On Faith and Science - Hardcover

Winner of the Outstanding Academic Title for 2018 award sponsored by Choice "The most readable, comprehensive, and authoritative primer on science and religion now available. Larson and Ruse are superb story tellers."-Ronald L. Numbers, University of Wisconsin Madison "A fresh, engaging, and even-handed assessment of the relations between science and religion by two of the world's leading experts on the topic. Highly recommended."-Peter Harrison, author of The Territories of Science and Religion "Combining expertise in the philosophy and history of science, the distinguished authors re-consider the continuing overlapping of science and religion in world culture. The result is enlightening and morally uplifting."-John Henry, University of Edinburgh "Larson and Ruse are superb story tellers. This episodic, topical overview is the most readable, comprehensive, and authoritative combination now available."-Ronald L. Numbers, University of Wisconsin-Madison "Larson and Ruse are superb story tellers. In this episodic, topical overview they survey the relations between "science" and "religion" from ancient Babylonian and Greek observers to contemporary geneticists and neurobiologists, from stars to sex, and from Jews and Christians to Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus. On Faith and Science is the most readable, comprehensive, and authoritative combination now available."-Ronald L. Numbers, University of Wisconsin-Madison

A captivating historical survey of the key debates, questions, and controversies at the intersection of science and religion Throughout history, scientific discovery has clashed with religious dogma, creating conflict, controversy, and sometimes violent dispute. In this enlightening and accessible volume, distinguished historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edward Larson and Michael Ruse, philosopher of science and Gifford Lecturer, offer their distinctive viewpoints on the sometimes contentious relationship between science and religion. The authors explore how scientists, philosophers, and theologians through time and today approach vitally important topics, including cosmology, geology, evolution, genetics, neurobiology, gender, and the environment. Broaching their subjects from both historical and philosophical perspectives, Larson and Ruse avoid rancor and polemic as they address many of the core issues currently under debate by the adherents of science and the advocates of faith, shedding light on the richly diverse field of ideas at the crossroads where science meets spiritual belief.