Exploring Reality: The Intertwining of Science and Religion

I bought this after talking to a few people and having enjoyed the "Closer to Truth" series on PBS. I am glad I did.

John Polkinghorne KBE, FRS is the author of many books on themes related to science and religion; he is uniquely qualified to speak on both, having been a particle physicist for the larger part of his career then latterly an Anglican priest. In "Exploring Reality" Polkinghorne seeks to combine the perspectives of science and Christianity into what he calls a "stereoscopic world view." I took the title of this review from the author's listing of three main points he wanted to make: "(1) Defense of realism in science depends partly upon recognizing the unexpected character often stubbornly displayed by nature ... the feel of actually doing science is undeniably one of discovery, rather than pleasing construction. (2) An experience fundamental to the pursuit of science is a sense of wonder, induced by the beautiful order and fruitful nature of the universe ... The religious believer can find here grounds for understanding the universe as a creation, whose deep order and inherent fertility express the mind and will of its creator. (3) If interpreted experience is to be the basis of our understanding reality, then our concept of the nature of reality must be sufficiently extensive to be able to accommodate the richness of our experience." Polkinghorne explains in a very accessible way complex subjects such as the quantum 'superposition principle', non-locality, the EPR effect, and ideas about the origin of the universe such as the 'multiverse' hypothesis. One or two reviewers have suggested that he is difficult to read, but I do not find this to be the case provided one takes the time to grasp the concepts he explains. For example, the following sentences sound daunting but make perfect sense on reflection: "the portfolio of causes that bring about the future is not limited solely to the description offered by a methodologically reductionist physics and framed only in terms of the exchange of energy between constituents ... It is clear that science has not demonstrated the causal closure of the natural world. Nothing it can tell us requires us to deny our directly experienced human capacity for intentional action, nor can science forbid religious believers to hold to their belief in God's providential interaction with the history of the world." Once one gets used to his style it is easy to appreciate the elegance in his use of vocabulary. Subjects covered include consciousness, the soul, altruism, and the nature of time. But the very best parts of the book, for me, were the discussions of the historical Jesus and of what the author calls "divine reality". Polkinghorne also speaks with tremendous wisdom on the subject of abortion. Maintaining the Christian ethical position on matters of life and death, he notes that "no church holds requiems for embryos that die through failing to implant" thus showing a pragmatic approach to a deeply sensitive life problem. This would be an excellent introductory book for one interested in reading Polkinghorne.

This is one of Polkinghorne's more recent works (SPCK 2005) which presents his ideas in a relatively easy to understand fashion and is both clearly and elegantly written. He reprises here several ideas from his earlier books such as "The Faith of a Physicist" but the presentation here is less technical and thus more appropriate for the bulk of us who are neither particle physicists nor theologians. Polkinghorne weaves together complex and difficult ideas in a way that makes them understandable and places them in a broader context. For example, in chapter 2 he discusses how a thoughtful metaphysical choice is necessary to most meaningfully interpret our experiences. His illustrations include Bohm's alternative (deterministic) version of quantum theory, chaos theory and the quantum mechanical property of non locality (EPR effect) that Einstein described as "spooky"

John Polkinghorne does it again. We benefit from his scientific knowledge and see that coupled to Christian faith in a unique manner. THis book is something you ought to read, whether you are a believer or not.

John Polkinghorne is one of the most gifted and eloquent writers in the science-and-theology field, and this is by far the best introduction to his thought in general. Though much of it is familiar from previous works, here he weaves together a consistent, spiritually and intellectually satisfying approach to reality as a whole. It touches on all the bases, including the challenge of evolution, the historicity of Jesus' life and resurrection, theology, the problem of evil, God's action, etc. Polkinghorne carefully balances his commitment to orthodox Christian belief (esp. the literal resurrection of Jesus) with the need to revisit articles of faith in light of new knowledge (such as belief in an immortal soul). The chapter on human nature is especially illuminating, while the 'concluding unscientific postscript' is a delightful romp in metaphysical speculation. The second chapter is perhaps the weakest, in which Polkinghorne tries once more to flesh out his approach to divine action through quantum mechanics and chaos theory, which I find less than convincing. It is best, I think to let divine action be divine action, the one blazing, invisible mystery like the sun through which we see and understand everything else. In any case, the book as a whole is a delight, combining rigorous scholarship with earnest faith seeking understanding. A must read.