Geology and Religion: A History of Harmony and Hostility - Special Publication no 310 (Geological Society Special Publications)

For thousands of years, religious ideas have shaped the thoughts and deeds of human beings, and therefore many early geological concepts were initially developed in this context. The book discusses this long-standing relationship from a historical point of view, which in the past has been sometimes indifferent, sometimes fruitful and sometimes full of conflict. The relationship continues well into the present. While Christian fundamentalists attack evolution and related palaeontological findings as well as the geological evidence of the age of the Earth, mainstream theologians strive for a fruitful dialogue between science and religion. Much of what is written and discussed today can only be understood, when the historical perspective is added. This book considers the following topics: the development of geology from mythological approaches towards the European Enlightenment, Biblical or Geological Flood and the age of the Earth, geology within religious organizations, biographical case studies of geological clerics and religious geologists, religion and evolution, historical aspects of creationism and its motives. For thousands of years, religious ideas have shaped the thoughts and deeds of human beings, and therefore many early geological concepts were initially developed in this context. The book discusses this long-standing relationship from a historical point of view, which in the past has been sometimes indifferent, sometimes fruitful and sometimes full of conflict. The relationship continues well into the present. While Christian fundamentalists attack evolution and related palaeontological findings as well as the geological evidence of the age of the Earth, mainstream theologians strive for a fruitful dialogue between science and religion. Much of what is written and discussed today can only be understood, when the historical perspective is added. This book considers the following the development of geology from mythological approaches towards the European Enlightenment, Biblical or Geological Flood and the age of the Earth, geology within religious organizations, biographical case studies of geological clerics and religious geologists, religion and evolution, historical aspects of creationism and its motives. The Geological Society of London Founded in 1807, the Geological Society of London is the oldest geological society in the world, and one of the largest publishers in the Earth sciences. The Society publishes a wide range of high-quality peer-reviewed titles for academics and professionals working in the geosciences, and enjoys an enviable international reputation for the quality of its work. The many areas in which we publish in -Petroleum geology -Tectonics, structural geology and geodynamics -Stratigraphy, sedimentology and paleontology -Volcanology, magmatic studies and geochemistry -Remote sensing -History of geology -Regional geology guides For thousands of years, religious ideas have shaped the thoughts and actions of human beings. Many of the early geological concepts were initially developed within this context. The long-standing relationship between geology and religious thought, which has been sometimes indifferent, sometimes fruitful and sometimes full of conflict, is discussed from a historical point of view. This relationship continues into the present. Although Christian fundamentalists attack evolution and related palaeontological findings as well as the geological evidence for the age of the Earth, mainstream theologians strive for a fruitful dialogue between science and religion. Much of what is written and discussed today can only be understood within the historical perspective. This book considers the development of geology from mythological approaches towards the European Enlightenment, biblical or geological Flood and the age of the Earth, geology within "religious" organizations, biographical case studies of geological clerics and religious geologists, religion and evolution, and historical aspects of creationism and its motives coverfig......Page 1 toc......Page 2 frontmatter......Page 4 NP......Page 8 1......Page 9 7......Page 15 17......Page 24 25......Page 32 37......Page 44 41......Page 48 49......Page 56 67......Page 74 77......Page 84 83......Page 89 89......Page 94 95......Page 99 103......Page 106 111......Page 114 127......Page 130 135......Page 138 145......Page 147 155......Page 157 171......Page 173 197......Page 198 211......Page 211 217......Page 216 223......Page 221 245......Page 242 259......Page 256 269......Page 265 277......Page 272 289......Page 284 301......Page 296 317......Page 312 329......Page 324 339......Page 334 backmatter......Page 343 Edited By Martina Kölbl-ebert. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.