The Theological Significance of the History of Science: John Templeton and the Promotion of Science and Religion

This article examines the rationale behind philanthropist John Templeton's investment in the field of science and religion. His support stems in part from the conviction that historical developments in science are finally leading us to the right understanding of God’s relationship to the create...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jordan, Peter 1979- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2023
In: Journal of the American Academy of Religion
Year: 2023, Volume: 91, Issue: 3, Pages: 542-560
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This article examines the rationale behind philanthropist John Templeton's investment in the field of science and religion. His support stems in part from the conviction that historical developments in science are finally leading us to the right understanding of God’s relationship to the created order. The older, mechanical picture of nature that science purportedly gave us implies that God is distant from nature, whereas more recent discoveries are revealing nature's complexity, elusiveness, intangibility, unpredictability, and creativity and imply God's intimate presence to, and involvement in, nature. This newer theological picture is consistent with a theological tradition to which Templeton had been exposed since childhood. Believing that science is finally uncovering theological truths about God and God's relationship to the world, Templeton sought to shape science and (especially) religion so that comparable breakthroughs might continue to flow in the future.
ISSN:1477-4585
Contains:Enthalten in: American Academy of Religion, Journal of the American Academy of Religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1093/jaarel/lfae021