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Religion and Science: An Introductory Resource Guide

Created by Liz Leahy, Associate Professor of Theological Bibliography and Research and Special Assistant to the Dean, University Libraries, September 2007

The resources on this list are designed to provide an introductory companion to begin your research in religion and science and this bibliography has a special emphasis on resources in Christianity. As an interdisciplinary field, the focus is primarily on the overlapping areas of the natural sciences, philosophy and systematic theology. While there are a variety of related topics such as creation/evolution/intelligent design and various bioethics topics, this guide attempts to provide a broad overview and entry into the subject. See the subject headings list to begin to narrow your research. While the majority of resources on this topic are held in the Stamps Theological Library (THEO), resources are also located across the Azusa Pacific campus libraries and are designated as MML for Marshburn Memorial Library (East Campus) and DAR for the Darling Library (on the West Campus).

Introductory Resources

Subject Introduction

  1. Science and Religion: An Introduction
    McGrath, Alister E.
    Blackwell Publishers, 1999
    BL240.2 .M413 1999 (THEO)

  2. Science and Theology: An Introduction
    Polkinghorne, John C.
    Fortress Press, 1998
    BL240.2 .P57634 1998 (THEO)

Reference Books

  1. The History of Science and Religion in the Western Tradition: An Encyclopedia
    Ferngren, Gary B., Ed.
    Garland Publishing, 2000
    BL245.H57 2000 (THEO REF)
  2. Encyclopaedia of Religion, Second Edition
    Jones, Lindsay, editor in chief
    Thomson-Gale, 2005
    BL 31.E46 2005 (THEO REF)

    *There is an excellent overview article on the subject: Peters, Ted. "Science and Religion," pp. 8180-8191 (v.12).
  3. Encyclopedia of Science and Religion
    Van Huyssteen, J. Wentzel Vrede, editor in chief
    Thompson Gale, 2003, 2 volumes
    BL240.3 .E53 2003 (THEO REF)

Find Books & Media

Books and media in the APU University Libraries can be found by using the APOLIS2 online catalog.

Subject Headings & Call Number Ranges

While the primary subject heading used for this topic is Religion and Science, it may be narrowed by time period, such as 20th century, or type of material, such as Religion and Science – Periodicals, or discussion, such as Religion and Science – History. See Religion and Science in the subject listing for the many potential subdivisions. LC classifies many works in the BL 239-265 range. The other classification ranges vary within each subject heading and you may be better served to search by subject instead of call number range. Where a distinct call number range is available, it is listed adjacent to the subject heading below.

Other related topics to this study include:

  1. Subject: Bible and Science (Call numbers BS 650-667)
  2. Subject: Natural Theology (Call numbers BL 175-265)
  3. Subject: Bioethics – Religious aspects – Christianity (Call numbers QH 332 or R 725)
  4. Subject: Genetics
    See also: Genetic Engineering – Religious aspects – Christianity (Call numbers TP 248.6)
  5. Subject: Cosmology (Call numbers BD 493 - 701)
  6. Subject: Creation – History of Doctrines (Call numbers BL 224-227)
  7. Subject: Evolution – Religious Aspects (Mostly in BL and BS ranges, also B 818)
  8. Subject: God – Proof, Cosmological (Call numbers BT 102)
    See also: God – Proof, Ontological (Call numbers BT 102)
    See also: God – Proof, Teleological (Call numbers BT 102)
  9. Subject: Human evolution – Religious aspects – Christianity (Call numbers BT 695 - 749)
  10. Subject: Teleology
  11. Subject: Biology – Religious Aspects – Christianity (Call numbers BS 650-667)
  12. Subject: Physics – Religious aspects
  13. Subject: Technology – Religious aspects (Call numbers BR 115)
  14. Subject: Scientists – Religious life (Call numbers BV 4596)

