Science and the Spiritual Quest (Revised Book Review)

Science and the Spiritual Quest.
New Essays by Leading Scientists.
Edited by W. Mark Richardson, Robert John Russell, Philip Clayton and Kirk Wegter-McNelly. London and New York: Routledge, 2002.

Science and the Spiritual Quest is a collection of essays written by a variety of credible scientists of today. This book consists of two hundred and sixty four pages, sixteen chapters, and includes an index and highly informative introduction. Through writing each scientist has individually explored their personal beliefs and ideas about science and spirituality, how the two relate or seem unrelated in their minds.

The purpose of these essays is not to argue or persuade, nor to pressurize the reader into accepting one and rejecting the other. Instead, it provides us with insight into the minds of scientists allowing us to understand their points of view and to realize that they, like ourselves, also struggle with the controversial issue of science and religion.

Each scientist contributes a different story, and different perspective in their writing. Most have been brought up in different religious settings, and for some religion has not played a major part in their life. Before reading each scientist’s essay, they are each individually interviewed about their religious and professional background, they explain how religion has influenced their profession or vice versa. This method is useful in aiding us to have a better knowledge of each scientist’s style and personality. It also enables the reader to feel better acquainted with them, the authors.

I chose this book because I am both a science student and a spiritual individual. For the longest time I had separated my studies from my spirituality. Never before had I thought to use the two hand in hand, to compliment rather than contradict one another. This book helped me realize that this was possible, and led me to believe that science is a reflection of God’s intelligence.

This book shows that not all scientists are the impersonal, naïve and ungodly individuals that many stereotype them to be. In fact, some of these scientists used their spirituality to pursue such a profession in the hope that they would be able to find the ultimate truth. A Methodist astronomer, Allan Sandage, was one who pursued astronomy because he wanted to know the purpose of life. He soon learned that “ trying to find the answer within science led nowhere” (p52). Instead, this quest helped him to see that science can only lead to objective truths, and not that of theological truth. Kendler, a Jewish psychiatrist, also realizes this when he says, “when it comes to knowledge about our world and how it works, science is our best and least fallible source of knowledge” (p33).

However, the one thing that this book does not provide us with is a clean-cut answer of what it true and what is not, with this in mind reading this book should not mislead nor disappoint you. As Michael Ruse nicely states: “Religion does not have to be reasonable in a scientific sort of way” (p 139).

I would recommend this book to all who have pondered the question of truth and how or by whom it is determined; can the definition of truth be applied differently in different contexts? I think those interested in the dichotomy of both science and spirituality and who want to find middle ground between the two would enjoy reading this book. You do not necessarily have to have a great understanding of scientific terms, since much of the language is softened to reach out to a larger audience. However, those educated in science to some degree may find it easier to relate more to what these scientists have contributed in their essays.