Science, Evolution, and Religion

Michael Peterson is Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has written or edited several books including Reason and Religious Belief, Fifth Edition (OUP 2012), and Philosophy of Religion, Fifth Edition (OUP 2015). He is also managing editor of Faith and Philosophy, and winner of Templeton grants in science/religion. Michael Ruse is Lucycle T. Werkmeister Professor and Director of History and Philosophy of Science at Florida State University. He is well known for his work on the relationship between science and religion and is founding editor of the journal Philosophy and Biology.

• Preface: Introduction: 1. Autobiographical ReflectionsA Life ObservedPETERSONFormative ExperiencesWitnessing God Make a ComebackConsidering Intellectual Journeys to GodEngaging Science and ReligionApologia Pro Vita SuaRUSEEarly YearsLoss of Faith and Finding DarwinCreationismAccommodationism2. ScienceThinking about ScienceRUSEWhat Is Science?MetaphorWhat Is Naturalism?The Limits of MetaphorThe Harmony of Science and ReligionPETERSONWhere the Conflict Really LiesDoes the Method of Science Support Naturalism?Do the Laws of Science Exclude Miracles?Theism as the Worldview Home of Science3. Cosmic OriginsA Theistic Understanding of the UniversePETERSONThe Beginning According to ScienceA Metaphysical Explanation of the CosmosA Deeper Metaphysical Understanding of the CosmosThe Fine-Tuned UniverseNaturalist ObjectionsBeauty, Elegance, IntelligibilityIn the BeginningRUSEThe Big Bang TheoryReligious Implications?The Fundamental QuestionWhy Skepticism?One God or Two?4. Origin of LifeIt's All Purely NaturalRUSEDefining LifeA Natural Solution?Impossible!Miracles?Where Do We Stand?There is Grandeur in This View of LifePETERSONThe Biological and the PrebiologicalOrigin-of-Life ResearchThe Mystery of LifeGod or Natural Process?Theistic and Christian Belief5. Darwin and DesignA Wider TeleologyPETERSONDarwin's DiscoveryNatural Selection and DesignUnderstanding EvolutionDarwin's GiftTeleology and Natural TheologyDarwin Destroys DesignRUSEThe Darwinian Theory of EvolutionThe Problem of Final CausesDoes Darwinian Selection Refute Christianity?So, What's the Answer?6. Evolutionary DirectionalityNo Direction to EvolutionRUSEBottom-Line DemandsDoes Evolution Go Anywhere?CausesChristian Escapes?Is God Too Complex?The Trajectory of EvolutionPETERSONHow Did We Get Here From There?Scientific and Metascientific QuestionsGod and the World of ScienceCreation, Providence, and EvolutionEmergence7. Mind and RationalityThe Preeminence of MindPETERSONConsciousness and Self-ConsciousnessNeuroscience and the Metaphysics of MindEvolution and Human UniquenessRationality and EvolutionHumans According to Evolutionary NaturalismRUSESentienceKnowledgeNaturalism Defeated?A Sensus Divinitatis?8. MoralityAn Evolutionary Perspective on EthicsRUSEThe Moral Argument for God's ExistenceExplaining MoralityDarwinism and MoralityImplications for the Science-Religion InterfaceChristianity on Morality: Beyond Rescue?Morality and PersonhoodPETERSONA Darwinian Genealogy of MoralsA Moral Argument against Evolutionary NaturalismTheism and Personal DignityA Theistic Genealogy of Morals9. Evil and SufferingTheism, Atheism, and EvilPETERSONThe Argument from Evil and SufferingScience and Approaches to TheodicyTheodicy for a Scientific AgeEvil and the Clash of WorldviewsDarwinism and EvilRUSEDoes Darwinism Intensify the Problem?Original SinFree WillNatural Evil10. Meaning and PurposeA Stark Picture IndeedRUSEWhere Are We?Why Do We Believe?Evolutionary Debunking?Evolutionism as Religion SubstituteThe Deep Structure of the UniversePETERSONScience, Evolution, and the Search for MeaningNaturalism and the Denial of MeaningTheism and MeaningFollow the Argument Wherever It LeadsGlossary: References: Index:

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