Annotated Science/Faith Bibliography
Integration of science and theology
- Barbour, Ian G., 1991, Religion in an Age of Science, HarperCollins,
Discusses and compares several different models for integrating science
- Bube, Richard H., 1995, Putting it all Together: Seven Patterns
for Relating Science and the Christian Faith, University Press of America.
- Behe, Michael J., 1996, Darwin's Black Box, Simon & Schuster.
One of the leading "intelligent design" advocates argues that certain
biomolecular systems are "irreducibly complex" and could not have been assembled
by natural processes.
- Berry, R.J., 2001, God and Evolution, Regent College Publishing.
A reprint of a 1988 book by a British evangelical Christian and professor
of genetics at University College London. Makes a strong case for
the complementarity of modern evolutionary science and a fully orthodox
reading of the Bible.
- Campbell, L.D., 1984, "Some historical and philosophical perspectives
on science, evolution, and religion." IN, K.R. Walker (ed.), The Evolution
- Creation Controversy: Perspectives on Religion, Philosophy, Science and
Evolution, Paleontological Society Special Publication No. 1, p.27-49.
- Colling, Richard G., 2004, Random Designer: Created from Chaos to
Connect with the Creator, Browning Press. A microbiologist from
Olivet Nazarene University, Colling argues for the creative activity of God
being displayed through the "natural processes" God upholds, including what
we percieve as random and chaotic.
- Collins, Francis S., 2006, The Language of God, Free Press.
Francis Collins is a geneticist and past director of the Human Genome
Project. In this book Collins gives a personal account of his coming
to faith and the bais for his confidence in both the conclusions of science
and the claims of the Christian faith.
- Dembski, William A. (ed.), 1998, Mere Creation: Science, Faith
& Intelligent Design, InterVarsity Press. This edited volume
presents essays by most of the prominent advocates of "intelligent design.'
- Falk, Darrel R., 2004, Coming to Peace with Science: Bridging the
Worlds between Faith and Biology, InterVarsity Press. A well-informed
and very personal look at evolution by a biologist and committed evangelical
- Frye, Roland Mushat, ed., 1983, Is God a Creationist? The Religious
Argument Against Creation-Science, Scribner's.
An anthology of essays by theologians and scientists from mainstream
Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths, all presenting young-earth creationism
as a misinterpretation of Scripture.
- Glover, Gordon J., 2007, Beyond the Firmament: Understanding Science
and the Theology of Creation, WaterTree Press LLC. A well-informed
look at what both the bible and science can tell us about the natural world.
- Gould, Stephen J., 1999, Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion
in the fullness of Life, Ballantine Publishing group. A noted
paleontologist, influential science popularizer, and agnostic, presents
an argument that science and religion are "non-overlapping majesteria" or
independent realms of human thought and experience.
- Haarsma, Deborah B., and Haarsma, Loren D., 2007, Origins: A Reformed
Look at Creation, Design, & Evolution, Faith Alive Christian Resources.
A very systematic look at the various ways in which Christians view
the relationship of science and faith with an emphasis on the nature of science
and the role of scriptural interpretation.
- Hummel, Charles E., 1986, The Galileo Connection, IV Press.
A historical and scriptural look at major science/faith controversies.
It has a clearly written chapter on interpreting Genesis I.
- Johnson, P.E. and Lamoureux, D.O., 1999, Darwinism Defeated?,
Regent College Publishers. This book is a written debate between
"intelligent design" advocate Phillip Johnson and evolutionary creationist
Denis Lamoureux. A number of responses follow by both supporteres
and critics of "intelligent design."
- Kelley, P. H, Bryan, J. R. and Hansen, T. A. (eds.), 1999,
The Evolution-Creation Controversy II: Perspectives on Science, Religion,
and Geological Education: Paleontological Society Paper No. 5.
- Mackay, Donald M., 1974, The Clockwork Image: A Christian Perspective
on Science, IV Press London.
This book addresses such issues as mechanistic thinking, reductionism,
chance, and the nature of humanity.
- Miller, Keith B. (ed.), 2003, Perspectives on an Evolving Creation,
- Miller, Kenneth R., 1999, Finding Darwin's God, Harper/Collins
Publishers. An excellent rebuttal to young Earth creationists, "intelligent
design" advocates, and atheistic materialists. Ken Miller is a cell
biologist at Brown University and a committed Catholic believer.
