COSMIC CHEMISTRY: Do God and Science Mix? PB

Is the rigorous pursuit of scientific knowledge really compatible with a sincere faith in God? Building on the arguments put forward in God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?, Prof John Lennox examines afresh the plausibility of a Christian theistic worldview in the light of some of the latest developments in scientific understanding.

Prof Lennox focuses on the areas of evolutionary theory, the origins of life and the universe, and the concepts of mind and consciousness to provide a detailed and compelling introduction to the science and religion debate. He also offers his own reasoning as to why he continues to be convinced a Christian approach to explaining these phenomena. Robust in its reasoning, but respectful in tone, this book is vital reading for anyone exploring the relationship between science and God.

As reviewed by Stephen McQuoid, GLO Europe General Director

Cosmic Chemistry is a great book by the renown Christian apologist and mathematician John Lennox. Back on 2007 John wrote God’s Undertaker: Has Science buried God? It was a brilliant little book, but since then, there have been significant developments in science and the science and faith dialogue, necessitating the penning of this book which has the same aim but is twice the size. John has the ability to identify the big and important issues and to write about them in a very accessible way, even when dealing with complex ideas. This book fits exactly into this mould and is incredibly insightful.

He begins with a broad survey of the landscape before looking at how worldviews influence how we look at the data of science. While he does so, he points out why naturalism fails, but why theism provides a better explanation for what we see in the universe around us. John also argues that faith needs to be defined properly so that we still uphold the value of the scientific enterprise while believing that God is the first cause. From here he unpacks the scientific data in relation to fine tuning, genetics and information rich complexity in life. He notes that these realities require explanation and that it is absent from the position of the naturalist. He then launches into a discussion about evolution, pointing out its limitations and the improbability of it being an adequate explanation for life. This is followed by a fascinating chapter on Brain, Mind and the Quantum world in which John claims that the evidence trumps materialism and reopens the door to belief in God. This brings us to the last chapter where he brings a focus to everything stated so far. He lists the evidence that plausibly suggests that the universe is actually the product of a divine mind.

While always careful not to claim too much, John presents a compelling case for theism as well as demonstrating the compatibility of belief in God while having a commitment to science. This is a brilliant book and one that could easily be given to young Christians, especially as they prepare for university.

ISBN: 9780745981406
Producer: Lion Hudson
Binding: Paperback
Release Date: 17.09.2021