Synopses & Reviews
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. With the rise of modern science, however, many people began to doubt the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. In this fascinating book a team of distinguished scientists and theologians explores the belief in bodily resurrection in relation to the laws of nature.
The question pursued by the book is, How should we assess the resurrection both religiously and scientifically? In these chapters Christian theology engages in creative dialogue with the natural sciences -- physics, biology, neuroscience, and others. By examining such topics as the future of the cosmos, the workings of the human body, cybernetic immortality, and the credibility of miracles, the contributors search for a fresh approach to the intersection of religious and scientific knowledge.
Synopsis
In this volume first-rate scientists and theologians from both sides of the Atlantic explore the Christian concept of bodily resurrection in light of the views of contemporary science.
Whether it be the Easter resurrection of Jesus or the promised new life of individual believers, the authors argue that resurrection must be conceived as embodied and that our bodies cannot exist apart from their worldly environment. Yet nothing in todays scientific disciplines supports the possibility of either bodily resurrection or the new creation of the universe at large. Cosmology, for example, only forecasts an end to the universe. If persons and the cosmos are to rise up anew in the eschaton, such an event will have to be a willful act of God. Thus, while modern science can offer aid in constructing models for picturing what resurrection of the body could mean, the warrant for this belief must come from distinctly theological resources such as divine revelation. Christian faith ultimately gains its strength not from modern science but from Gods promises.
Bridging such disciplines as physics, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, biblical studies, and theology, "Resurrection" offers fascinating reading to anyone interested in this vital Christian belief or in the intersection of faith and scientific thought.