Wonders of the Living World (Text Only Version): Curiosity, Awe, and the Meaning of Life

by Ruth Bancewicz

Overview

The living world is beautiful, intricate, and highly ordered. Organisms flourish across virtually every location on earth, and biological scientists are constantly discovering more about them. These findings spark awe in those who study the natural world, and also raise questions about the meaning of what we see: What's so special about life? Why are we here? Where is it all heading? Drawing on the thoughts of six scientists of faith, the work of the theologian Alister McGrath, and the biblical scholar Hilary Marlow, Dr Ruth M. Bancewicz examines their research to assess the claim that the discoveries of science are consistent with the existence of a God. Beautifully and creatively illustrated, Wonders of the Living World will inspire curiosity and amazement, and prove a fascinating guide to your thinking about the meaning of life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780745981291
Publisher:	SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Publication date:	05/21/2021
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.12(w) x 7.80(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr Ruth Bancewicz is Church Engagement Director at The Faraday Institutefor Science and Religion, Cambridge (UK), where her remit is to help the UK Church interact with science in a helpful way. She studied geneticsat the Universityies of Aberdeen and Edinburgh, and worked for Christians in Science for several years. She has written the Test of FAITH resources (Patermoster), God in the Lab: how science enhances faith (Monarch),and Wonders of the Living World: curiosity, awe, and the meaning of life (Lion).

Table of Contents

Contents
1. Exploring the Wonders of the Living World: An introduction . . . . . 6
2. Inner Worlds: A tour of the inner workings of a cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3. One in a Million? The chemistry of life in the universe . . . . . . . . . . 18
Featuring Stephen Freeland
4. Artistic Molecules: How messy processes form ordered life . . . . . . 27
Featuring Rhoda Hawkins
5. Dance of the Cells: Embryonic development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Featuring Jeff Hardin
6. The Map of Life: Is evolution compatible with purpose? . . . . . . . . . 45
Featuring Simon Conway Morris
7. The Snuggle for Existence: The power of cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Featuring Jeff Schloss
8. Living Cities: The value of coral reef ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Featuring Margaret Miller
9. Surprised by Meaning: Can the world say anything about God? . . 76
Featuring Alister McGrath
10. Biology and Belief: A journey through science and faith . . . . . . . . 82
Featuring Hilary Marlow
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Further Reading: how to stay informed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Selected diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Provides a front-row seat to the excitement of new discovery. (ARD LOUIS, Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford)

Provides a front-row seat to the excitement of new discovery. (ARD LOUIS, Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford)

Editorial Reviews

Biological science is explored by leading scientists and apologists

From the Publisher