Spiritual Information
100 Perspectives on Science and Religion
Charles L. Harper Jr.
- Price:
- $39.95
- ISBN 13:
- 978-1-932031-73-7
- Size:
- 6 x 9
- Page Count:
- 496
- Date Published:
- May 1, 2005
- Price:
- $19.99
- ISBN 13:
- 978-1-59947-072-6
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Spiritual Information is a collection of one hundred essays that explore a portion of the vast interdisciplinary approaches to the study of science and religion. Individually and together, the essays show how the study of ourselves, our planet, and the universe helps us understand our place as spiritual beings within God’s universe.
The book is a tribute to Sir John Templeton and his pioneering commitment toward new research that results in “one hundredfold more spiritual information than humankind has ever possessed before.” It begins with essays that reflect on Sir John’s principal domains of interest and expertise: free-enterprisebased finance and accelerating spiritual progress.
Themes of the sections are:
Science-Religion Dialogue
Cosmology, Physics, and Astronomy
Mathematics, Musicology, and Speculation
Biological Evolution—the Human Being
Social Evolution—the Human Mind and Heart
Religion and Health
The Nature of the Divine
Theology and Philosophy
Faith Traditions
“Sir John’s leadership has enabled us to edge ever closer to the frontier where knowledge meets wisdom at the threshold of ‘ultimate reality,'” notes the editor in the preface to this volume. As Spiritual Information presents an overview of how far we have come in the science and religion dialogue, it also opens windows to the vast possibilities for additional research and further advances in spiritual information.
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Back to TabsPreface / xv
Acknowledgments / xix
Part One ~ Perspectives on Sir John Templeton’s Two Domains—Spiritual Capital and Spiritual Information / 1
1. Spiritual Information and the Sense of Wonder: The Convergence of Spirituality and the Natural Sciences / 3
Alister E.McGrath
2. Sir John Templeton’s Three Passions / 8
Michael Novak
3. Spiritual Capital: A New Field of Research / 12
Robert D.Woodberry
4. Spiritual Capital as an Economic Force / 20
Robert J. Barro
5. Spiritual Entrepreneurism: Creating a Plan to Explore and Promote Spiritual Information / 26
Jean Staune
6. Global Spiritual Confusion and the Neglected Problem of Excess Spiritual Information / 33
Wesley J.Wildman
7. Science, Semiotics, and the Sacred: Seeking Spiritual Information in the Deep Structure of Reality / 39
William Grassie
8. What Does a Slug Know of Mozart? Introducing the Ontological Multiverse / 44
Charles L. Harper Jr.
9. Complementarity / 52
Freeman J. Dyson
Part Two ~ Perspectives on the History—and Future—of the Science-Religion Dialog / 57
10. In Praise of Contingency: Chance versus Inevitability in the Universe We Know / 59
Owen Gingerich
11. Historical Errors Impeding Progress in Science and Religion / 63
Jeffrey Burton Russell
12. The Longing of Johannes Kepler / 68
Kitty Ferguson
13. The Spirit of Galileo / 74
Dallas Willard
14. Eminent Scientists and Religious Belief / 79
Nicolaas A. Rupke
15. Biological Evolution, Quantum Mechanics, and Non-Interventionist Divine Action: New Research Promises Growth in Spiritual Knowledge / 84
Robert J. Russell
16. Religion, Global Trends, and Religious Futurology / 90
Philip Jenkins
17. “Playing God” / 96
Noah J. Efron
18. The New Cognitive Science of Religion / 101
Fraser N.Watts
19. Exploring Inner Space in a New Age of Discovery: The Future of Scientific Survey Research in Religion / 106
George H. Gallup Jr.
