A Science Primer for the Faithful
by Robert J. Kurland
A Science Primer for the Faithful is a book that explains how science developed, demonstrating how the “truths” of science change as new data appears and new theories arise to explain that data. Unlike the truths of Catholic teaching, there is no eternal dogma for scientific theories, only a consistent methodology for the practice of science.
Kindle $9.99
REVIEWS
In his book A Science Primer for the Faithful, Robert Kurland firstly makes the point that the Catholic church has historically been a midwife and nursemaid to Science, thus facilitating its birth. So, in understanding science, the faithful Catholic is able to combat “Scientism”– the belief that science explains everything you need to know – as well as guard against science intersecting moral issues. Example: when does life begin? His book discusses creation – God and infinity – and affirms that the Church does not deny evolution as a scientific explanation for the diversity of species, although it does emphasize that Darwin’s model for how evolution occurs, namely through Survival of the Fittest, is not the only principle. In “Rational Inquiry” Kurland affirms that science is not an eternal truth, but a methodology. The truths it determines are subject to change as new data is uncovered. In that respect, he contends that science differs from the Catholic faith, which is not subject to change, founded as it is, on eternal truth. Scientists are slowly waking up to an inconvenient truth. Physicists and cosmologists have, over the last forty years, been collecting examples of all-too-convenient “coincidences” in the underlying laws of nature that seem absolutely necessary for life to exist. This is the cornerstone of our belief in the supreme Creator. Kurland points to the “just right” weak and “just right” strong nuclear forces; the “just right” ratio of electrical and gravitational forces; the “just right” goldilocks zones for planetary systems, the control of radiation, the chemistry necessary for the earth to be hospitable to life. These are obviously no coincidences. As Sir Fred Hoyle, the British astronomer, is known to have pointed out: “A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super intellect has monkeyed with physics as well as with chemistry and biology and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature. The numbers one calculates from the facts seems to me so overwhelming as to put this inclusion almost beyond question.” – Robin Arthur, author of Science and the God Elusion: A Reflection on the Conundrums of Life
TESTIMONIALS
“A lot of people have heard about the anthropic coincidences in physics, but the anthropic coincidences in chemistry & biology are far more ‘relatable’ to ordinary people. In water, for instance, the angle of the bond linking the two hydrogen atoms to the oxygen atom is 108°, and that has all sorts of ramifications, notably that a lake will freeze from the top down, with the consequence that fish can survive all winter long, even when very thick ice forms. It keeps on going, with lots of biology-to-chemistry connections that are necessary for human evolution and civilization. In the broad categories of ‘science points to God’ and ‘the heavens declare the glory of God,’ Kurland’s emphasis on these other anthropic coincidences is important to us.” – Dr. Thomas P. Sheahen, author of Everywhen: God, Symmetry, and Time
“Dr. Robert Kurland has truly brought the domains of Catholic faith and science together in an accessible way that respects the integrity of both areas…. This little volume gives an incisive, accurate, balanced overview of everything you need to know to encounter skeptics in the modern world. More than this, it opens upon a more comprehensive appreciation of the psalmist’s exclamation: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour fourth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. (Ps. 19:1-2).” – Fr. Robert Spitzer, President of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith
“A great resource for students!” – Dr. Gerard Verschuuren, author of Can Science and Religion Live Together?: What Science Can and Cannot Do
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Kurland is a retired, cranky, old physicist who converted to Catholicism in 1995. He is a Graduate of Caltech (BS, with honor, 1951), Harvard (M.S. 1953, Physics; Ph.D. 1956, Chemical Physics), academic career, Carnegie-Mellon, SUNY/AB, MRI (Geisinger), best scientific work: search Kurland-McGarvey equation. He also served as a volunteer to federal prison and hospital; lector, EOMHC, and is a sometime player of bass clarinet, alto clarinet, clarinet, bass, tenor bowed psaltery for parish instrumental group and local folk group. He has been married 54 years and has 5 children, 11 grandchildren (eldest to graduate from Penn State Schreyer’s Honor College (grandfathers are allowed to brag!). For the story of his conversion, click here. For other blog posts about his faith as a convert from Judaism and a scientist, see here, here and here. His current effort is to show that there is no contradiction between what science tells us about the world and our Catholic faith. Intermittent blogs and adult education classes to achieve this end are available at http://rationalcatholic.blogspot.com/ and http://home.ptd.net/~rkurland)
Bob’s motivation comes from St. Augustine of Hippo, who wrote in The Trinity, 1.8:
It is also necessary may God grant it that in providing others with books to read I myself should make progress, and that in trying to answer their questions I myself should find what I am seeking. Therefore at the command of God our Lord and with his help, I have undertaken not so much to discourse with authority on matters known to me as to know them better by discoursing devoutly of them.
