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I. Historical and Social Background of Contemporary Western Science

  • Bowler, Peter J & Iwan Rhys Morus. Making Modern Science: A Historical Survey. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2005.
  • Cook, Harold J. Matters of Exchange: Commerce, Medicine, and Science in the Dutch Golden Age. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2007.
  • Dear, Peter. The Intelligibility of Nature: How Science Makes Sense of the World. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2006.
  • Gaukroger, Stephen. Emergence of a Scientific Culture: Science and the Shaping of Modernity, 1210 - 1685. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
  • Lindberg, David C. The Beginnings of Western Science. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992.
  • Olson, Richard. Science Deified and Science Defied: The Historical Significance of Science in Western Culture, 1640 - 1820. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995.
  • Shapin, Steven. The Scientific Revolution. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1996.
  • Toulmin, Stephen. Cosmopolis: The Hidden Agenda of Modernity. New York: Free Press, 1990.
  • Wertheim, Margaret. Pythagoras’ Trousers: God, Physics, and the Gender Wars. New York: Norton, 1997.

Contributed by: Dr. Randy Maddox

The Natural Sciences and Christian Theology - A Select Bibliography

  I. Historical and Social Background of Contemporary Western Science
  II. Reflections on the Nature of Modern Science
     A. Expositions of Modern Scientific Method
     B. Introductions to the Philosophy of Science
     C. Debates over the Social Dimensions of Modern Science
  III. Popular Expositions of Contemporary Natural Science
     A. General and Survey Treatments
     B. Mathematics
     C. Particle Physics
     D. Chemistry
     E. Chaos & Complexity Theory
     F. Cosmology and Astrophysics
     G. Geology and Natural History
     H. Evolutionary Molecular Biology
     I. Sociobiology / Evolutionary Psychology
     J. Neuroscience
     K. Environmental Science/Ecology
  IV. Historical Treatments of Interaction between Natural Science and Christianity in the West
  V. Contemporary Engagement of the Natural Sciences and Christian Theology
     A. Typological Surveys of Current Science/Theology Engagement
     B. Introductions to Current Science/Theology Engagement
     C. Survey Essay Collections of Current Science/Theology Engagement
     D. Important Journals for the Current Science/Theology Engagement
     E. Representative Recent Engagements of Theology by Natural Scientists
     F. Representative Recent Engagements of Natural Science by Christian Theologians
        1. Broad Western Christian Engagements
        2. “Evangelical” Western Christian Engagements
        3. Eastern Orthodox  Engagements
        4. Consciously Revisionist Christian Engagements
           a. Moving toward a fully “Naturalist” Theology
           b. Moving toward a Universal “Mystical” Theology
     G. Select Topics in Current Natural Science / Christian Theology Dialogue
        1. The Status of Theology as a “Science”
        2. Mathematical Order of the Universe and the Divine
        3. Contemporary Physics and Divine Action / Providence
        4. Contemporary Evolutionary Biology and Divine Action / Providence
        5. Contemporary Cosmology and Creatio ex Nihilo
        6. The Creation/Evolution Controversy
           a. Detailed Bibliographies of the Controversy
           b. Historical and Sociological Perspectives on the Controversy
           c. Contemporary Anti-supernaturalist Darwinists
           d. Recent Critiques of Naturalistic Darwinism (esp. “Intelligent Design”)
           e. Scientific Counter-Critiques of Creationism
           f. Surveys of the Diversity in “Creationist” Views
           g. Representative Young-Earth Creationist Advocates
           h. Representative Progressive Creationists
           i. Representative Fully Gifted Creationists (or Theistic Evolutionists)
           j. Additional Exegetical and Theological Perspectives
        7. Cosmology and Eschatology
        8. Sociobiology / Evolutionary Psychology and Human Nature
        9. Genetic Impact on Behavior and Human Responsibility
        10. Neuroscience and the Human Soul / Human Responsibility
     H. Engagement of Ethical Dimensions of Modern Science/Technology
       1. Survey Treatments
       2. Nuclear Energy and Weapons
       3. Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering
       4. Ecological Crisis, Environmentalism, and Christian Worldview

Source:


Dr. Randy Maddox

Prepared with support of the John Templeton Oxford Seminar on Science and Christianity (1999-2002)