"Science & Grace" by Tim Morris and Don Petcher

The first thing I must say in reviewing a book like SCIENCE & GRACE by Tim Morris and Don Petcher is I am no scientist.  I can easily speak on the Christian aspects of the book, believing as both men do, but addressing the scientific portions here, I am helpless.

In my opinion, scientists and college instructors (as both gentlemen are) communicate in an elevated form that commonly rises about the common man.  They utilize larger words to explain bigger concepts; and in doing so, they can often lose whatever public they are trying to address.

Such occurs here with SCIENCE & GRACE.  Many portions of the book read like a college text book.  The information is there, but it is presented in such a way the reader must read the words over and over to grasp the context of what is being said.  In some ways, that can be a good thing, as it forces a person to actually muse over what is being written; in other ways, it’s a very easy way to lose an audience who often needs to be led through this maze of mystery so as to otherwise avoid becoming lost.

With this much said, allow me to confess, too much of this book sailed over my head.  There were elements I can say I did follow.  The analogies of science and theology being two distinct trees of human knowledge made sense.  Both are methods used to ascertain knowledge.  The discussion of the historical roots from which both trees grew was interesting. To read how philosophers, theologians, and ‘scientists’ of earlier ages viewed the relationship, or lack thereof, between the two said a lot for how the animosity of today became what we know and the better state in which both should coexist.

There seemed to be a serious discussion amongst those men (a discussion all but abrogated to the “science is fact/religion is superstition” methodology of our culture today) where ideas were bandied about for a sincere understanding of the universe in which we live.

I could follow this part reasonably well; however, when Morris and Petcher dove into the religious aspects of the book, any balanced discussion between what is today competing factions, seemed to drift.  I read more on the truths of Christianity, rather than science which Christianity portrays.

This is not to say, in proper context, what is written of Christianity is improperly done.  On the contrary, the Christian faith is depicted as well as any scientific discussion on the farthest reaches of the galaxies or the minutest particle of creation beyond the scope of the human eye.  The problem was in making the connection back to the science for which half the book’s title derives its name.  This connection would eventually be made, but only after the extensive discussion on Christianity had drifted the topic away from that point.  Their logic is strong, but their delivery takes too long for the average reader to connect the dots.

Suffice it so say, SCIENCE & GRACE is a deep book.  It will force you to use your head, to activate the cerebral activity for which it was intended, and actually think.  It’s not an easy read, but if you want to learn something new – and exercise your brain in the process – pick up a copy, corral a few like-minded friends, and watch the universe expand.