In awesome wonder: bridging science and faith

Pereira and Cardoso’s new book is a pleasure to read. A highly readable, easily accessible and relatively short text, it brings together a number of the classic discussions on science and faith in areas such as creation and evolution, as well as touching upon more recent events in current view, such as climate change and the pandemic. It is complemented and enhanced by an equally wide range of illustrations – scientific, biblical, religious art, cultural, political, and historical. The work is delightfully woven through with scripture – not for effect, but as a thorough approach to an integration of faith within science which is born of the individuals themselves whose lives are lived in the realities of pastoring and science teaching within their local community. The writing is strong and robust, nicely referenced (from some solid, world-renowned voices) yet easy to follow; as such I think it will be welcome to both scientist and non-scientist alike, and illuminating to people of different faiths and none. The text is primarily a product of the authors’ own enthusiasm and love for God and science – it comes from themselves, the distinctive, talented individuals God has made and called. It is the product of a well-designed and well-thought-through series of discussions and services that they organised at their own community church, supported by the St John’s College Durham and Templeton World Charity Foundation’s highly successful and ongoing initiative, ‘Scientists in Congregations’. Sessions would be science-based, but seen from a biblical worldview. As such, the book is rich with ideas which many could use in their own communities and in schools’ outreach too. Rather as how some describe Mark’s Gospel, the text at many instances seems to ‘rush along’. For some, this may not resonate with a reader looking for a slower and more measured account, however I found it reflected the energy and vitality that Pereira and Cardoso bring to their love of the subjects of their lives; as Pereira himself puts it, lives where ‘he likes both the Bible and the biology book’. The authors quote Alister McGrath’s views that images of science and faith when brought together ‘enrich one’s perception of reality’ (p. 12) and give us back the joy of curiosity and the wonder of creation – in essence, the authors display that joy and wonder throughout. Their feelings that science itself is divine is infectious, and this book brings a new account to bear into the library of resources that many of us as people of science and faith seek to have; to help show that it is not a case that science and faith can co-exist... . but in fact that they do, to the betterment of each other and God’s divine created order. Indeed this book is a delight to read.