Amazon.com
In God's Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church, Caroline Fraser delivers the most intelligent, humane, and even-handed history yet published of this important American religion. God's Perfect Child begins by telling the life story of Mary Baker Eddy, who founded Christian Science in 1879. Eddy built the church from a fringe sect into a mainstream religion whose wealth and power exceeded that of many Protestant denominations in the mid-20th century--and were considerably augmented by the church's once-popular newspaper, the Christian Science Monitor.

Fraser, a literary critic and poet who was raised a Christian Scientist, has a relentless analytic bent and an acute eye for physical detail, both of which are in evidence on every page of this book. Her stories of parents whose attempts at faith-healing resulted in their children's deaths are especially poignant. These stories also illuminate and analyze the fears and pains that have plagued many Christian Scientists who subscribe to Eddy's belief that individuals can control their physical destiny by force of faith. Ultimately, Fraser has little sympathy for the obdurate self-reliance advocated by Christian Scientist doctrine, which she sees as a forerunner to the extremist paranoia of contemporary cults. "The suggestibility, infatuation, and enthusiasm that sparked Christian Science ... lies behind our current anxious fixations on imaginary perils and medical conspiracies," Fraser writes. "Florid though they may seem, such fears can have far from imaginary consequences."

The goal of Fraser's book is to track down and annihilate irrational fears in the religion of her childhood; her reason for doing so, however, exudes an undeniably spiritual grace: "Should we continue to pursue [these fears], our providences will surely grow ever more remarkable." --Michael Joseph GrossBook Description

Customer Reviews (96)

Exposure of a church of lies-THANK-YOU SO MUCH!!
Awesome and intelligently written.
Well documented.
Finally someone who knows about it exposes the lies and damage.
You won't believe what this book reveals.
Protect your family and children-secrets revealed in this book show you what happens to those who buy in to these beliefs and why the truth must come out and fought for the safety of all.
I found this book significant in the revelation of what really goes on when some have no idea how tragically others are suffering.

the smoke and mirrors of Christian Science
This religious cult has a governing philosophy that, to the vulnerable, offers the possibility of severe brainwashing, crippling social alienation, and painful psychological and physical death. Take an infant and have its mother insist day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year that "There is no life, truth, or intelligence in matter; all is infinite mind;" that to be alive is to be incurably ill (a notion more subtlely imbedded in the main CS textbook), and that sex brings the incarnation of evil: human beings. Countless unlucky individuals have suffered nervous breakdowns or gone mad and had to be institutionalized, thanks to an unfailing devotion - to the letter - to this unfortunate line of brainwashing. It happens more than you think. The evil MBE created far outweighs the testimonials of healing. This is because the underlying philosophy of CS is an insidious snare.

Facing the music:"Divine Truth" in the key of 'D'...for disillusioning
Whatever your beliefs, and whether you are a former Christian Scientist or a continuing member of the Mother Church, you owe it to yourself to be willing find answers about Christian Science from a 3rd party, not your practitioner, your Teacher, your Sunday School Teacher, or your parents. Documented, footnoted, and deliberate, this book takes you beyond the sanitized biographies of MBE and the history of the church put out by the CSP in the Reading Room.

This book was, for me, not only eye-opening in terms of the origins of the church (and the continuing 'dissenting' movement I had no idea existed), but also affirming:Learning that there are others who suffered at the hands of well-meaning, compassionate people who otherwise were caring, giving parents, except when it came to acknowledging your pain, disease, or injury -- when they became emotionally unavailable, sometimes pretending they didn't understand when you asked to go to a doctor...or assuring you that healing would take place as soon as you acknowledged the "Divine Truth" of your relationship with God.When you became no longer an individual but a 'divine idea' that couldn't really be sick, injured, or in pain, because that wasn't part of God and couldn't be part of you either, as His creation.

More shocking still was the realization after reading this book that based on the exclusions for CS treatment still provided in many state laws, abused and neglected animals may have more protections afforded them than the children of praticing Christian Scientists.

Before I get hauled over the coals (immaterial though they may be) for 'not really understanding' the message of Christian Science by some readers:
My Sunday School teacher was at one time 1st reader for my church, 1st reader for the Mother Church, a Class Teacher, Practitioner, and COP representative.If I didn't get the 'real message' of Christian Science from him, I don't know who else I would have been able to 'get' it from.

