Barbour does a wonderful job in this book of explaining in layman's terms complex issues in both the fields of religion and science. He explores the overlap and conflict between different theories in each field and shows how the whole "religion versus science" issue is too simplified a summary of two such diverse fields. Barbour comes across as highly knowledgeable in both fields and not at all judgemental. A very good, informative read.

This book explores the validity of Christianity in the face of modern science. It fully accepts the findings of modern physics, astronomy, and evolutionary science, and shows how a proper understanding of the Bible is not only not threatened by modern science but is illuminated by it. It should be required reading for the educated Christian who feels that Darwinism is an affront to his or her religion and incompatible with belief in the Christian God of Creation and Redemption. Barbour explores all of the principal modern lines of theological thinking and how they measure up to the findings of modern science. He finds Alfred North Whitehead's Process Philosophy most congenial both to the central Christian message and to the findings of modern science. Barbour finds that in order for this all to work, the prevailing Christian view of God as king and ruler---omnipotent and omniscient---must be modified. Barbour's God is more like a loving parent that guides its children (which includes all created entities, not just human beings) by exposing the Spirit to them and thereby influencing them with its goodness and beauty. Barbour's God does not and cannot coerce, and is incapable of miraculous intervention in the world in the sense of countervening natural law. No strong distinction is made between the human and the non-human world and all of nature is seen as a glorification of God, consistent with modern evolution and the biblical view, as Barbour shows

Part Three: Part three of this book is devoted to philosophical and theological reflections concerning human nature. (189) In discussing human nature, Barbour appreciates the evolutionary theory purported by contemporary biologists. He suggests that "in an evolutionary perspective we may view both the human and divine activity in Christ as a continuation of the intensification of what happened previously."(211) In light of this perspective, the goals for the future should include work toward justice, peace, environmental preservation, and empowering persons to understand that their participation in society is meaningful.

At the outset of the book, Barbour revealed his appreciation for process thought as an aid for integrating religion and science. Chapter eight is devoted to a more detailed account of why he holds this appreciation. He begins the chapter by asserting that the twentieth-century view of nature is very different from the medieval or Newtonian views. It is evolutionary and includes a complex combination of law and chance. The twentieth century views nature as interdependent, holistic, multi-leveled, and community based.

Process philosophy has a systematic metaphysics which most closely resembles the twentieth- century scientific view of nature. Whitehead saw his work as an attempt to construct "a system of ideas which bring aesthetic, moral and religious interests into relation with those concepts of the world which have their origin in natural science."(Process and Reality, vi) Barbour notes several elements which Whitehead emphasized: 1. The primacy of becoming over being; 2. The interconnection of events; 3. Reality as organism; 4. A measure of self-creative freedom for each entity. Barbour claims that in Whitehead's metaphysical system, causality for the entity is partly efficient, partly self-creative, and partly final. Each entity is the product of past causes, divine purposes, and the entity's own activity.

The diverse levels of experienc! e described by Whitehead allow for a description of experiences ranging from the least complex (e.g., an electron) to the most complex (e.g., a person or culture). Each type of individual in this diverse spectrum enjoys subjective experience, a notion David Griffin describes as a doctrine of panexperientialism. The author notes that process thought is opposed to dualism and claims that both mental and physical poles exist in all entities.

Barbour questions whether Whitehead's analysis adequately expresses the character of individuals at both extremes of complexity. He believes Whiteheadian categories are inadequate to express the continuing identity of the human self at the upper end. Secondly, the self-determination and novelty enjoyed by the inanimate world at the lower end of the range seem postulated by Whitehead only for the sake of metaphysical consistency. The author believes that a Whiteheadian system could be modified to correct these weaknesses without endangering its coherence.(227)

Continuing his analysis of process metaphysics in relation to nature, Barbour finds many features of contemporary science with which process metaphysics is congenial. However, he notes that the concept of purpose is difficult for scientists to accept. He reconciles part of the dilemma by noting (inaccurately I believe) that process thought maintains that the behavior of inanimate objects can be explained entirely by efficient causation. (It seems to me more accurate to place the word "almost" prior to "entirely" in this sentence).

In opening his discussion of process theology, Barbour notes that God acts as the primordial ground of order and the ground of novelty. In addition, the process God is influenced by events in the world. Barbour mentions again the notion of a dipolar God as advocated by Charles Hartshorne. In this conception, God does not retain all power and thus works persuasively as a participator in creation. God "is not before all creation but with all creation! ," Whitehead asserts. (Process and Reality, 521) In sum, Barbour professes that the Whiteheadian understanding of God is consistent with what we know about biological and human history.(234)

The categories of process thought are also helpful in discussing Christian theology. In particular, categories are available to develop the central Christian notion that "God is love." God's action in nature, in religious experience, and in Jesus Christ can be addressed using a common set of concepts offered by process theology. Process thought illumines the discussion of Christian categories of revelation, prayer, sin, immanence, personal responsibility, etc. Finally, Barbour identifies the contribution process thought makes in discussing the problem of evil.