20. Theological Fiction and the Future / 111
Gregory A. Benford
Part Three ~ Perspectives from Cosmology, Physics, and Astronomy / 115
21. Outward Bound / 117
John D. Barrow
22. An Echo of Ancient Questions from Contemporary Cosmology / 121
Marco Bersanelli
23. Progress in Scientific and Spiritual Understanding / 127
George F. R. Ellis
24. The Universe—What’s the Point? / 132
Paul C.W. Davies
25. Choose Your Own Universe / 137
Andrei Linde
26. The Goldilocks Universe: Finesse and Firepower / 142
Karl W. Giberson
27. Emergent Realities in the Cosmos / 147
Marcelo Gleiser
28. Cosmic Order and Divine Word / 151
Lydia Jaeger
29. Science of the Unseen: A Perspective from Contemporary Physics / 155
Hyung S. Choi
30. Design and the Designer: New Concepts, New Challenges / 161
Robin A. Collins
31. Henderson’s “Fine-Tuning Argument”: Time for Rediscovery / 167
Michael J. Denton
32. What God “Whispers” through Radio Telescopes / 172
Jennifer J.Wiseman
Part Four ~ Perspectives from Quantum Mechanics, Mathematics, and Symbolic Logic / 179
33. The “Trialistic” Structure in Physics: New Insights for Metaphysics and Natural Theology / 181
Gennaro Auletta
34. On the Perennial Oneness of Being / 188
Michael D. Silberstein
35. Quantum Logic and the God-World Relationship: A New Resource for Exploring Modern Christian Theology / 199
Thierry Magnin
36. Between Mathematics and Transcendence: The Search for the Spiritual Dimension of Scientific Discovery / 208
Joseph M. Zycinski
37. Rejecting the Realm of Numbers / 213
Edward Nelson
38. Is God a Mathematician? / 217
Mario Livio
39. Mathematical Theology / 221
Sarah Voss
40. From Now to Infinity / 228
Michael Heller
41. One Universal Computation: First Zero, Then One / 232
Kevin Kelly
42. “Neoreality” and the Quest for Transcendence / 237
Clifford A. Pickover
43. Belief in a Superior Being: A Game-Theoretic Analysis / 242
Steven J. Brams
44. On the Problem of the Existence of Evil: Reflections of a Jewish Physicist-Philosopher / 250
Max Jammer
45. Do Quantum Experiments Challenge Kant’s Criticism of the Proofs for the Existence of God? / 255
Antoine Suarez
46. Proof or Persuasion? / 261
F. Russell Stannard
47. From Information to Spirit: A Sketch for a New Anthropology / 265
Gianfranco Basti
Part Five ~ Perspectives on Evolution and Purpose / 273
48. Do Chimpanzees Have Souls? Possible Precursors of Religious Behavior in Animals / 275
Jane Goodall
49. Shamanic Practices in the Painted Caves of Europe / 279
Jean Clottes
50. Naturalistic Spiritual Information / 286
Ursula Goodenough
51. Hath Darwin Suffered a Prophet’s Scorn? Evolutionary Theory and the Scandal of
Unconditional Love / 291
Jeffrey P. Schloss
52. Living Purpose: The Study of Purpose in the Living World as a Source of New
Spiritual Information / 300
Paul K.Wason
53. The Evolution of Altruism: From Game Theory to Human Language / 308
Martin A. Nowak and Natalia L. Komarova
54. The Form of Freedom / 315
William B. Hurlbut
Part Six ~ Perspectives on Sociology and Ethics / 321
55. Preparing the Way for the Lord: Evolution, Christianity, and the Dialog on Moral Freedom / 323
Alain J-P. C. Tschudin
56. Planetary Spiritual (In)formation: From Biological to Religious Evolution / 330
Holmes Rolston III
57. Is There a Place for “Scientific” Studies of Religion? / 337
Robert Wuthnow
58. Sociology and Spiritual Information: Challenging “Obvious” Opinions / 343
David A.Martin
59. The Emergence of Ethics from Science: An Examination of the Ideals of
Einstein and Gandhi / 348
Ramanath Cowsik
60. Science in the Service of Meaninglessness Sociological Change and the Decline of Faith / 356
M. A. Casey
