Gods, Philosophers, and Scientists

Scott E Hendrix

Non-Fiction

by Scott E Hendrix Religion and Science in the West According to Pew Research studies, most Americans think religion always conflicts with science. The popular writings of scientists such as Richard...

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by Scott E Hendrix

Religion and Science in the West

According to Pew Research studies, most Americans think religion always conflicts with science. The popular writings of scientists such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Lawrence Krauss reinforce this idea, as do books by writers such as Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennet. Furthermore, the two versions of the enormously popular television show Cosmos, hosted by Carl Sagan in 1980 and Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2014, present a history of science in which religion has always acted as a barrier to scientific development, with scientists frequently persecuted or even executed for their work.

Gods, Philosophers, and Scientists shows that just because an idea is popular, doesn’t mean it’s correct. By examining the historical record from the time of the Ancient Greeks to today, readers are able to see that religion and science have been allies more often than enemies, and when conflict does occur it’s too simplistic to view it as coming from something inherent to either science or religion. Instead, as with the case of Greek philosophy or the reception of Darwinian evolution, complex social forces are to blame, and in cases such as the infamous one of Galileo’s conflict with the Catholic Church, clashing personalities are at least as important as those social forces. Anyone interested in the history of science or religion, who is curious about how science works, or who wants to have a better understanding of the world should read this book.



Page Count: 273
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: December 31, 2019
Imprint: Oxford Southern
Genre: Science

SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects
SCIENCE / History
RELIGION / Religion & Science

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Anonymous
An interesting discussion of the history of science

Starting with the ancient Greeks and following through to the current day, Hendrix thoroughly dismantles the idea that some forms of religious thought are natural enemies to science. Instead he shows that cultural forces beyond simple religious beliefs are more important, shaping the way those religious beliefs are interpreted and how they drive scientific exploration, or at times get in the way of such understanding. n the latter chapters, Hendrix explores the complicated reception of Darwin’s theory of evolution, showing that religious figures as diverse as Cardinal Newman and Billy Graham supported this theory, while arguing that those who opposed it did so as part of a more general rejection of the modern world. This argument fits well with Hendrix’s discussion of the so-called Big Bang theory, as Hendrix shows that complex attitudes toward religion can affect whether or not a scientific theory comes to be accepted. The primary progenitor of this theory happened to be a priest, leading some scientists such as Fred Hoyle to spend their lives fighting against it, in the face of all evidence.

Sprinkled with amusing stories, and written in a clear and lively manner, Gods, Philosophers, and Scientists is an interesting history of the development of science.