To begin the final chapter entitled "God and Nature," Barbour discusses the various models of God's role in nature. In his discussion of the monarchical model, he identifies six problem areas: 1. accounting for human freedom; 2. offering a viable theodicy; 3. patriarchal limitations; 4. inclination toward religious intolerance; 5. present evolutionary worldview; 6. the existence of both law and chance in nature.

Following his discussion of the monarchial model, Barbour outlines the advantages and disadvantages of other models including the neo-Thomisitic, the self-limiting God, existentialist, linguistic analysis, and the world as God's body. Barbour summarizes what he feels is the process model concerning the God and nature relationship: a community with one member preeminent but not controlling. He labels the model "interpersonal social."(260) Returning to the six problems of the monarchical model, Barbour shows the adequacy of the model offered in process thought.

The author is aware of various criticisms of process and attempts to answer three. First, he acknowledges that the worshiping community may feel restricted by the dominance of metaphysical language in process thought. However, these limitation! s are inherent in almost any metaphysical scheme. He also acknowledges that the transcendent-immanent God of process thought is limited in power, but believes that conceiving God as limited is a conception that is warranted. Finally, he asserts that the process model, though departing from the classical model, adequately fulfills basic criteria: agreement with the data, coherence, scope and fertility. Barbour believes that the process model has fewer weaknesses than any of the other models he considers and is the most adequate in our attempt to speak responsibly about religion in an age of science.

Short Evaluation: This book reads like an encyclopedia of relevant theological and philosophical convictions in regards to the attempts to reconcile religion and science. The book is also written in a style that makes reading it enjoyable. After reading in the first chapter that Barbour would use process theology cautiously, I was surprised to find him so wholeheartedly appropriating process categories and ideas near the end of the book. Unfortunately, I felt like he was cramming too much in too small of a chapter. He could have fleshed out more of the implications of what a process attempt to integrate science and religion would look like. In addition, I could not agree with Barbour that Whitehead's system was inadequate to account for entities at both ends of the complexity scale. The strength of Whitehead's metaphysic, for me, is that it does offer an adequate means to talk about entities of varying complexity. All things considered, this was an excellent read!

Excellent content!Poor printing quality!Graphs and charts are illegable and each page falls from the book as it is read!Buyer beware!

Very good book on managerial technique. Our dealership's profits have increased as a result of this book. Mr. McCormick is one of the great automotive authors of our time.

Good quality printing and binding, and well organized by chapters.

the onus is on the sales force to perform or close a sale but there was never a mention of how and what methods should the manager employ to keep walk-in traffic flowing.

Bruce's book is an incredibly engaging adventure. Completely unique and fun to read. WOW!!

I want to make it clear that this wonderful story is all Bruce Barbour's! (I assisted in an editorial capacity.) This is an exciting, visionary story with important lessons about environmental accountability and the challenge facing humanity. Enjoy the adventure, and come away with food for thought.

Unlike earlier volumes in this series, Volume 9 is well edited and well composed. Most of the crosswords depend on quotations, not arcane trivia, for their clues. Puzzles are signed and unsigned in about equal number but equally well done; difficulty ranges from very easy to relatively challenging. Almost all are based on the King James version of the Bible. It is a nice little volume and provides several hours of Bible-based fun.

I really like this promise book. It has a lot of different bible verses on many different topics that couples find important -- faith, forgiveness, patience, mercy...the list goes on and on! All the verses are right there, so you don't have to search the Bible!

I found Carnivocal: A Celebration of Sound Poetry to be very poetic and refreshing. I couldn't believe how good it was. You two have done an amazing job.

For those of you serching for the true understandings of Kirinyaga this book is a must to read , very few books retrace the fotsteps of early explorers such as H.J.Mackinder

A concise booklet which deals well with the reality of spiritual warfare in our minds and with the doctrine of eternal forgiveness (and thus, eternal security) through the finished work of Christ on the cross. The only weakness that was apparent was that Lindsey made no distinction between forgiveness for salvation and forgiveness for fellowship in the life of a believer. Otherwise, it is a very helpful volume on the issue of dealing with false guilt (and well worth a buck).

I read Kate and the Soldier by Ann Barbour. It was good to read during the weekend. If you love good Romance you will Love this book. Ann Barbour Flaunts her talents in this story of a war time love.

I PURCHASED THIS BOOK FOR MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO IS IN A NURSING HOME. SHE LOVES IT ! SHE STILL LIKES TO KEEP ACTIVE AND BUSY AND THIS REALLY FILLS THE BILL !!