A panoramic but fractured effort to find a compromise between faith and reason.
A book attempts to justify the existence of the Christian God on the basis of modern science.
Contemporary discussions about science and religion routinely pit the two against each other, as if they were mutually exclusive. Ivey (Science, Philosophy and Jesus Christ, 2015), though, argues that both the considerable advances of modern science, as well as ancient philosophy, support the basic tenets of Christian theology. In a wide-ranging study, the author not only argues that monotheistic religion is compatible with the findings of reason, but specifically with a New Testament God. To that end, Ivey acknowledges but defends the historical record of the Roman Catholic Church, embarks on a lengthy comparative study of the major world religions (including Hinduism, Buddhism, Mormonism, and, surprisingly, Zoroastrianism), and explains Einstein’s theory of relativity. There are several discussions of the pre-Socratic philosopher Parmenides, and an extended examination of the relationship between faith and reason. The philosophical twine that tethers the parts into a whole is the argument that “militant science,” despite its pretensions to completeness, cannot adequately address, let alone decisively solve, the most fundamental questions. In fact, the value of science is ultimately a function of its humble prostration before religion, properly understood: “On the other hand, science can perform great service for the philosopher, the theologian, and for all of us by taking a great part in leading us in the proper direction toward ultimate truth, so long as science turns the baton over to theology and philosophy before we actually get to such depth in our research.” Of course, this is a welcome and thoughtful message in an age of self-indulgently dogmatic atheism, whether right or wrong. But Ivey’s prose is often so turgid and halting and his arguments so obscure that even the most sophisticated reader will likely have difficulty following them. In addition, the author’s interpretation of contemporary science is sometimes shaky, and seems driven by a desire to substantiate his preferred conclusions. For example, it takes some interpretive leaps to state that “quantum physicists have found God on the quantum level.” This is a thematically roaming book that ambitiously, but disjointedly, attempts to accomplish far too much in a single volume. Ivey candidly admits that it is a work of Christian apologetics, and sometimes that devotion to his own religious faith chafes against his commitment to reason.
A panoramic but fractured effort to find a compromise between faith and reason.Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-5148-3931-7
Page Count: 426
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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