The Bible and Science

Despite the widespread perception that science and theology are at odds with each other, there is a flourishing dialogue growing between them. This is helped by the fact that they both operate in similar ways: basic observations are used to construct a more unified and harmonious view of the way things are. The Bible makes up a crucial collection of these basic observations, and many scientific explanations of biblical stories have been made (especially of miracles such as the crossing of the Red Sea), often with the intention of making them more believable in our modern world. And yet, the past few centuries of biblical research have shown repeatedly that its texts are highly resistant to being harmonised or packaged in this way. What is more, by their nature, scientific studies of the Bible tend to destabilise the theological function of the narratives as records of divine salvation in history. It is the purpose of this book to use the discoveries of science in a more positive and creative way, developing a vocabulary which enrich's our appreciation of the multiform witness of the Bible to Gods work in the world. The book looks critically at a number of key scientific studies of the Bible and its theological concepts. As well as the ongoing act of creation and biblical miracles, topics such as the relationship between creationism and modern science is explored, together with modern understandings of the doctrine of Christ, where the relationship between science and theology comes most clearly to a head.