Written by: Alister McGrath

Published by: SPCK

Price: £10.99

The Andreos Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford dips his toe into the science and religion debate with this new work, aimed at both scientists with an interest in theology and Christians and theologians who consider natural sciences to be important and worthy of further study.

After an introductory chapter, setting the scene and premise for his latest work, McGrath singles out three practitioners of science and theology. Two of them are easily anticipated – Charles Coulson (an Oxford professor of theoretical chemistry and Methodist lay preacher) and John Polkinghorne, the theoretical physicist, theologian and Anglican priest, but the third name is one well-known to the Church of Scotland: Thomas F Torrance, who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1976 and was one of the Church’s most highly regarded theologians.

McGrath describes meeting Torrance by accident at a conference in Windsor in 1986 – both arrived early. The meeting may well have played a key part in shaping McGrath’s future. Recalling the meeting, McGrath writes: “The rest of the conference was interesting but there was no doubt in my mind as to its intellectual highlight. I went back to Oxford with my mind racing, having realised that the relation of science and theology was not merely important – it was exciting.”

He examines how Torrance’s writing and vision developed the foundations for the debates of today.

As always, McGrath writes in an utterly accessible style, ensuring the layperson can clearly participate and understand the debate.

The book is an attempt to create ‘an enriched vision of reality’ and endeavours to encourage and inspire readers to enjoy aspects of the natural world whilst seeking to marry them with the revelations of faith.