the development of these with theological developments really put it into a context I could connect pretty easily with.The fun twist at the end was the concluding assertion that a true Theory of Everything is trinitarian theology. He builds a foundation for this throughout, but most blatantly in the fourth chapter. In the end, there are some interesting implications for the intersection of theology and science. The best part of this, in my mind, is how he upholds the integrity of the search for truth in both fields – both are needed and both have something significant to contribute. And they each need one another.In the end, is this book for you? I would say that this book is for those who are interested in diving into the intersection of science and theology. But you have to be willing to wade into some deep scientific concepts—the journey is worth it, and he does his best to make it accessible. I found it a mostly easy read, the concepts being rich, but his explanations were fairly straight-forward. I think some pastors would find some interesting illustrations in the book, and many youth pastors will find some great ways to discuss science with the youth they are discipling. In those cases, it could really help those who are struggling navigating an anti-religious bias in their cultural context (whether high school or college).

What a wonderful little book!This short little book is not the easiest read, but it is certainly manageable for anyone who has a basic familiarity with theology or science so long as they are willing to read slowly and carefully. The book juxtaposes two systems of inquiry designed to lead to a truthful description of reality. That theology is a discipline with rigorous controls and review and rules for inquiry seems to surprise many materialists, but it is a fact.I have spent some time here at amazon and in the world dialoging with those who hold a materialistic view of the universe, and I am shocked at the level of disdain given to the disciplines of philosophy and theology. As the author of this book points out, the word "theological" is often used pejoratively to denote an unexamined or untested bias or belief. I too take umbrage with this usage, and I find myself wondering if the decline of traditional liberal education in the West marks the end of literate and competent discourse and debate in our society.I am impressed by this book's economy, even while I was challenged by some of the vocabulary and concepts. I was relatively unfamiliar with the history of quantum physics, and I found this book very edifying as a result. The sections on Christology, the historicity of the resurrection, and the parallels between scientific and theological inquiry were concise, challenging, and largely convincing.One point the author could have hit a little harder, in my opinion, is the history and philosophy of science, and why scientific inquiry of a high level is largely a product of Western Civilization. A belief in a God of love and reason who cannot, by His nature, be a deceiver, led Western man to engage in scientific inquiry, because their God was not capricious and made creation in a way that was understandable and knowable. When the University was founded in the Middle Ages, natural philosophy as a discipline was a natural outgrowth of this belief about God's nature, and is what led to the development of modern scientific method.The author does point this out, but briefly, and a history of scientific inquiry in those early universities is far more rich than the author has time to allow for in this short book. However I think inclusion of the history of science during the middle ages and the Church's role in essentially inventing the university would have strengthened the author's thesis.Still, this was a very powerful book, well reasoned and well argued. I could not recommend it more highly.

Very interesting book.

The book fulfills its purpose. It will help scientific minds that are interested in quantum physics to think more about theology. It will also lead theologians to think more about science and more specifically quantum physics. If the reader keeps in mind that this is an introduction and that the author does not engage in the subject of quantum physics early but really wants to introduce what is similar between quantum physics and theology then one will realize that the book fulfills its purpose.

Theology, Philosophy and Science meet in this book!John gives a basic but deep and inspiring lecture in this book, 100%recomendable!