A word of warning for Christian Scientists:Reading this book may result in a lot of difficult questions to yourself and others.Be prepared to process more than just a few lingering doubts by the time you get to the end of it.

Biased, pretentious, and not quite right
I am a third generation Christian Scientist and, contrary to what some reviewers have written, my church does not forbid me from reading what I want or seeking medical attention if that is my choice. Consequently, I read Ms. Fraser's book with interest. Like the author, I remember well my childhood in Christian Science. Unlike Ms. Fraser, though, I have nothing but wonderful memories of two loving and dedicated parents and a host of Sunday School teachers and friends who worked diligently to practice their faith. I know of several instances in which church members and people in my own family consulted medical doctors and in many of those cases it was Christian Science, not allopathic medicine, that healed. How can this be explained? And why is it that C.S. cannot be considered "Christian" when Jesus Christ Himself used no medicine nor consulted doctors to do the things He did? And didn't He say that the works He did we could do, too? What's that about if not turning to God in the FIRST instance for help rather than reserving such power as a last resort? And what of the children who have died under the care of Christian Scientists? What of the many, many more who have died at the hands of well-meaning doctors who, being all too human, often make mistakes. Witness the many news articles about mistakes involving vaccinations, clerical errors, misdiagnoses, amputations of incorrect body parts, and unproven therapies. And let's not forget all the so-called FDA approved drugs that later turn out to produce side effects equal to or worse than the disease they're supposed to cure! Tell me conventional medicine is the way to go? Even if I wasn't a C.S. I'd still be mighty reluctant to go the allopathic route. Why would I put my life in the hands of a mere mortal, no matter how well-educated, when I could put it back in the hands of the One who gave it to me to start with? Sort of like going to a shade-tree mechanic to fix a car problem that ought to be handled by the manufacturer.

If you really want to know what Christian Science is all about, and if you really want to know what Mary Baker Eddy said and did, talk to practicing C.S.'ists! Read Mrs. Eddy's voluminous writings on the subject. Read the writings of those who knew her and worked with her. And while you're at it, check out some of the secular quantum physics research currently underway that is exploding the notion of matter as substantial and "real." But if you'd rather cling to half-truths and factual twisting born of personal grudge and bias, then by all means make Ms. Fraser's book your gospel. Her historical facts may be straight on, but her presentation of them is tired and rife with the cliches about this religion that have been around since Mrs. Eddy's day. Christian Science has failed some but helped countless others. If you don't pay attention to the success stories, then you're not getting the full story. Reasoned and intelligent people know there are always two sides, and they take the time to investigate both.

Excellent Book
I was raised as a Christian Scientist.I stopped attending church at age 20.I'm now 48.While the religion has some good points, it has some bad points too---and I feel both sides are honestly presented in this book.I doubt very many practicing Scientists would read this book, but as an ex-Scientist, I couldn't put it down.It was so helpful to me personally.I hadn't known such books on Christian Science existed, and when I found them on amazon.com, I bought all of them---they've all been helpful, but this book was the best, due to the depth of the research.I highly recommend this book to anyone who was raised in this religion and had to blindly follow along even though it didn't make sense. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Some good things, mostly bad
This book was used in my daughter's 7th graded science class, along with a secular text book. I was impressed at how well the authors were able to show that the glory of God can be seen throughout creation. They present this message in a way that can be understood by 7th graders, and capture their interest. But be warned: this is a "Young Earth Creationist" textbook. In a single read through the book, I found about 20 instances where the authors blatantly distorted or misrepresented scientific information in order to make it fit their young-earth agenda. But most of the book's problems are errors of omission, rather than commission. (For example, the book totally overlooks the evidence for an expanding universe--possibly the greatest scientific discovery of all time!) Consequently, balancing this book with a more secular book makes a reasonable combination.

Years of Use
I used this textbook for 3 of my 4 children and I plan to use it for my 4th child when he reaches the 8th grade.One thing I really like about this book, is that the reading level is age appropiate. So many homeschool books are either to simplistic or too difficult for the recommended grade level. BJU books are right on target! The information is broken into neat, easily scheculed sections, and the review questions at the end of each unit help the student to remember what they've learned. This was one of the best books we've used over the years.

