Annotated bibliography Science vs. Religion

Richardson, Barry J., Christianity, Evolution and the Environment: Fitting It Together. (2001) possibly the most useful introductory book, since it assumes virtually no prior knowledge about either religion or science, but only a willingness to learn. The eight short chapters have titles: 1. Thinking about the World: Science as a Method; 2. Thinking about God: Theology as a Method; 3. Evolution as History; 4. Evolution as Process; 5. Creation and Evolution; 6. Redemption: From what, to what? 7. Our Place in Creation; 8. Creation. These are followed by a 6 page Glossary of both scientific and religious terms, 2 pages of Further Reading and Bibliography, and 2 pages of Discussion Starters, intended for either private reflection or to start off group discussions. Polkinghorne, John, One World: The Interaction of Science and Theology. (1986) Polkinghorne is the only fellow of the Royal Society who is also an ordained clergyman (Anglican). This book is the first of a trilogy, followed by Science and Creation and then Science and Providence. The theme of the book is the many levels at which reality can be viewed, and the fact that these different levels are not necessarily incompatible, and that all may all be needed to give a more complete picture. This is summed up in the following extract from page 97, in the concluding chapter: "Reality is a multi-layered unity. I can perceive another person as an aggregation of atoms, an open biochemical system in interaction with the environment, a specimen of Homo sapiens, and an object of beauty, someone whose needs deserve my respect and compassion, a brother for whom Christ died. All are true and all mysteriously coin here in that one person." Contains 6 pages of Notes which include some bibliographical information, and a 5 page Glossary, mainly of scientific terms, but with some philosophical and theological terms. McGrath, Alister E., Science and Religion: An Introduction, (1999) This book is intended (among other things) for use as a textbook for introductory courses on the interactions between religion and science, and is thus at a somewhat higher level than Richardson. As indicated in the Preface, the book "aims to introduce everything on the basis of the assumption of zero prior knowledge on the part of its readers." This aim is, in general, fulfilled. Following two pages headed "How to Use this Book", the chapter titles are: 1. Historical Landmarks; 2. Religion: Ally or Enemy of Science?; 3. Religion and the Philosophy of Science; 4. Science and the Philosophy of Religion; 5. Creation and the Sciences; 6. Natural Theology: Finding God in Nature; 7. Models and Analogies in Science and Religion; 8. Issues in Science and Religion; 9. Case Studies in Science and Religion. Each chapter concludes with a section `For further reading' relevant to that chapter. There is a 9 page Bibliography and 8 pages listing Sources of Citations for the major quotations given in the text. For those interested in further study in the area, the companion volume, ...