- Miller, James B. (ed.), 1998, An Evolving Dialogue: Scientific,
Historical, Philosophical and Theological Perspectives on Evolution,
American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- Murphy, George L., 1986, The Trademark of God: A Christian Course
in Creation, Evolution and Salavation, Morehouse-Barlow. Murphy,
George L., 2001, Toward a Christian View of a Scientific World,
CSS Publishing Co.
A Lutheran pastor and PhD in physics argues forcefully that evolution
is fully consistent with the Biblical view of God's creative and redemptive
activity. The basis of his argument is the centrality of the cross in
understanding both scripture and the created universe. Both of these
books are designed for use in discussion groups.
- Murphy, Nancey, 1997, Reconciling Theology and Science: a Radical
Reformation Perspective, Pandora Press.
- Pannenberg, Wolfhart, 1993, Toward a Theology of Nature: Essays
on Science and Faith, Westminster/John Knox Press.
A collection of papers by Pannenberg on the conversation between modern
science and theology.
- Peacocke, Arthur R., 1990, Theology for a Scientific Age: Being
and Becoming-- Natural and Divine, Blackwell, Cambridge, Mass.
- Pennock, Robert T., 1999, Tower of Babel: The Evidence Against
the New Creationism, The MIT Press. A critique of "intelligent
design' arguments based in part on an analogy between biological evolution
and the evolution of languages.
- Polkinghorne, John, 1986, One World: The Interaction of Science
and Theology, Princeton University Press, Princeton.
A mathematical physicist and Anglican priest argues that scientists and
theologians are exploring different aspects of one world and can fruitfully
inform each other.
- Polkinghorne, John, 1988, Science and Creation: The Search for
Understanding, SPCK, London.
- Polkinghorne, John, 1989, Science and Providence: God's Interaction
with the World, New Science Library, Shambhala.
An excellent exploration of the nature of divine providence. The third
in his trilogy on science and theology.
- Ramm, Bernard, 1954, The Christian View of Science and Scripture,
Eerdmans Publishing Co.
A classsic review of the primary interpretations of Genesis, with a
discussion of science and theology -- conflicts and harmonies. Also deals
with astronomy, biology, and anthropology. A very influential book
when first published and, although outdated, still a useful resource.
- Ratzsch, Del, 1996, The Battle of Beginnings, IV Press.
- Russell, Robert J., Stoeger, William R., and Ayala, Francisco J.
(eds), 1998, Evolutionary and Molecular Biology: Scientific Perspectives
on Divine Action, Vatican Observatory Publications.
- Stoller, Steven, 2002, The Symphony of Creation: Science and Faith
in Harmony, ACW Press. An popular and accessible diescription of
one person's integration of science and faith.
- Towne, Margaret Gray, 2003, Honest to Genesis: A Biblical and Scientific
Challenge to Creationism, Publish America.
- Van Dyke, Fred, 1986, "Theological problems of theistic evolution,"
ASA Journal, v.38, no.1, p.11-18.
A biologist and professor at a Christian college argues that theistic
evolution fails to adequately address several important theological issues.
Van Dyke and Murphy (see reference above) respond to each other's papers
in the following issue of the ASA Journal.
- Van Till, Howard J., 1986, The Fourth Day, Eerdmans.
A professor of physics and astronomy at Calvin College looks at both
the Biblical and scientific views of the heavens. Takes both the Bible
and scientific evidence seriously.
- Van Till, Howard J., Young, Davis A., and Menninga, Clarence, 1988,
Science Held Hostage: What's Wrong with Creation Science and Evolutionism,
This book is the product of interdisciplinary research by members of
the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship of Calvin College. It is a
critique of creation science and such popularized evolutionary philosophies
as Sagan's "Cosmos." It reveals the misuse of scientific data on the one
hand, and the veiling of personal philosophies under the guise of science
on the other. By discussing particular case studies, it defines the limits
of the domains of science and theology.
- Van Till, Howard J., Snow, Robert E., Stek, John H., and Young,
Davis A., 1990, Portraits of Creation: Biblical and Scientific Perspectives
on the World's Formation, Eerdmans Publ. Co.
This is the second volume by the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship.
It contains a thorough discussion of the character of natural science,
and an outline of the bases for the present scientific understanding of
earth and cosmic history. There is also a critique of the creation science
movement, and a well-developed analysis of the scriptural accounts of creation.
- Young, Davis A., 1982, Christianity and the Age of the Earth,
This book by a professor of geology at Calvin College presents the
overwhelming evidence for an old earth and argues for the complementarity
of natural and scriptural revelation.
