Toward a Theology of Scientific Endeavour (Ashgate Science and Religion Series)

Foundations Of Science Are Specific Conditions Of The Cosmos, Of Human Intelligence, Of Cultural Beliefs, And Of Technological Structures That Make The Pursuit Of Modern Science Possible. Each Of The Four Foundations Of Scientific Endeavour Can Be Studied As A Topic On Its Own. The Concurrent Study Of All Four Together Reveals Several Tensions And Interconnections Among Them That Point The Way To A Greater Unification Of Faith And Science. This Book Explores Four Foundations Of Scientific Endeavour And Investigates Some Of The Paradoxes Each Of Them Raises. Kaiser Shows That The Resolution Of These Paradoxes Inevitably Leads Us Into Theological Discourse And Raises New Challenges For Theological Endeavour. In Order To Address These Challenges, Kaiser Draws On The Wider Resources Of The Judeo-christian Tradition And Argues For A Refocusing Of Contemporary Theology From The Perspective Of Natural Science. Introduction -- 4 Foundations Of Scientific Endeavour -- Cosmic Foundation: The Challenge Of A Lawful Universe -- Anthropological Foundation: The Paradox Of Science-fostering Intelligence -- Cultural Foundation: The Challenge Of Science-fostering Beliefs -- Societal Foundation: The Paradox Of Science-fostering Social Systems -- Foundations Of Scientific Endeavour And The Unity Of Knowledge. Christopher B. Kaiser. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [233]-252) And Indexes. Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 10 Ackonwledgements......Page 12 Introduction: Four Foundations of Scientific Endeavour......Page 14 Toward a thick description of science......Page 15 The contingency of scientific endeavour......Page 18 Four foundations supporting scientific endeavour......Page 22 Toward theological endeavour......Page 27 1 Cosmic foundation: the challenge of a lawful universe......Page 30 Contingent lawfulness and complex realism: four clarifications......Page 31 The origin of cosmic laws......Page 33 Theological challenges and resources......Page 113 Six mandates for theological endeavour......Page 68 2 Anthropological foundation: the paradox of Science-Fostering Intelligence......Page 72 The contingency of multiple intelligences: four clarifications......Page 73 The origin of Science-Fostering Intelligence (SFI)......Page 79 Summary......Page 136 3 Cultural foundation: the challenge of Science-Fostering Beliefs......Page 138 The contingency of belief: four clarifications......Page 140 The origin of Science-Fostering Belief (SFB)......Page 143 Theological challenges and resources......Page 159 Summary......Page 190 4 Societal foundation: the paradox of Science-Fostering Social Systems......Page 192 Technoscience: the linkage of scientific knowledge to advanced technologies......Page 193 The industrial infrastructure of technoscience......Page 197 The linkage of technoscience to secularizing developments......Page 207 Theological challenges and resources......Page 222 Toward the unity of knowledge......Page 240 Toward a theology of scientific endeavour......Page 243 Seven theses and four conclusions......Page 244 Bibliography......Page 246 J......Page 266 W......Page 267 G......Page 268 R......Page 269 S......Page 270 W......Page 271 Index of Biblical Texts......Page 272

Foundations of science are specific conditions of the cosmos, of human intelligence, of cultural beliefs, and of technological structures that make the pursuit of modern science possible. Each of the four foundations of scientific endeavour can be studied as a topic on its own. The concurrent study of all four together reveals several tensions and interconnections among them that point the way to a greater unification of faith and science.

This book explores four foundations of scientific endeavour and investigates some of the paradoxes each of them raises. Kaiser shows that the resolution of these paradoxes inevitably leads us into theological discourse and raises new challenges for theological endeavour. In order to address these challenges, Kaiser draws on the wider resources of the Judeo-Christian tradition and argues for a refocusing of contemporary theology from the perspective of natural science.

foundations Of Science Are Specific Conditions Of The Cosmos, Of Human Intelligence, Of Cultural Beliefs, And Of Technological Structures That Make The Pursuit Of Modern Science Possible. Each Of The Four Foundations Of Scientific Endeavor Can Be Studied As A Topic On Its Own. The Concurrent Study Of All Four Together Reveals Several Tensions And Interconnections Among Them That Point The Way To A Greater Unification Of Faith And Science.

This Book Explores Four Foundations Of Scientific Endeavor And Investigates Some Of The Paradoxes Each Of Them Raises. Kaiser Shows That The Resolution Of These Paradoxes Inevitably Leads Us Into Theological Discourse And Raises New Challenges For Theological Endeavor. In Order To Address These Challenges, Kaiser Draws On The Wider Resources Of The Judeo-christian Tradition And Argues For A Refocusing Of Contemporary Theology From The Perspective Of Natural Science.