Table of contents
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Pages: 3-3
Editorial board
Editorial Board
Editorial Board
Pages: 2-2
Editorial
Editorial
Keith Fox
Pages: 4-5
Articles
Burning Bush, Heavenly Dove, Tongues of Fire: Holographic-Like Manifestations of God’s Presence
John Jefferson Davis
Pages: 6-17
Abstract
This article presents a new analogy for three biblical theophanies: the burning bush at the call of Moses; the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove at the baptism of Jesus; and the tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost. The article proposes that these visible manifestations of God’s presence could be understood––analogically––as holographic-like objects created by the Holy Spirit. The biblical and theological contexts of these theophanies are discussed. The history and technology of holographic imaging are sketched. Arguments for the validity of the theophany––holographic image analogy are expounded. Theological advantages of the analogy are suggested.
From Stereotypes to Types: A Scientific and Spiritual Defence of Man and Woman
Gordon Menzies
Pages: 18-42
Abstract
This paper integrates science and Christian belief to defend a vision of gender that is both empirically and spiritually grounded. Using the biopsychosocial model, it shows that gender differences are real yet probabilistic—shaped by biology, psychology, and society. I use the biopsychosocial model to frame differences as typical rather than stereotypical: on-average patterns with significant overlap, not rigid categories. The paper introduces two concepts which emerge (without endorsement) from the early writings of Judith Butler: inner harmony—the alignment of body, desire, and gender within the self—and outer harmony—the interplay of similarity and difference that enriches human community. Outer harmony is reflected in Scripture, where most commands address our common humanity, yet some speak to gendered realities, affirming both equality and distinction. Science and theology thus converge in offering a similar-but-different account of gender, providing an integrated framework for understanding and celebrating gender as a divine gift.
Archaeological science as a tool to constrain the dating of the Pentateuch’s source documents
Philip J Senter
Pages: 43-70
Abstract
Most modern scholars agree that the Pentateuch was woven together from multiple source documents. Linguistic and socio-political approaches to the dating of its source documents have not yet produced a consensus as to their composition dates. Here, I apply a different approach: utilization of the findings of archaeological science, under the principle that a passage is no older than the things that it mentions (towns, technologies, etc.). Within the framework of the Documentary Hypothesis, this approach finds a terminus post quem (TPQ) of the final redaction in the 10th or 9th century BC for the Elohist source (E), the 9th century BC for the Yahwist and Priestly sources (J and P), and the 8th century BC for the Deuteronomist source (D). These results cast doubt on previous hypotheses that these source documents were completed earlier and are consistent with hypotheses of later (e.g. post-exilic) composition. Researchers who prefer Pentateuchal composition hypotheses other than the Documentary Hypothesis can apply the results of this study within the frameworks of their preferred hypotheses by applying the TPQ of any given passage to its hypothesized source. This study shows that archaeological science is a useful tool to constrain the dating of biblical passages.
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Book reviews
Global Perspectives on Science and Christianity
Mike Brownnutt and Keith R. Fox (Ed) (Andrew Briggs)
Pages: 71-73
Some New World: Myths of Supernatural Belief in a Secular Age
Peter Harrison (Meric Srokosz)
Pages: 73-74
Human Flourishing: Scientific Insight & Spiritual Wisdom in Uncertain Times
Andrew Briggs and Michael J Reiss (Andrew Jackson)
Pages: 74-75
God Speaks Science: The Simple Chemistry of Life and Faith
David Johnson (Andrew Halestrap)
Pages: 75-76
The New Biology: A Battle between Mechanism and Organicism
Michael J Reiss and Michael Ruse (Keith Fox)
Pages: 76-79
Faith: A Very Short Introduction
Roger Trigg (Alan Kerry)
Pages: 79-80
Maximus the Confessor and Evolutionary Biology: The Phylogenetic Logoi
Maximus the Confessor and Evolutionary Biology: The Phylogenetic Logoi
Pages: 80-81
Christian Ethics and Biomedical Innovation
Stephen Goundrey-Smith (Keith Fox)
Pages: 81-83
The prospect of a humanitarian artificial intelligence
Carlos Montemayor (Peter Robinson)
Pages: 83-84
Science Fiction and Christian Theology
Victoria Lorrimar (Christina Biggs)
Pages: 84-85
How Does God Act in the World? Science, Miracle and Mission
David Wilkinson (Roger Trigg)
Pages: 85-86
Unravelling DNA: Applying Christian values to a genetic age
Chris Wild (Deborah Mackay)
Pages: 86-87
Natural Theology: Five Views
James K. Dew, Jr. and Ronnie Campbell, Eds (Mathew M Anderson)
Pages: 87-89
Divine Windows: Seeing God Through the Lens of Science
David Gregory (Steve Bishop)
Pages: 89-90
God’s Book: An Honest Look at the Bible’s 7 Toughest Topics
Andrew Ollerton (Paul Marston)
Pages: 90-91