Earth Science for Christian Schools
This is an excellent Earth Science text book. It covers a wide variety of topics such as astronomy, geology, and meteorology. The activities manual designed to be used with this text has great ideas and investigations that appeal to Junior High School students.This book is well thought out andwritten from the Creationist's point of view. ... Read more

Book Description
Science, especially naturalistic science, has come under fire of late. No longer does it command the near universal respect it once held. From the right has come a fresh attack on Darwinism and arguments for intelligent design. From the left postmodern theorists have attacked the very notion of objective truth claims, scientific or otherwise. Into the fray Del Ratzsch breathes a breath of calm. He asks, What is science? What can it tell us?What can't it tell us? What challenges does it offer to Christian faith? How should a Christian respond?Originally published under the title Philosophy of Science, this revised volume surveys how views of science have developed and changed over time, especially since the Kuhnian revolution of the 1960s. Now updated to reflect current discussions of intelligent design and postmodern views of science, ScienceandIts Limits offers readers a thoughtful perspective on contemporary trends and useful advice on how to approach faith and science issues. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

philosophy of science 101, for anyone, from a christian view
I came across the book as a deliberate study of the problems involved in the debate over creation evolution in the conservative christian community. It lived up to its expectations as an introductory study of the philosophy of science from a christian prespective. Del Ratzsch is a very competent philosopher, book is well written and strives for a balance not often seen it this field, i am sad to discover. He ends the books with the idea of "speak the truth in love", remarkably there are several reviews here on amazon concerning this book that apparently don't think this a principle to follow. again sadly.

as an example of a balanced passage: page 124
"the second reservation is that different parts of science operate in different ways, on different levels and must answer to different demands. consider the principle of the uniformity of nature. historically the underpinning of that principle is philosophical. it is not empirically testable-indeed, what test results might mean it itself determined in part in a context already defined by that very principle"

it certainly deserves a place in any thinking christian's bookshelf. it is not very doctrinaire and would be an asset to anyone interested in the topic of the philo of science, especially anyone who wants view conditioned by a particular perspective deeply involved in western culture.

Problems reconciling Del's conclusions with the Bible
Unfortunately, Mr. Ratzsch's interpretations raise far more problems than they attempt to solve (as will be documented below).

I do not believe that those who adhere to some form of theistic evolution (God used evolution to create everything) or progressive creation (God intervened at various points in the process of evolution) fully realize that their position violates clear concepts revealed in the Bible--indeed much that is foundational to the very Gospel itself.

For instance..

Concept violated: the goodness of God

The Bible says 'God is good' and in Genesis 1:31 God described his just finished creation as 'very good'. How do you understand the goodness of God if He used evolution, 'nature red in tooth and claw', to 'create' everything?

Concept violated: Adam's sin brought death and decay, the basis of the Gospel

According to the evolutionist's (and progressive creationist's) understanding, fossils (which show death, disease and bloodshed) were formed before people appeared on earth. Doesn't that mean that you can't believe the Bible when it says that everything is in 'bondage to decay' because of Adam's sin (Romans 8)? In the evolutionary view, hasn't the 'bondage to decay' always been there? And if death and suffering did not arise with Adam's sin and the resulting curse, how can Jesus' suffering and physical death pay the penalty for sin and give us eternal life, as the Bible clearly says (e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive")?

Concept violated: the divine inspiration of the whole Bible

If the Genesis accounts of Creation, the Fall, the origin of nations, the Flood and the Tower of Babel - the first 11 chapters - are not historical, although they are written as historical narrative and understood by Jesus to be so, what other unfashionable parts of the Bible do you discard? The biblical account of creation in Genesis seems very specific with six days of creative activity, each having an evening and a morning. According to the evolutionary sequence, the biblical order of creation is all wrong. Do you think God should have inspired an account more in keeping with the evolutionary order, the truth as you see it, if indeed He did use evolution or followed the evolutionary pattern in creating everything?

Concept violated: the straightforward understanding of the Word of God

If the Genesis account does not mean what it plainly says, but must be 'interpreted' to fit an evolutionary world, how are we to understand the rest of the Bible? How are we to know that the historical accounts of Jesus' life, death and resurrection should not also be 'reinterpreted'? Indeed, can we know anything for sure if the Bible can be so flexible?

Concept violated: the creation is supposed to show the hand of God clearly

Dr Niles Eldredge, well-known evolutionist, said:

'Darwin . . . taught us that we can understand life's history in purely naturalistic terms, without recourse to the supernatural or divine.' [Niles Eldredge, "Time Frames - the Rethinking of Darwinian Evolution and the Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium", 1986, Heinemann, London, p. 13.]

