Science, faith and postmodernism

Can we be sure about anything?

SCIENCE, FAITH AND POSTMODERNISM
Edited by Denis Alexander
Apollos. 256 pages. £12.99
ISBN 1 84474 076 5

This collection of essays is of great interest for readers of EN who share the contributors’ passion for truth, its basis and its communication.

The authors are all Christians with varied and often multiple expertise in the two-way interactions of contemporary thought and science with the Christian Scriptures. By posing the question expressed in the title, Denis Alexander has astutely scratched where most intellectually active people are now itching. This unfortunately contrasts with the tired clichŽs and dire question-begging of much current preaching in many demoralised UK churches. So we need to ‘listen up’ and pay heed to these men whom God has raised up.

The essays mostly began life as presentations at a conference of Christians in Science, or in the related journal Science and Christian Belief. There is a cogent unity amidst the diversity of approaches here from theology, philosophy, history and specific sciences. This unity is apparent in the demonstration that both Christians and scientists occupy neighbouring — or even directly connected — rocks above the shifting quick-sands of postmodern relativism. The latter context is surveyed by Dominic Smart, showing the yawning chasm between the ‘two cultures’. Then the congruency of Christianity and the scientific enterprise is argued from both directions by Roger Trigg and Ernest Lucas. This paves the way for John Taylor to confront split-mindedness within philosophy of science itself, and also the incoherence of ‘x is true for you but not for me’.

Don Carson, building on his classic The Gagging of God, challenges us to maintain both scientific and Christian truth amidst swirling tides of relativism and considers how, and how not, this should be done. He reiterates, in his own terms, the major emphasis of Francis Schaeffer, that we can know ‘true truth’ even when this is partial, not exhaustive knowledge. Indeed this is the only option for finite creatures.

The historical dimension is particularly strong in Colin Russell’s contribution on the role played by human values in scientific activity. This ranges from the choice of research topics, the formulation of theories and especially the publication of results in journals. The latter aspect is touched upon in Dr Alexander’s ‘lab-based’ contribution, which highlights both the true humanity of scientists and also the powerful error-correcting mechanisms of our research communities. This essay provides a realistic glimpse of the day-to-day realities of the science lab, where painstaking work can truly be a sacrifice of praise to the Lord!

Specific — sometimes controversial — areas of science are addressed by Peter Bussey, Robert White and Derek Burke. Dr. Bussey treats the interpretation(s) of quantum mechanics — currently an open philosophical issue — and Professor White gives an admirable, authoritative and gracious account of truth in geological sciences. Lastly, David Wilkinson considers science and religion in the media, where postmodern assumptions about science affect the spin of radio and TV presenters.

The foregoing summary is largely descriptive, because the volume so accurately mirrors the reviewer’s convictions! It is refreshing to read a popular and accessible book which is both accurate and persuasive. With near 50% of school-leavers headed for some form of higher education, the issues faced here underpin the major challenges posed to Christian communication in the UK today. The time was when Christian Church leaders were the most highly educated and influential people in the community. Now, so often, the Church has painted itself into a corner and abandoned the public square to the neo-pagans. This book makes a significant and timely contribution to the recovery of belief. These wise, believing and thoughtful strategies exemplify the community of Christ and glorify the One by whose grace we may yet ‘turn the world upside down’.

Professor David Watts,
The University of Manchester, and Sale Evangelical Church

Can we be sure about anything?

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