ABSTRACT

The new discoveries in physics during the twentieth century have stimulated intense debate about their relevance to age-old theological questions. Views range from those holding that modern physics provides a surer road to God than traditional religions, to those who say that physics and theology are incommensurable and so do not relate. At the very least, physics has stimulated renewed theological discussions. In this critical introduction to the science-theology debate, Peter E. Hodgson draws on his experience as a physicist to present the results of modern physics and the theological implications. Written for those with little or no scientific background, Hodgson describes connections between physics, philosophy and theology and then explains Newtonian physics and Victorian physics, the theories of relativity, astronomy and quantum mechanics, and distinguishes the actual results of modern physics from speculations. The connections with theology are explored throughout. The concluding section draws discussions together and makes an important new contribution to the debate.

chapter 1|18 pages

Theology, Philosophy and Physics

chapter 3|14 pages

The Muslim Centuries

chapter 4|26 pages

The Renaissance

chapter 5|12 pages

Classical Physics

chapter 6|22 pages

Space, Time and Relativity

chapter 7|10 pages

Quantum Theory

chapter 8|20 pages

Quantum Mechanics

chapter 10|24 pages

Cosmology

chapter 11|10 pages

Chaos and Symmetry

chapter 12|16 pages

Science and Non-Christian Religions

chapter 13|4 pages

Epilogue