- Young, Davis A., 1982, "Nineteenth century Christian geologists
and the doctrine of scripture," Christian Scholar's Review v. 11,
A review of the religious beliefs of some prominent Christian geologists
of the 1800's. Shows that Christians readily accepted the ideas of modern
geology, including an old earth. In fact such Christians were in the forefront
of the development of modern geology.
- Young, Davis A., 1987, "Scripture in the hands of geologists, parts
1 and 2," Westminster Theological Journal v.49, p.1-34 and p.257-304.
Summarizes the interpretive traditions relating Genesis 1-6 to results
of scientific work, grouping these interpretations into two main camps:
literalism and concordism. Shows that neither of these approaches have
provided the agreement between geology and the interpreted text that they
were expected to, and urges theologians to face the scientific data and
look for more satisfactory interpretations.
- Young, Davis A., 1988, "The contemporary relevance of Augustine's
view of creation," ASA Journal, v. 40, no. 1, p.42-45.
A review of Augustine's work "On the literal meaning of Genesis" which
reveals Augustine's concern that scriptural interpretation not contradict
the testimony of nature. His interpretation of the six days of creation
also had nothing to do with the passage of time.
- Young, Davis A., 1995, The Biblical Flood: A Case Study of the
Church's Response to Extrabiblical Evidence, Eerdmans.
History of science
- Desmond, Adrian, 1982, Archetypes and Ancestors: Palaeontology
in Victorian London 1850-1875: Univ. of Chicago Press.
- Gillespie, Neal C., 1979, Charles Darwin and the Problem of Creation,
University of Chicago Press.
A study of the development of Darwin's ideas and his religious struggles
- Greene, John C., 1961, Darwin and the Modern World View,
Louisiana State University Press.
A discussion of the impact of Darwin's ideas on biblical inspiration,
natural theology, and social evolution. Presents the fallacy of extrapolating
evolutionary theory into non-scientific areas.
- Greene, John C., 1959, The Death of Adam: Evolution and Its
Impact on Western Thought, Iowa State University Press.
A very good historical review of the rise of the evolutionary view,
with excerpts from the writings of many prominent scientists, philosophers,
and theologians of the time.
- Giberson, Karl W., and Yerxa, Donald A., 2002, Species of Origins:
America's Search for a Creation Story, Roman & Littlefield Publishers.
A comprehensive suvery of the primary American responses to evolution.
- Hallam, A., 1973, A Revolution in the Earth Sciences: From Continental
Drift to Plate Tectonics: Oxford Univ. Press.
- Hooykaas, R., 1972, Religion and the Rise of Modern Science,
Scottish Academic Press.
A now classic book arguing that the foundation for modern science was
laid by Christian theology.
- Humes, Edward, 2007, Monkey Girl: Evolution, Education, Religion,
and the Battle for America's Soul, HarperCollins Publishers. This
is a thorough and poignant account of the recent Dover trail over attempts
to introduce Intelligent Design into the public school. It clearly
shows the impact of such conflicts on individuals and communities.
- Kaiser, Christopher, 1991, Creation and the History of Science,
Wm B. Eerdmans Publ. Co.
An historical review of the relationship between the theology of creation
and science from the early Christian Church and Greek thought to twentieth-century
- Kuhn, Thomas S., 1970, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions,
2nd ed., University of Chicago Press. A very influential book on the
history of science which presents the rise of a new scientific theory as
a change in underlying assumption and world view.
- Larson, Edward J., 1997, Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and
America's Continuing Debate over Science and Religion, Harvard University
Press. Probably the most definitive and thoroughly-researched account
of the famous trail in Dayton that established the framework for subsequent
public battles over the teching of evolution.
- Larson, Edward J., 2001, Evolution's Workshop: God and Science
on the Galapagos Islands, Basic Books. An excellent historical discussion
of both the scientific and theological disputes that centered on the biology
of the Galapagos Islands.
- Lindberg, David C., and Numbers, Ronald L., 1986, God &
Nature: Historical Essays on the Encounter between Christianity and Science,
University of California Press.
- Livingstone, David N., 1987, Darwin's Forgotten Defenders: The
Encounter Between Evangelical Theology and Evolutionary Thought, Eerdmans.
An excellent historical review of the response of evangelical scientists
and theologians to Darwin's theory. It reveals that evolution by natural
selection was accepted, sometimes enthusiastically, by evangelical scholars.
Even B.B. Warfield, the architect of the Biblical inerrancy position,
found no basis for rejecting evolution as a scientific description of origins.
- Livingstone, David N., Hart, D.G., and Noll, Mark A. (eds.), 1999,
Evangelicals and Science in Historical Perspective, Oxford University
- Moore, James R., 1979, The Post-Darwinian Controversies,
Cambridge University Press.
