Exploring reality: the intertwining of science and religion

Reality is multi-layered, asserts John Polkinghorne, and in this insightful book he explores various dimensions of the human encounter with reality. Polkinghorne argues that reality consists of not only the scientific processes of the natural world but also the personal dimension of human nature and its significance. He offers an integrated view of reality, encompassing a range of insights deriving from physics' account of causal structure, evolutionary understanding of human nature, the unique significance of Jesus of Nazareth, and the human encounter with God. He devotes further chapters to specific problems and questions raised by the Christian account of divine reality. He discusses, for example, the nature of time and God's relation to it, the interrelationship of the world's faiths, the problem of evil, and practical ethical issues relating to genetic advances, including stem cell research. Continuing in his pursuit of a dialogue between science and theology that accords equal weight to the insights of each, Polkinghorne expands our understanding of the nature of reality and our appreciation of its complexity.