Polkinghorne Reader

John C. Polkinghorne is an Anglican priest, a fellow of the Royal Academy past president of Queens’ College, Cambridge University, and former professor of mathematical physics at Cambridge. Polkinghorne resigned his chair in physics to study for the Anglican priesthood. After completing his theological studies and serving at parishes, he returned to Cambridge. In 1997, Dr. Polkinghorne was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for distinguished service to science, religion, learning, and medical ethics. He was the recipient of the 2002 Templeton Prize. He lives in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Thomas Jay Oord, PhD, is an ordained minister and professor of theology and philosophy at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. In addition to books published by Templeton Press, Dr. Oord has written and edited a dozen books, including Defining Love: A Philosophical, Scientific, and Theological Engagement (Brazos Press) and The Nature of Love: A Theology (Chalice Press). He and his wife, Cheryl, have three daughters.

• Preface 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