A thorough and comprehensive treatment of the religious debates over
evolution in the nineteenth century. Moore shows that Darwin's theory
found acceptance among orthodox Christians rather than theological liberals.
- Moore, James R., 1994, The Darwin Legend, Baker Books. A
thorough debunking of the widespread legend that Darwin made a deathbed confession
of faith and renounced his evolutionary ideas.
- Numbers, Ronald L., 1992, The Creationists: The Evolution of
Scientific Creationism, University of California Press.
An excellent and thorough historical study of the origins of the modern
- Rudwick, Martin J.S., 1985, The Meaning of Fossils, 2nd ed.,
Univ. of Chicago Press.
An excellent, readable account of the history of ideas about earth
history, written by one of the foremost paleontologists today. Provides
a good understanding of the way in which the present view of the history
of the earth developed. Helps dispel the false view of a "warfare" between
science and theology.
- Tattersall, Ian, 1995, The Fossil Trail: How We Know What We
Think We Know About Human Evolution: Oxford Univ. Press. A very
thorough and entertaining discussion of the history of the search for human
ancestors. Contains good descriptions of most of the important fossil
discoveries up to about 1990.
- Weiner, Jonathan, 1994, The Beak of the Finch, Vintage Books.
An excellent and very entertaining account of the many years of research
on the evolution of the finches of the Galapagos Islands. Gives some
feelng for the extraordinary amount of detailed work required to test evolutionary
hypotheses in the field, and the tremendous dedication of the scientists
- Zimmer, Carl, 1998, At the Water's Edge, Touchstone. An
thorough and interesting account of some of the most exciting fossil discoveries
of the past decade -- the walking whales and the first tetrapods. Shows
examples of fossil transitions between classes.
Theology of Creation and Related Topics
- Blocher, Henri, 1984, In the Beginning: The Opening Chapters
of Genesis, IV Press.
This is an in-depth exegesis of Genesis 1-3 and a brief look at chapters
4-11. Shows great respect for Scripture, interpreting it from the original
authors' background. Contains detailed scholarly arguments, but is written
so that these may be skipped without loss of content. An appendix on science
and Genesis should be read with care and the understanding that it is written
by a non-scientist.
- Blocher, Henri, 1994, Evil and the Cross, IV Press.
- Edwards, Denis, 1999, The God of Evolution, Paulist Press.
- Farrer, Austin, 1961, Love Almighty and Ills Unlimited,
Doubleday & Company
An excellent and thought provoking discussion of God's providence and
moral and natural evil.
- Gilkey, Langdon, 1985, Creationism on Trial: Evolution and God
at Little Rock, Winston Press.
A theologian, called as a witness against the Arkansas "Equal Time"
Law, gives his account of the 1983 trial. In an entertaining style he gives
strong philosophical and religious arguments against young-earth creationism,
especially as set forth in the Arkansas law. Also reprints Judge Overton's
decision on the case.
- Gilkey, Langdon, 1959, Maker of Heaven and Earth: The Christian
Doctrine of Creation in the Light of Modern Knowledge, University Press.
Gilkey explores the implication of creation to both the central doctrines
of the Christian faith and to important philosophical problems.
- Hick, John, 1977, Evil and the God of Love (Revised Edition),
This book provides an excellent survey of the thelogical response to
the problem of evil from St. Augustine and Irenaeus to Barth and Schleiermacher.
Hick then develops his own theodicy .
- Hyers, Conrad, 1984, The Meaning of Creation: Genesis and Modern
Science, John Knox Press.
This book focuses on the historical, cultural and religious meanings
of the creation account, and strongly argues against a literal interpretation.
- Korsmeyer, Jerry D., 1998, Evolution and Eden: Balancing Original
Sin and Contemporary Science, Paulist Press.
- Lamoureux, Denis O., 2008, Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach
to Evolution, Wipf and Stock Publishers. Lamoureux is anevangelical
Christian trained in both evolutionary biology and theology. This volume
focuses on laying a non-concordist approach to interpreting the first 11
chapters of Genesis.
- Lewis, C. S., 1962, The Problem of Pain, Macmillan.
Addresses something of the issue of why God might choose an apparently
inefficient way of creating -- including pain and suffering.
- Moltmann, Jurgen, 1981, God in Creation, Harper & Row.
The trinitarian character of God is emphasized.
- Pinnock, Clark and others, 1994, The Openness of God, InterVarsity
Press. An extensive theological development of a view of God in which
His creatures are given true freedom and the future is open to their choices.