61. Secularization and the Sciences / 360
Peter L. Berger
Part Seven ~ Perspectives on Religion and Health / 365
62. The Faith Factor in Medicine, the Health Factor in Religion: Reflections on a New Research Tradition / 367
Anne Harrington
63. Heal Thyself: Spirituality, Medicine, and Misunderstandings / 376
Harold G. Koenig
64. Can the Body Heal the Spirit? / 381
Ted Peters
65. Mental Health, Spiritual Information, and the Power of the Mind to Shape the Brain / 389
Jeffrey M. Schwartz
66. Navajo Spirituality: Native American Wisdom and Healing in the Modern World / 395
Lori Arviso Alvord
67. Of Monocytes and the Spiritual Man / 400
Gregory L. Fricchione
68. Miracles Confront Materialism: A Scientist Reflects on the Life of Christian Healer Dorothy Kerin / 406
Stevens Heckscher
Part Eight ~ Perspectives on Contemplation and the Virtues / 413
69. Reflection and Its Use: From Source to Meditation / 415
Hendrik P. Barendregt
70. Disgust and Elevation: Opposing Sources of Spiritual Information / 424
Jonathan Haidt
71. Goodness Matters / 429
Barbara L. Fredrickson
72. Psychological Science and Spiritual Pursuits / 433
David G. Myers
73. Spiritual Giftedness: Identifying and Measuring “Religious Genius” / 440
Arthur J. Schwartz
74. Research on Forgiveness: Ten Lessons Learned (So Far) / 445
Everett L.Worthington Jr.
75. Giving Thanks: Psychological Research on Gratitude and Praise / 451
Robert A. Emmons
76. “Ecce Homo”: To Welcome the Suffering Is the Sign of Our Humanity / 457
Xavier Le Pichon
77. Unlimited Love / 464
Stephen G. Post
Part Nine ~ Perspectives from Theology and Philosophy / 471
78. If Theologians Do Not Measure, Can They Measure Up? Rules for Acquiring Spiritual Information / 473
Martin E.Marty
79. God, Spiritual Information, and Downward Causation / 479
John W. Bowker
80. The Value of Risk-Taking: Human Evolution and the Love of God / 484
Niels Henrik Gregersen
81. A New Relationship between Theology and Science? One Theologian’s Reflections / 490
Anna Case-Winters
82. The Emergence of Spirit / 498
Philip D. Clayton
83. A Sense of Calling as a Clue to the Character of the Universe / 504
C. Stephen Evans
84. The Role of Discernment in Seeking Spiritual Knowledge / 510
Nancey C.Murphy
85. Spiritual Information for Integral Transformation / 514
Kuruvilla Pandikattu
86. Reading an Unfinished Universe: Science and the Question of Cosmic Purpose / 519
John F. Haught
87. The Dawn of the Clone Age: Where Might Wisdom Be Found? / 524
Celia Deane-Drummond
88. Moving in Mysterious Waves: Music, Meter, Silence, and Hope / 529
Jeremy Begbie
89. Grasping Eternity: Notions of God and Time / 534
William Lane Craig
90. Divine Temporality and Human Experience of Time / 539
Wolfgang Achtner
Part Ten ~ Perspectives from World Religions / 545
91. Progress in Religion? Interfaith Opportunities / 547
John C. Polkinghorne
92. Interfaith Dialog in the Global World: Theological and Intellectual Constructs for the Future / 551
Bruno Guiderdoni
93. Humility and the Future of Islam / 557
Munawar A. Anees
94. Brahman and Progress: By What Knowledge Is the Spirit Known? / 561
Ravi Ravindra
95. The Scientific Frontier of the Inner Spirit / 567
B. Alan Wallace
96. From Biblical Story to the Science of Society: How Judaism Reads Scripture / 572
Jacob Neusner
97. Technology and Human Dignity / 578
Jonathan Sacks
98. Pentecostal/Charismatic Worship: A Window for Research / 582
Margaret Poloma
99. Catholicism and Science: Renewing the Conversation / 588
James L. Heft
100. Quest for the Flame of the Spirit: The Pilgrim Soul Follows the “Kindly Light” / 593
Russi M. Lala
Contributors / 599
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