John Polkinghorne on Science and Providence

To those even vaguely familiar with the field of science-and-religion, John Polkinghorne hardly needs an introduction. In the 1970s he left an impressive career as professor of mathematical physics at Cambridge University to become an Anglican priest. Using his training in both science and religion, he has written several books that seek to bridge those two worlds.

Science & Theology News asked Polkinghorne about his most recent book Science and Providence and what contribution it makes to the field of science-and-religion.

What inspired you to write this book?

I wrote the book because I thought it important to show that science was consistent not only with a picture of God as the source of cosmic order and fruitfulness but also with a theistic understanding of divine providence at work in the history of the world, operating through interaction within the open grain of natural process. This is the kind of God to whom religious believers pray, and science, properly understood, does not forbid them to do so.

How does this book fit into the field of science-and-religion?

The topic of divine action, raised in the book, was the subject of much subsequent discussion to which I also made further contributions. It is clear that science, carefully evaluated, has not demonstrated the causal closure of the world, so the defeaters, who were claiming that physics kept God out of history, have been defeated.

For you, what is the most challenging part of writing?

The challenge in all interdisciplinary writing, including writing on science and religion, is to be clear in setting the arguments before the reader, who often will not be an expert in all the topics discussed, while being scrupulous in giving a truthful and accurate account of the ideas involved.

What is the most rewarding part of writing?

The greatest reward comes from being able to help people gain a deeper understanding of issues of great significance.

What advice would you give to new writers in the field?

I would particularly encourage more writers whose expertise lies in the human sciences, such as psychology and neuroscience, to make more contributions to the literature. This part of the frontier between science and religion is clearly an area of great importance, and one that is still relatively under-explored.

Britt Peterson is an editorial intern at Science & Theology News.