Is it not philosophically inconsistent to marry God (theism) with evolution (naturalism)? If God 'created' using evolution which makes Him unnecessary, how can God's 'eternal power and divine nature' be 'clearly seen' in creation, as Romans 1:20 says? Evolution has no purpose, no direction, no goal. The God of the Bible is all about purpose. How do you reconcile the purposelessness of evolution with the purposes of God? What does God have to do in an evolutionary world? Is not God an 'unnecessary hypothesis'?

Concept violated: the need of restoration for the creation

If God created over millions of years involving death, the existing earth is not ruined by sin, but is as it always has been - as God supposedly intended it to be. So why then should He want to destroy it and create a new heavens and earth (2 Peter 3 and other places)?

Starting to get the picture of where Mr. Ratzsch's compromising theology leads?

See the Answers in Genesis website for volumnes of eye-opening information.

Books I would strongly encourage one to read instead: "Icons of Evolution" by Jonathan Wells, "Bones of Contention" by Marvin Lubenow, "Evolution: The Fossils Still Say No!" by Duane Gish, "In Six Days: Why Fifty Scientists Choose to Believe in Creation" by John F. Aston, "Evolution: A Theory in Crisis" by Michael Denton, "Astronomy and the Bible" by Donald B. DeYoung, "Refuting Evolution" by Jonathan Sarfati, "The Answers Book" by Ham/Snelling/Wieland, and "The Young Earth" by John Morris.

You thought you knew what science is?
Think twice. Excellent primer on epistemology by a Christian philosopher. In a field (science and faith) where carricatures, misunderstandings, and insults are too frequent, Del Ratzsch brings a welcome sound of nuance,respect and depth. In a clear and accessible way, the author first reviewsthe various theories that have been developed over time to describe therelationship between science and reality. In a very interesting section, hethen outlines the present work in progress of philosophers of sciencefraying their way between positivism and post-modern relativism. He pointsthere to several questions that we can ask ourselves about ourinterpretation of scientific observations. In a section that could havebeen more developed, Del Ratzsch then discusses several options thatChristians can choose to link biblical and scientific interpretations intheir quest for a coherent understanding of our world. In a welcomed lastchapter, he reminds them that unloving and simplistic Bible slamming andaccusations are not among these options. A must read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This is a wonderful book.
The author is so earnest and so willing to rely on God, as is his wife.And they have seven children to support and care for.

His story is inspiring and he gives some extremely helpful Bible quotes.

A page-turner wrtten from the heart
First Published in 1928, this book has become a classic

This narration can inspire anyone into a higher appreciation of Mary Baker Eddy's teachings, and into a positive reception of the depth and practicability of this discovered Science.

The author tells how he, after finding Christian Science in 1900 and despitea large family to support, left the protestant ministry and positively demonstrated supply through healing work in Science.

He gives a most inspiring account of his trust in Divine Love to care for him and his family, and of his experience as a student, and practitioner of the sweet teachings of Mrs. Eddy.

This is a a real page-turner that can uplift, and inspire anyone into a higher understanding to practice the logical Love Science Mary Baker Eddy has left us. ... Read more

Book Description

In Christian Science on Trial, historian Rennie B. Schoepflin shows how Christian Science healing became a viable alternative to medicine at the end of the nineteenth century. Christian Scientists did not simply evangelize for their religious beliefs; they engaged in a healing business that offered a therapeutic alternative to many patients for whom medicine had proven unsatisfactory. Tracing the evolution of Christian Science during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Christian Science on Trial illuminates the movement's struggle for existence against the efforts of organized American medicine to curtail its activities.

Physicians exhibited an anxiety and tenacity to trivialize and control Christian Scientists which indicates a lack of confidence among the turn-of-the-century medical profession about who controlled American health care. The limited authority of the medical community becomes even clearer through Schoepflin's examination of the pitched battles fought by physicians and Christian Scientists in America's courtrooms and legislative halls over the legality of Christian Science healing. While the issues of medical licensing, the meaning of medical practice, and the supposed right of Americans to therapeutic choice dominated early debates, later confrontations saw the legal issues shift to matters of contagious disease, public safety, and children's rights. Throughout, Christian Scientists revealed their ambiguous status as medical practitioners and religious healers.

