Science and Religions in America: A New Look

Description

What is religion? What is science? How do they interact with each other? Science and Religions in America: A New Look offers a cutting-edge overview of the diverse range of religious traditions and their complex and fascinating interaction with science. Pluralistic in scope, the book is different from traditional Christian and/or monotheistic approaches to studying the rich interplay of religion and science in multi-religious American culture. Featuring interviews with specialists in the field, Greg Cootsona draws on their insights to provide a comprehensive, accessible, and engaging introduction to the challenging interrelationship of religion and science. Each chapter focuses on a different religion within the United States, covering Buddhism, Christianity, Nature Religions, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and the Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR). Global religious traditions and their inextricable relationship with science and technology are examined in an accessible and interactive format. With "lightning round Q&As," contributions from leading thinkers, and suggestions for further reading, this book primes undergraduate students for studying the interchange of science and religions (in the plural) and is an exciting new resource for those interested in these topics in contemporary America. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Table of Contents 1 Why and how I think you should read this book—a bit of a roadmap One thing I’m not trying to do On a crash course with the study of religion Quick and dirty definitions Three—not four—ways to relate science and religion The present moment in science Final thoughts Suggestions for further reading 2 Complex and frequently misunderstood: Christianity and science Introducing Christianity: a lightning round Q & A Ted Peters: scholar and guide for this chapter Two initial caveats A little bit of history Faith and reason Creation and evolution CSR and the origins of belief The Big Bang Fine-tuning Technology and Christianity Science and Christian ethics Final thoughts Suggestions for further reading 3 Streaming science and spirituality: The Spiritual but Not Religious Introducing SBNRs: another lightning round Q & A Discussing SBNRs and science with Elaine Howard Ecklund How SBNR came to be The connection with emerging adulthood How technology formed SBNR spirituality Streaming life, science, and spirituality Good ole American individualism Ethics are not peripheral On technology, SBNR, and transhumanism Approaching science and religion as an SBNR Certainly not scriptural literalists Final thoughts Suggestions for further reading 4 More than mindfulness: Buddhism and science Introducing Buddhism: the lightning round Q & A Daniel Veidlinger guides our journey Caveats Neuroscience, consciousness, and mindfulness Testing for truth On nothingness and physics An interlude: Buddhism and Big Bang Digital Buddhism Evolution and the ethics of ahimsa Final thoughts Suggestions for further reading 5 The way of interconnection: Science and nature religions Introducing nature religions: the lightning round Q & A Learning from Sarah Pike on nature religions No specific words Ethics as a starter The method of story The spiritualization of science Questions that fascinate me Final thoughts Suggestions for further reading 6 Extraordinary influence: Judaism and science Introducing Judaism: the lightning round Q & A The scholar for this chapter: Geoffrey Mitelman Orthopraxy Formed by history Learning through debate A flexible family The God who creates The spectrum of belief among Jewish scientists The particular case of evolution Technology and Judaism Final thoughts Suggestions for further readings 7 Creation and the oneness of God: Islam and science Introducing Islam: the lightning round Q & A Yunus Dogan Telliel and Nidhal Guessoum accompany us History matters then and now Key terms and natural theology The Quran and science The Quran and creation The particular case of scientific tafsir Islam and evolution Technology and transhumanism Science, ethics, and Islam Final thoughts Suggestions for further reading 8 Connections both old and new: Hinduism and science Introducing Hinduism: one last lightning round Q & A Two scholars for this chapter: Victoria Price and Vijaya Nagarajan History of Hinduism, history of science The specific case of evolution Technology and Hinduism Concerning cosmology Flexible interpretations Focus on consciousness Ethics, global climate change Final thoughts Suggestions for further reading 9 Conclusion: Reflections on method and more Still on a crash course Returning to the central topic Reflections on related themes My final take Suggestions for further reading 10 Glossary of terms Index