OTHER FAITH AND SCIENCE BOOKS
In Quest of Science: Historical Examples of Understanding What Science Is and Cannot Be and What to Do and Not to Do to Acquire and Preserve It
In Quest of Science: Historical Examples of Understanding What Science Is and Cannot Be and What to Do and Not to Do to Acquire and Preserve It by Dr. Peter Anthony Achilles Redpath Peter Redpath’s In Quest of Science delves into the role of Christian philosophy,...
La visión cristiana de la ciencia y la tecnología en Teilhard de Chardin por Agustín Udías, S.J.
La visión cristiana de la ciencia y la tecnología en Teilhard de Chardin por Agustín Udías, S.J. La ciencia y la tecnología ejercen hoy una gran influencia en la vida humana, aportando la ciencia la visión del universo y condicionando la tecnología el progreso de las...
Theology in Music by Kenneth Francis
Theology in Music: How Christian Themes Permeate Classic Songs by Kenneth Francis Kenneth Francis reveals the hidden grammar in classic popular songs theologically marinated in existential narratives, featuring idolatry, sin, love, pathos and meaning. And what better...
A Christian Vision of Science and Technology in Teilhard de Chardin by Agustín Udías, S.J.
A Christian Vision of Science and Technology in Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. by Agustín Udías, S.J. Science and technology today exert a great influence on human life, with science providing the vision of the universe and technology conditioning the progress of life in a...
Theology in Film: How Christian Themes Permeate Classic Movies by Kenneth Francis
Theology in Film: How Christian Themes Permeate Classic Movies by Kenneth Francis Kenneth Francis reflects on deconstructing the narrative and on a more nuanced cinematic theology with Christian themes and subtle undertones on the spiritual dimensions in the subtext....
Natural Philosophy, Modern Science and Saint Thomas Aquinas by Donald Boland
Natural Philosophy, Modern Science and Saint Thomas Aquinas by Dr. Donald G. Boland This book is an attempt to rescue the reputations of Aristotle and Aquinas in the area of science and philosophy where they are subject to most criticism and even ridicule in modern...
Logic, Science, and St. Thomas Aquinas by Donald G. Boland
Logic, Science, and St. Thomas Aquinas by Dr. Donald G. Boland The primary aim in this book is to contrast the notions of logic in Aristotelian terms, including its use in Metaphysics, with the peculiar sense which it has taken in modern times, tied to a materialist...
Brain, Soul, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum Mystery: The Neurophysics of Consciousness, Free Will, Reasoning, and Synergistic Brain-Soul Interaction
Brain, Soul, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum Mystery: The Neurophysics of Consciousness, Free Will, Reasoning, and Synergistic Brain-Soul Interaction by Terrence D. Lagerlund, MD, PhD This book presents a discussion of the many facets of human consciousness and...
Follow the Science: A Catholic Physician’s Contemplations on Faith, Medicine, and the Catholic Church
Bishop James D. Conley, Diocese of Lincoln, and Dr. Jere Palazzolo, President, Catholic Healthcare InternationalFollow the Science: A Catholic Physician's Contemplations on Faith, Medicine, and the Catholic Church by Dr. George Mychaskiw II with forewords by Bishop...
Science, Psychology and Saint Thomas Aquinas by Donald G. Boland
Science, Psychology and St. Thomas Aquinas by Dr. Donald G. Boland An opposition does exist between Aristotle’s psychology and today’s modern psychology, but it is not as clear-cut as most think. This book, grounded in the wisdom of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas,...