- Polkinghorne, John (ed.), 2001, The Work of Love: Creation as
Kenosis, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Essays by many prominent
science/theology writers looking at creation as a divine act of "self-emptying."
- Sanders, John, 1998, The God Who Risks: a Theology of Providence,
- Waltke, Bruce K., 1975-76, "The Creation account in Genesis 1:1-3,
Parts I-V," Bibliotheca Sacra v. 132 pp.25-36, 136-144, 216-228,
327-342; v. 133 pp.28-41.
A respected conservative Old Testament theologian at Westminster Seminary,
Phila., gives a detailed exegesis of Genesis. He argues that to understand
a given passage of scripture, we must understand the world of the people
to whom the passage was originally addressed.
- Waltke, Bruce K., 2001, Genesis: A Commentary, Zondervan.
An excellent in depth theological treatment of the book of Genesis
by one of the foremost evangelical Old Testament scholars.
- Walton, John H., 2001, Genesis: The NIV Application Commentary,
Zondervan. Written by an Old Testament scholar at Wheaton Graduate
School and includes discussion of modern scientific scholarship.
- Wenham, John W., 1974, The Goodness of God, IV Press.
Wenham struggles realistically with the doctrine of God's goodness
in light of war, suffering, disease, divine judgement and hell. A very
good brief discussion of animal pain and suffering is included as an appendix.
Return to K.B. Miller's homepage
- Austin, Richard C., 1988, Hope for the Land: Nature in the Bible,
John Knox Press.
- Berry, R.J (ed.), 2000, The Care of Creation: Focusing Concern
and Action, InterVarsity Press. A challenging discussion of environmental
ethics by many of the most prominent Christian environmentalists.
- Berry, R.J., 2003, God's Book of Works: The Nature and Theology
of Nature, T&T Clark.
- Campolo, Tony, 1992, How to Rescue the Earth without Worshiping
Nature, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
- DeWitt, Calvin B., 1998, Caring for Creation: Responsible Stewardship
of God's Handiwork, Baker Books. DeWitt lists seven degradations
of Creation and proposes a response.
- Hall, Douglas John, 1986, Imaging God: Dominion as Stewardship,
Professor of theology at McGill University, Hall calls on the Christian
community to actively image the lordship of Jesus in our relationship with
creation. The Biblical model of lordship is sacrificial service.
- Langmead, Clive, 1995, A Passion for Plants: From the Rainforests
fo Brazil to Kew Gardens, Lion Publishing. An account of the life
of internationally renowned ethnobiologist Gjillean Prance.
- Linzey, Andrew, 1991, Christianity and the Rights of Animals,
Crossraod Publishing Co.
Provides a comprehensive and well-argued theological case for the rights
- Nash, James A., 1991, Loving Nature: Ecological Integrity and
Christian Responsibility, Abingdon Press.
- Prance, Ghillean, 1996, The Earth Under Threat: A Christian Perspective,
Wild Goose Publications. A powerful and concise statement of human environmental
impacts and a plea for a Christian response.
- Russell, Colin A., 1994, The Earth, Humanity and God, University
College London Press.
A discussion of changing attitudes toward the environment through history
with thoughts on a Christian basis for environmental action.
- Reichenbach, Bruce R., and Anderson, V. Elving, 1995, On Behalf
of God: A Christian Ethic for Biology, Wm. B. Eerdmans. An excellent
discussion of bioethics including environmental issues as well as biomedical
- Santmire, H. Paul, 1985, The Travail of Nature: the Ambiguous
Ecological Promise of Christian Theology, Fortress Press.
Presents an excellent history of Christian theology from Irenaeus,
Origen, and Augustine to Barth and Teilhard de Chardin as it relates to
the goodness and value of the non-human universe.
- Sheldon, Joseph K., 1992, Rediscovery of Creation: A Bibliographic
Study of the Church's Response to the Environmental Crisis, Scarecrow
- Van Dyke, Fred, Brand, Raymond, Mahan, David, and Sheldon, Joseph,
1994, Redeeming Creation: A Biblical Basis for Environmental Ethics,
- Wilkinson, Loren (ed.), 1991, Earthkeeping in the '90s: Stewardship
of Creation, Eerdmans Publishing Co.
This is a new revision of a classic book which outlines an orthodox
Christian perspective on our place in and responsibility to creation. This
volume was a product of the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship. Still
probably the most thorough discussion of Christian stewardship of the environment
by evangelical scholars.
Last updated July 2008.