Books

  1. Science and Religion: A Reader
    Astley, Jeff, David Brown and Ann Loades, editors.
    T & T Clark International, c2004
    BL240.3 .A78 2004 (THEO)
  2. Religion and Science: Historical and Contemporary Issues
    Barbour, Ian G.
    HarperSanFrancisco, 1997
    BL240.2 .R367 1997 (THEO)
  3. Reconstructing Nature: The Engagement of Science and Religion
    Brooke, John Hedley and Geoffrey Cantor
    T&T Clark, 1998
    BL241 .B76 1998 (THEO)
  4. Science and Religion: Some Historical Perspectives
    Brooke, John Hedley.
    Cambridge University Press, 1991
    BL245 .B77 1991 (THEO)
  5. Life in Our Hands: A Christian Perspective on Genetics and Cloning
    Bryant, John and John Searle
    Inter-varsity, 2004
    QH332 .B79 2004 (THEO)
  6. Bioengagement: Making a Christian Difference Through Bioethics Today
    Cameron, Nigel M. de S. , Scott E. Daniels, and Barbara J. White, editors.
    Eerdmans, 2000
    QH332 .B5173 2000 (THEO and DAR)
  7. Science & Christianity: Four Views
    Carlson, Richard F., editor
    Inter-Varsity, 2000
    BL240.2 .S3228 2000     (THEO)
  8. Not Just Science: Questions Where Christian Faith and Natural Science Intersect
    Chappell, Dorothy F. and E. David Cook, general editors.
    Zondervan, 2005
    BL240.3 .N68 2005 (THEO)
  9. God and Contemporary Science
    Clayton, Philip C.
    Eerdmans, 1997
    BL240.2 .C578 1997 (THEO)
  10. The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
    Collins, Francis S.
    Free Press, 2006
    BL240.3 .C66 2006     (THEO)
  11. Creation Out of Nothing: A Biblical, Philosophical, and Scientific Exploration
    Copan, Paul and William Lane Craig
    Baker Academic, 2004
    BT695 .C66 2004     (THEO)
  12. Signs of Intelligence: Understanding Intelligent Design
    Dembski, William A. and James M. Kushiner
    Brazos Press, c2001
    BL263 .S54 2001 (THEO)
  13. The Bible, Protestantism, and the Rise of Natural Science
    Harrison, Peter
    Cambridge University Press, 1998
    E-BOOK
  14. Science and Religion: From Conflict to Conversation
    Haught, John F.
    Paulist, c1995
    BL240.2 .H385 1995 (THEO)
  15. The New Frontier of Religion and Science: Religious Experience, Neuroscience and the Transcendent
    Hick, John
    Palgrave Macmillan, 2006
    BL51 .H4935 2006     (THEO)
  16. Theology and Modern Physics
    Hodgson, P.E.
    Ashgate, c2005
    BL265.P4 H63 2005 (THEO)
  17. God's Two Books: Copernican Cosmology and Biblical Interpretation in Early Modern Science
    Howell, Kenneth J.
    University of Notre Dame Press, c2002
    BL240 .H76 2002 (THEO)
  18. Time & Eternity: The Question of Time in Church, Science, and Theology
    Jackelén, Antje.
    Templeton Foundation Press, c2005
    BT78 .J3313 2005     (THEO)
  19. Science, Life, and Christian Belief: A Survey of Contemporary Issues
    Jeeves, Malcolm A. and R.J. Berry
    Baker Books, 1998
    BS650 .J37 1998 (THEO)
  20. The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity Presents Bioethics and the Future of Medicine: A Christian Appraisal
    Kilner, John F., Nigel M. de S. Cameron, and David L. Shiedermayer, editors
    Eerdmans, 1995
    R725.56 .B55 1995 (DAR)
  21. When Science & Christianity Meet
    Lindberg, David C. and Ronald L. Numbers, editors
    University of Chicago Press, 2003
    BL245 .B35 2003     (THEO)
  22. The Foundations of Dialogue in Science and Religion
    McGrath, Alister E.
    Blackwell Publishers, 1998
    BL240.2 .M4 1998     (THEO)
  23. Christianity and the Nature of Science
    Moreland, J.P.
    Baker Book House, c1989
    BL240.2 .M645 1989 (THEO)
  24. Science & Grace: Gods Reign in the Natural Sciences
    Morris, Tim
    Crossway, 2006
    BL240.3 .M67 2006 (THEO)
  25. Reconciling Theology and Science: A Radical Reformation Perspective
    Murphy, Nancey C.
    Herald, c1997
    BL240.2 .M87 1997 (THEO)
  26. Roman Catholicism and Modern Science: A History
    O’Leary, Don
    Continuum, 2006
    BX1795.S35 O44 2006 (THEO)
  27. Science and the Study of God: A Mutuality Model for Theology and Science
    Padgett, Alan G.
    Eerdmans, 2003
    BL240.3 .P33 2003 (THEO)
  28. Science and Theology: The New Consonance
    Peters, Ted, editor
    Westview Press, c1998
    BL241 .S382 1998 (THEO)
  29. Faith, Science, and Understanding
    Polkinghorne, John C.
    Yale University Press, 2000
    BL241 .P563 2000 (THEO)
  30. Science, Religion, and the Human Experience
    Proctor, James D., editor
    Oxford University Press, 2005
    BL241 .S323 2005 (THEO)
  31. Religion & Science: History, Method, Dialogue
    Richardson, Mark W. and Wesley J. Wildman
    Routledge, 1996
    BL240.2 .R43 1996 (THEO)
  32. Chaos and Complexity: Scientific Perspectives on Divine Action
    Russell, Robert John, Nancey Murphy, and Arthur R. Peacocke, editors
    University of Notre Dame Press, 2000
    BL265.C45 C5 2000 (THEO)
  33. Divine Action and Modern Science
    Saunders, Nicholas
    Cambridge University Press, 2002
    BL240.3 .S34 2002 (THEO)
  34. Alone in the World? Human Uniqueness in Science and Theology
    Gifford Lectures of 2004
    Van Huyssteen, Wentzel
    Eerdmans, 2006
    BT701.3 .V36 2006 (THEO)

