A challenging and esoteric, yet illuminating, study of the intersection of spirituality and science.
A scientist seeks to unite science and religion.
Born to a Christian family in Algeria who fled Northern Africa after the nascent Islamic nation’s Algerian War of Independence, Alonso is intimately familiar with the long history of bloodshed and animosity among rival religions. Moreover, as a deeply religious man with a Ph.D. in science and technology from the University of Manchester, he is also well versed in the long history of tension between science and religion. In this book, he seeks to bridge these tangled divisions “with the intention of contributing to the achievement of peace.” As religious interpretations exist right now, at least among “the four great religions coming from the Fertile Crescent” (Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam) that are the focus of this book, humanity has reached a theological “dead end” with little promise of those faiths uniting behind a singular, universal religion. While acknowledging the roles of scientific knowledge and ethics in advancing “social progress,” the author suggests that there is a connection between “Sacred Scriptures” and “the basic tenets of quantum mechanics” that may wed all religions behind a new, “natural exegesis” that transcends current dogmatic divides. Written for fellow “believers” in a transcendent God, this book comprises two parts. The first addresses reconciling religious interpretations (such as the notion of a Great Flood) with current scientific research. The second part, complex but fascinating, uses new theories in quantum physics to explore divine mysteries. With a solid grasp on science and an open-minded approach to religion, this is a well-argued, if admittedly “moderately rigorous,” read that leans heavily on theological and scientifically technical jargon. Barring an odd fixation with masculinity and femininity that fails to engage with contemporary literature on gender theory, it’s a well-researched work from an author knowledgeable about both religion and science. Save for a few passing references, though, religions developed beyond the Fertile Crescent, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism, are largely left out of the book’s narrative.
A challenging and esoteric, yet illuminating, study of the intersection of spirituality and science.Pub Date: April 18, 2019
ISBN: 978-980-18-0332-4
Page Count: 277
Publisher: Joseph Alonso
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
A remarkably thorough and thoughtful case for the reconciliation between science and faith.
A duo of French mathematicians makes the scientific case for God in this nonfiction book.
Since its 2021 French-language publication in Paris, this work by Bolloré and Bonnassies has sold more than 400,000 copies. Now translated into English for the first time by West and Jones, the book offers a new introduction featuring endorsements from a range of scientists and religious leaders, including Nobel Prize-winning astronomers and Roman Catholic cardinals. This appeal to authority, both religious and scientific, distinguishes this volume from a genre of Christian apologetics that tends to reject, rather than embrace, scientific consensus. Central to the book’s argument is that contemporary scientific advancements have undone past emphases on materialist interpretations of the universe (and their parallel doubts of spirituality). According to the authors’ reasoned arguments, what now forms people’s present understanding of the universe—including quantum mechanics, relativity, and the Big Bang—puts “the question of the existence of a creator God back on the table,” given the underlying implications. Einstein’s theory of relativity, for instance, presupposes that if a cause exists behind the origin of the universe, then it must be atemporal, non-spatial, and immaterial. While the book’s contentions related to Christianity specifically, such as its belief in the “indisputable truths contained in the Bible,” may not be as convincing as its broader argument on how the idea of a creator God fits into contemporary scientific understanding, the volume nevertheless offers a refreshingly nuanced approach to the topic. From the work’s outset, the authors (academically trained in math and engineering) reject fundamentalist interpretations of creationism (such as claims that Earth is only 6,000 years old) as “fanciful beliefs” while challenging the philosophical underpinnings of a purely materialist understanding of the universe that may not fit into recent scientific paradigm shifts. Featuring over 500 pages and more than 600 research notes, this book strikes a balance between its academic foundations and an accessible writing style, complemented by dozens of photographs from various sources, diagrams, and charts.
A remarkably thorough and thoughtful case for the reconciliation between science and faith.Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9789998782402
Page Count: 562
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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