Articles
Editorial
Keith Fox
Pages: 61-62
How the Laws of Nature were Naturalised
Jeffrey Koperski
Pages: 63-82
Abstract
When the notion of laws of nature first arose in the early modern period, it was an undisputedly theistic idea. Descartes and Newton believed there were laws because there was a divine Lawgiver. Today, the laws of nature have been thoroughly naturalized, but this shift away from a theistic understanding did not come about by accident. It was instead part of a larger programme to naturalise science in the nineteenth century. The most successful driver of this programme was a British group known as the X-Club, whose most prominent member was zoologist Thomas Henry Huxley. After briefly considering why the laws of nature became a foundational idea in science, we will trace how this reconceptualisation came about.
From Deterrence to Abhorrence: How the Catholic Church Has ChangedIts Mind on Nuclear Weapons
Jonathan W. Chappell
Pages: 83-98
Abstract
Nuclear weapons constitute one of the greatest current threats to world peace. While the Roman Catholic Church has been unequivocal in its condemnation of their use, Church teaching since the Second World War on possessing nuclear weapons as a deterrent has been less clear-cut. This article will lay out the principles of Just War Theory and demonstrate that the use of nuclear weapons is never morally justified. It will show how the thinking of the Church’s Magisterium moved from accepting the possession of nuclear weapons as a deterrent to teaching that the very possession of such weapons is intrinsically immoral. It will conclude with a call for the immediate abandonment of the policy of nuclear deterrence, together with unconditional unilateral nuclear disarmament, as the only moral imperative consistent with divine law.
Secondary school students’ perceptions of scientific and religiouspositions on miracles
Berry Billingsley, Keith S. Taber, Mehdi Nassaji
Pages: 99-120
Abstract
This paper reports on a study designed to discover how students characterise the scientific and religious positions on miracles and their access to a range of views on how science and religion relate. The study is part of a larger research initiative exploring the value of scholarly reasoning about the interactions between science and religion as a resource for educators, researchers and others seeking ways to advance young people’s epistemic insight. Teaching epistemic insight, ‘knowledge about knowledge’, includes considering the power and limitations of science in the context of different types of questions and how science relates to other ways of knowing. For many decades in schools in England and internationally the accepted practice has been to teach lessons about the nature of science within the confines of a subject (science) that focuses on teaching scientific content. This means that students’ opportunities for learning about science as a discipline in school can be limited to studying questions that are very amenable to science. The paper draws on the findings from a survey of 2,530 students and interviews with 61 students aged 14-19 to discuss the extent to which students seem to be accessing an appreciation of the power, relevance and limitations of science. The paper then examines some possible consequences of the findings and makes recommendations for science communication and secondary school education.
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Correspondence
Response to William Horst
Stom Ambrose
Pages: 132-136
Response to Tom Ambrose
William Horst
Pages: 137-140
Book reviews
Christianity and the New Eugenics
Calum MacKellar, (D. Gareth Jones)
Pages: 141-142
Physico-theology: Religion and Science in Europe, 1650-1750
Ann Blair and Kaspar von Greyerz (eds.),
(Nick Spencer)
Pages: 143-144
EcoTheology: A Christian Conversation
Kiara A. Jorgenson and Alan G. Padgett (eds.), (Dr Ruth Valerio )
Pages: 145-145
Bede and the Cosmos: Theology and Nature in the Eighth Century
Eoghan Ahern, (James Hannam)
Pages: 146-147
Dinosaurs, volcanoes and Holy Writ: a boy turned-scientist journeys from fundamentalism to faith
James L. Hayward, (Hugh Rollinson)
Pages: 148-148
Original Sin and the Fall: Five Views
J. B. Stump and Chad Meister (eds.),
(The Revd Dr Ernest Lucas)
Pages: 149-150
On The Origin of Consciousness: An Exploration through the Lens of the Christian Conception of God and Creation
Scott D. G. Ventureyra, (Carl Thomas)
Pages: 151-152
Cosmology Without God?: The Problematic Theology Inherent in Modern Cosmology
David Alcalde, (Dr Kevin Ralley)
Pages: 153-153
Can we believe in people? Human Significance in an Interconnected Cosmos
Stephen R. L. Clark, (Mirjam Schilling)
Pages: 154-154
Bioethics and the Character of Human Life
Gilbert Meilaender, (John Bryant)
Pages: 155-156
Science without God? Rethinking the History of Scientific Naturalism
Peter Harrison & Jon H. Roberts (eds.),
(Nathan Bossoh)
Pages: 157-157
Through a Glass, Darkly: Journeys through Science, Faith & Doubt - a memoir
Alister McGrath, (Steph Bevan)
Pages: 158-158
Orthodox Christianity and Modern Science: Tensions, Ambiguities, Potential
V. N. Makrides, G. E. Woloschak (eds.),
(Elizabeth Theokritoff)
Pages: 159-160
Ramified Natural Theology in Science and Religion: Moving Forward from Natural Theology
Rodney Holder, (Shaun Henson)
Pages: 161-162
What Good is God: Crises. Faith. and resilience.
Roger Abbott and Robert White, (John Swinton)
Pages: 163-164
The Mind of God and the Works of Nature: Laws and Powers in Naturalism, Platonism, and Classical Theism
James Orr, (Steven Horst)
Pages: 165-166