Rocks of Ages
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Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life is a nonfiction book by the Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould on the relationship between science and religion. It was published in 1999 by Ballantine Books, and reprinted by Vintage Books. The book is a volume in the series, The Library of Contemporary Thought.
[edit] Book description
Gould addresses the conflict between secular scientists and religious believers who question or deny scientific theory when it is in discrepancy with religious teachings on the origin and nature of the natural world. Borrowing a term from the Catholic Church, Gould describes science and religion as each comprise a separate magisterium of human understanding. Science defines the natural world, and religion the moral world. If each realm is separate, then according to Gould, they are not in conflict. He calls this the principle of non-overlapping magisteria, abbreviated NOMA.[1]
[edit] Table of contents
- The Problem Stated
- Preamble
- A Tale of Two Thomases
- The Fate of Two Fathers
- The Problem Resolved in Principle
- NOMA Defined and Defended
- NOMA Illustrated
- Coda and Segue
- Historical Reasons for Conflict
- The Contingent Basis for Intensity
- Columbus and the Flat Earth: An Example of the Fallacy of Warfare Between Science and Religion
- Defending NOMA from Both Sides Now: The Struggle Against Modern Creationism
- Psychological Reasons for Conflict
[edit] Response
The book has been reviewed extensively, and commented on by both sides of the conflict he addresses.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "description of NOMA at the unofficial Gould archives". Stephenjaygould.org. http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_noma.html. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "NOMA" – by Michael Ruse, Metanexus Institute[dead link]
- ^ "Gould on God – by H. Allen Orr, ''Boston Review''". Bostonreview.net. http://www.bostonreview.net/BR24.5/orr.html. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "The religious views of Stephen Gould and Charles Darwin – by Martin Gardner, ''Skeptical Inquirer''" (PDF). http://www.godslasteraar.org/assets/ebooks/Gardner_The_religious_views_of_Stephen_Gould_and_Charles_Darwin_%20Science_and_Religion_sec.pdf. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "The Holes in Gould's Semipermeable Membrane Between Science and Religion – by Ursula Goodenough, ''American Scientist''". Americanscientist.org. http://www.americanscientist.org/bookshelf/pub/the-holes-in-goulds-semipermeable-membrane-between-science-and-religion. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Gould's Separate "Magisteria" – by Mark Durm, Massimo Pigliucci, ''Skeptical Inquirer''" (PDF). http://www.godslasteraar.org/assets/ebooks/Gould's_Separate_'Magisteria'_%20Two_Views_book_reviews_sec.pdf. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ Beplate, Justin. "Inventing allies in the sky – by Kenan Malik, ''New Statesman''". Newstatesman.co.uk. http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/200102190041.htm. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Dictating the Terms of the Peace – by Ross Rhodes". Bottomlayer.com. May 24, 1999. http://www.bottomlayer.com/bottom/rocks.html. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Book review – by Brian Jackson, ''Human Nature Review''". Human-nature.com. http://www.human-nature.com/nibbs/02/rocks.html. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
- ^ "Book review – by Jim Walker". Nobeliefs.com. http://www.nobeliefs.com/Gould2.htm. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
[edit] External links