Science Under the Microscope: A Philosophical Investigation
Science Under the Microscope: A Philosophical Investigation by Gerard Verschuuren Every culture has its own sacred cows. In our culture, that sacred cow is science. What scientists claim—in the name of science and with the authority of science—is oracular. This book...
Mysteries: Quantum and Theological by Robert Kurland
Mysteries: Quantum and Theological by Robert J. Kurland This book endeavors to engage the reader in a qualitative understanding of physics basic to quantum mechanics (QM -- wave motion, momentum, work, and energy) by walking the reader through how the field developed...
Signs of Resurrection by Roger Skrenes
Signs of Resurrection by Roger Skrenes This book is written to show that in our world there are many signs of resurrection. Life beyond death is demonstrated or modeled in many ways within the world around us. This fact should teach us to believe that our death is not...
The Deacon and The Doctor: A Prescription for Navigating Child Loss
The Deacon and The Doctor: A Prescription for Navigating Child Loss by Deacon Gerard-Marie Anthony and Dr. Sabine Heisman The Deacon and the Doctor: A Prescription for Navigating Child Loss provides a spiritual, medical, psychological guide to help families...
A Beautiful Mind and Soul by Dr. Gerard Verschuuren
A Beautiful Mind and Soul by Gerard Verschuuren How can a Catholic scientist speak about "a beautiful mind and soul"? Dr. Gerard Verschuuren does so as a Catholic who knows that science has nothing to say about mind and soul, but also that science has nothing to say...
The Human Equation: Cosmogenesis + Biogenesis + Anthropogenesis = Christogenesis
The Human Equation: Cosmogenesis + Biogenesis + Anthropogenesis = Christogenesis (C + B + A = C) by Roger Skrenes This book is an attempt to trace the footprints of the Creator since the event of the Big Bang. It is a snapshot in one volume of the movement and work of...
Science and the God Elusion: A Reflection on the Conundrums of Life
Science and the God Elusion: A Reflection on the Conundrums of Life (Revised Edition) by Robin Arthur This intelligent and wise book demonstrates that the so-called conflict between science and religion is fundamentally misconceived. Seen in their proper...
Everywhen
"The eternal now of God is definitely the underpinning of the Eucharist and your theory in Everywhen – absolutely correct." - from a personal email to Dr. Thomas Sheahen from Fr. Robert Spitzer, SJEverywhen: God, Symmetry, and Time by Dr. Thomas P. Sheahen Have you...
The Fallen Angel Model: Deeper into the Mysteries
The Fallen Angel Model: Deeper into the Mysteries by Joe P. Provenzano, Ron D. Morgan, and Dan R. Provenzano Modern science tells us that our “physical” universe began in a highly ordered, but unstable, non-physical state where even the laws of physics were not fully...
Discovering the Fullness of Reality by Dr. David J. Keys
David Keys reading from his book at Catholic Gifts and Books at 13397 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017. See https://catholicgiftsandbooks.com/Discovering the Fullness of Reality: How Partial Truths Obscure the Union of Faith and Science by Dr. David J. Keys “Is...
Can Science and Religion Live Together? What Science Can and Cannot Do by Gerard Verschuuren
Can Science and Religion Live Together? What Science Can and Cannot Do by Gerard M. Verschuuren Undoubtedly, science has one of the most impressive track records in human history. It is a success story that keeps persistently adding new achievements to the list, with...
New Paths to God and the Soul by Roger Skrenes
New Paths to God and the Soul by Roger Skrenes Much of what we receive through media of social communications does not concern itself with either God or the soul. So it is up to each of us to make ourselves aware of the pathways to God and the evidence for the...
Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology
The Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology (ITEST) is an association of theologians, scientists and others committed to a world view in which faith and science collaborate in exploring the truth. ITEST explores truth theologically in the...
The Eclipse of God: Is Religion on the Way Out?
The Eclipse of God: Is Religion on the Way Out? by Gerard Verschuuren This book was specifically written for all those who feel lost in a world dominated by ideologies that obscure God. It is hard to pinpoint one particular cause of how we feel in such Godforsaken...