Subject Bibliographies

  1. Science and Religion in the English-speaking World, 1600-1727: A Bibliographic Guide to the Secondary Literature
    Brooks, Richard S.
    Scarecrow Press, 2001
    Z7844.5 .B76 2001 (THEO)

Resources in Non-APU Libraries

  1. LINK+
    LINK+ is a single catalog for 40+ California libraries that have a cooperative borrowing and lending arrangement for books only. This service is for APU faculty, staff and students, and is free. Items usually come within 2-3 working days.
  2. WorldCat
    WorldCat is a single catalog for hundreds of North American and international libraries. Books and other library resources may be requested from this catalog through the interlibrary loan service. This service is for APU faculty, staff and students, and costs $2.00 per item requested. Items usually come within 7-10 working days.

Find Journal Articles

Journals in the APU University Libraries can be found by using the Periodical Finder. Besides the collection of print and electronic journals, you may also obtain journal articles through many of the APU Libraries' online databases.

Journals

The APU Libraries receive a wide range of journals in the fields of religion and theology. Those specifically relating to theology and the sciences include the following:

  1. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith: Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation
    Available formats: Print
  2. Science and Christian Belief
    Available formats: Print / Online
  3. Theology & Science
    Available formats: Online
  4. Zygon
    Available formats: Print / Online (1966-2002) / Online (1997-1 year ago)

Databases

For a description of each database, go to the online resources page and look up the database by title. While the topics related to religion and science are interdisciplinary, the broadest coverage is more likely to be in the theology and philosophy databases. Research that focuses on specific scientific issues, such as bioethics, stem-cell research, and genetics, are more likely to be located in our science databases.

  1. Academic Search Premier
  2. JSTOR
  3. Project Muse
  4. Web of Knowledge

Relevant theological databases:

  1. ATLA Religion Database with ATLAS
  2. Catholic Periodical and Literature Index Online
  3. Christian Periodical Index
  4. ProQuest Religion

Getting Journal Articles

  1. Periodical Finder
    Sometimes while using a database, article records are found without any corresponding full-text article. Use Periodical Finder to see whether or not the article can be found in full-text in a different database. It can also be used to look up the full-text availability of items found in bibliographies.
  2. Articles not at APU
    If a journal article is unavailable in either the print journal collection or one of the online databases, it can be requested through interlibrary loan.

Find Internet Resources

* In most cases the information included for each description comes directly from the associated website or from a list maintained by Charles Bellinger at the Wabash Center.

