God and the Cosmos

God and the Cosmos

Divine Activity in Space, Time and History

Harry Lee Poe and Jimmy H. Davis, IVP Academic

With its grand title and even grander subtitle, this book has a lot to live up to and remarkably it acquits itself quite well.

It claims not to be a Christian apologetic, or very systematic, in its interdisciplinary account of science and religion, in particular the role (intervening or otherwise) of God in creation.

It claims to be based on a conversation between the two authors, one a chemist and the other a theologian; and when it discusses cultural evolution and modern art, and even non-Christian religions, the limitations of the authors becomes evident.

Chapter 4 does a fine job of a scientific approach to the Trinity and Holy Spirit — yet why not address the incarnational philosophy of Hinduism?

The dismissal of 20th century art and poetry was painful and the account of pre-modern and medieval science and philosophy thin.

The commentary can be superficial in places (including the study of other faiths), a fault evident in other IVP apologetic literature. Yet this volume is on firm ground with modern science and Protestant thought, and in topics like process theology it adopts a sustained, articulate, inquiring, informed and generous approach to very contemporary and essential scientifically informed perspectives on a theology of God.

The book claims to ask questions and it actually does so, always with a peculiar certainty in the co-joint and enduring efficacy of science and faith.

One can want more, and can quibble in places, but this seems part of the colloquia that the book aims to achieve.

Geoffrey Sykes

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