The Revd. Dr. John Polkinghorne is a world-renowned authority in the field of science and religion. His numerous books in this area, written over the past three decades, have been hugely influential. The Polkinghorne Reader brings together key extracts from his writings on core issues such as the nature of science, the physical world, human nature, love, theology, creation, providence, prayer and miracle, time, evil, Jesus, the resurrection, the Trinity, eschatology, and world faiths. Ideal for readers who are new to Polkinghorne or who are just beginning to explore the interplay between science and religion, this collection will also be welcomed by all who have read his earlier works but would like one handy resource that presents the major facets of his thought in an accessible and systematic fashion.
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Back to TabsPreface / ix
Introduction / 1
Part 1; THE WORLD
1 The nature of science / 9
2 The nature of the physical world / 25
3 Human nature / 36
4 The nature of reality / 51
5 A brief history of science and religion / 56
6 Science and religion as cousins / 61
7 The work of love / 68
Part 2: GOD
8 The nature of theology / 79
9 Deity / 88
10 Natural theology / 94
11 Creation / 104
12 Providence / 110
13 Prayer and miracle / 126
14 Time / 133
15 Evil / 137
Part 3: CHRISTIANITY
16 Scripture / 147
17 The historical Jesus / 159
18 The resurrection / 176
19 Trinitarian theology / 189
20 Eucharist / 197
21 Eschatology / 209
22 World faiths / 225
Books by J. C. Polkinghorne / 233
Bibliography / 235
Index / 241
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