Professional Organizations

  1. The American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) is a fellowship of men and women in science and disciplines that relate to science who share a common fidelity to the Word of God and a commitment to integrity in the practice of science.
  2. Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences (ACMS): Seeks to encourage Christians in the mathematical sciences to explore the relationship of their faith to their discipline. To promote interaction among Christians in the mathematical sciences. To encourage research and writing by Christians, especially on topics interrelating their faith and their discipline. To promote innovative and effective teaching.
  3. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): The American Association for the Advancement of Science, "Triple A-S" (AAAS), is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. In addition to organizing membership activities, AAAS publishes the journal Science, as well as many scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide. AAAS established the Program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) in 1995 to facilitate communication between scientific and religious communities. The Dialogue builds on AAAS's long-standing commitment to relate scientific knowledge and technological development to the purposes and concerns of society at large. The objectives of the Dialogue are to:
    • Contribute to the level of scientific understanding in religious communities.
    • Promote multidisciplinary education and scholarship of the ethical and religious implications of advancements in science and technology.
  4. Christians in Science: CiS is an international network of those concerned with the relationship between science and Christian faith, open to scientists, teachers, students and all those with an interest in this dialogue.

Other Websites

  1. Access Research Network
    This site offers a variety of materials relating to science and religion, focusing on debates surrounding the theory of evolution. Criticisms of Darwinism by Michael Behe and Phillip Johnson are prominently featured.
  2. Center for Theology & the Natural Sciences
    "The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) strives to bridge these two disciplines. CTNS is a non-profit international membership organization dedicated to research, teaching and public service. It focuses on the relation between contemporary physics, cosmology, technology, environmental studies, evolutionary and molecular biology and Christian theology and ethics." The Center is affiliated with the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley; it places significant emphasis on developing courses and programs in religion and science. Center Director is Robert Russell.
  3. Center for the Study of Science and Religion: The Center for the Study of Science and Religion (CSSR) was founded in the summer of 1999 with support from the Office of the Executive Vice Provost of Columbia University. It is an interdisciplinary, inter-school, collaborative forum for the examination of issues lying at the boundary of the scientific and religious ways of comprehending the world and our place in it.
  4. European Society for the Study of Science and Theology
    Esssat is a scholarly, non-confessional organization, based in Europe, which aims to promote the study of relationships between the natural sciences and theological views. ESSSAT has members from 22 European countries as well as members from other continents. They have different confessional backgrounds, and may include non-believers and atheists. As scientists, theologians, philosophers and historians they work on a better understanding of the interactions between two of the most powerful human pursuits, namely religion and science.
  5. Faraday Institute for Science and Religion
    The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion is an academic research enterprise based at St Edmund's College, Cambridge. The Institute has four main activities: 1) Scholarly research and publication on science and religion, including the organisation of invited groups of experts to write joint publications. 2) To provide short-term courses in science and religion. 3) To organise seminars and lectures on science and religion and 4) To provide accurate information on science and religion for the international media and wider public.  The Faraday Institute derives its name from Michael Faraday, one of Britain's best-known scientists, who saw his faith as integral to his scientific research. The Faraday Institute has a Christian ethos, but encourages engagement with a wide diversity of opinions concerning interactions between science and religion, without engaging in advocacy.
  6. Gifford Lectures
    This site offers information about the history of the famous lecture series on natural theology.
  7. Institute for Theological Encounter with Science & Technology
    "We are an organization committed to ongoing dialog among contemporary thinkers, assessing developments in science and technology for their theological implications and to apply religious values to scientific processes."
  8. John Templeton Foundation
    A major philanthropic foundation which supports research into science and religion.
  9. Pascal Centre for Advanced Studies in Faith and Science
    Director: Dr. Jitse van der Meer, at Redeemer College in Ontario, Canada.
  10. Reasons To Believe
    "Reasons To Believe is the only Christian ministry dedicated to identifying and communicating the theological significance of the latest scientific discoveries. Since God is the author of both nature and Scripture, we can proclaim with confidence that each new discovery shows us more about the Creator and affirms the reliability of His word." This site focuses on the apologetic efforts of Dr. Hugh Ross.
  11. Veritas Forum
    This group of academics seeks to present Christian ideas to university audiences, seeking to inspire the shapers of tomorrow's culture to connect their hardest questions with the person and story of Jesus Christ.
  12. Zygon Center for Religion and Science
    "The Center is dedicated to relating religious traditions and scientific knowledge in order to gain insight into the origins, nature, and future of humans and their environment, and to realize the common goal of a world in which love, justice, and ecologically responsible styles of living prevail."
Note: This information is current for the 2007-08 academic year. For additional information, please contact the appropriate office.
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