Galileo, Darwin, and Hawking - Phil Dowe

The history of the interaction between science and religion is fraught with tension, although, as philosopher Phil Dowe demonstrates, many thoughtful and religious people have also found harmony between these two crucial fields. This fascinating book insightfully surveys the relationship of science, reason, and religion, giving special attention to the most contentious topics -- cosmology, evolution, and miracles.

Providing a superb introduction to the philosophy of science, Dowe'sGalileo, Darwin, and Hawkingcontends that there are four basic ways to relate science and religion. Two of them,naturalismandreligious science, present these endeavors as antagonistic. By contrast, an independenceview understands them as wholly unrelated. Finally, aninteractionaccount sees religion and science as complementary -- perhaps even dependent on one another. Dowe finds this last perspective the most historically and philosophically compelling. He argues his case by exploring the history of science, highlighting the life and work of three scientific giants: Galileo Galilei, Charles Darwin, and Stephen Hawking.