The 1920s witnessed an unsteady truce between American medicine and Christian Science. The ambivalence of many Americans about the practice of religious healing persisted, however. In Christian Science on Trial we gain a helpful historical context for understanding late--twentieth-century public debates over children's rights, parental responsibility, and the authority of modern medicine.

Customer Reviews (1)

The Reality of Christian Science in the Real World
I have been class taught in Christian Science and left the cult to practice true Christianity.I read many, many books on the history and teachings of Christian Science.This is the first book that clearly explains the history of medicine and how the time was ripe for Eddy to be successful.The book deals with some doctrines and history of Eddy. I think it is important to read for example "God's Perfect Child" by Caroline Frazer first to get a solid background of Eddy, her teachings and the history of Christian Science.

I have wondered for a long time why Eddy florished and what the early conflicts between medicine and Christian Science (faith healing, New Thought)were. Rennie Schoepflin includes a lot of fresh material and clearly explains the so called "healing" practices of Christian Science Practitioners.

To my knowledge this is the only book available that deals with this subject. Christian Science on Trial is well written, and not another biography of Eddy and Christian Science. The author documents court cases that I have not read elsewhere.

If you read only one book about Eddy this is destined to be a classic. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (11)

Enjoyed this christian fantasy very much
As both an author and reader of fiction, I was impressed with "Light at the Edge of Darkness". Maybe it is because I have always enjoyed a book that could hold my attention and make me think at the same time. In a nutshell, the characters are believable and yet a little out of the ordinary and the story line unique. Give this book a try.
The Christian fiction book that I have written main story line is about ten years in the life of a little girl who was "chosen by God" to be the next Madonna in the second coming of Christ.
Tommy Taylor
Author -The Second Virgin Birth

Demons, and Aliens, and Werewolves, Oh My!!
A mysterious horseman, assorted demons, zombies, werewolves, generous aliens, angels, sadistic persecutors, lunatic killers, stoic martyrs of the faith, fearful victims, secret agent hit men who travel through time, Evil One State Government, supernatural deliverance, the battle of good versus evil, a battle of wills, hope, faith, the power of God. All this and more awaits the reader in Light at the Edge of Darkness, an anthology of twenty-seven short stories, edited by Cynthia McKinnon of Writers' Café Press.This impressive collection is somewhat loosely tied under the umbrella of Biblical Speculative Fiction. There are too many tales and too much variety to do it justice in this brief review. The sub-genres include dark horror, supernatural thrillers, cyberpunk, futuristic science fiction, space travel science fiction, fantasy, and dystopia ( I had to look it up: a place where everything is as bad as it can get, anti-utopia). The antagonists are usually horrendous and are often evil spirits. The protagonists vary in their strengths and character traits, but they always have hope and faith; they see the Light at the end of whatever their individual darkness is.

I will try to give you a few examples of what to expect. The first story, "Frozen Generation" by Andrea Graham, is an instance of dystopia. In this future World Empire, some mothers sell their unborn fetuses, labeled POC (product of conception), to companies that will either sell the children as slaves or harvest the organs of unsold babies. One of the workers is a Black Christian woman who rescues Black embryos but has no compunctions about destroying the White fetuses. In "Miracle Micro," Frank Creed offers a cyberpunk special that any techno-freak will appreciate. Fast forward to Chicago around 2036, when Fundamental Christians are labeled as terrorists and criminals, and the Federal Bureau of Terrorism hires an electrical-technical whiz to become a spy with the Underground Body of Christ. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but suffice it to say the Holy Spirit interferes with his plans of sabotage. A. P. Fuchs creates an extremely dark and emotionally charged "Undeniable."It explores the very real possibility of Christians who are brutally tortured simply because of their faith in Jesus Christ and just how much they might be able to bear without denying Him. At the other end of the spectrum is a pun-infested fantasy wormhole-travel piece by Stephen L. Rice called "At the Mountains of Lunacy." A motley band of adventurers (including a priest and an Amazon woman with a mustache) are hired to open up a mountain pass and find a lost alchemist. Told from the point of view of one of the adventurers, this tale is full of lunacy: maniacal kings, werewolves whose leader is Lord Lovaduc, greedy but fragile zombies, and a nutty alchemist.

Many of the tales were horrific, sad, dark, and oppressive, but one thing remained the same throughout: there was always a ray of Light at the edge of the Darkness. Sometimes the heroes were saved from physical death, sometimes they weren't, but always they knew they would be saved to eternal life. The truth of the gospel, of Jesus' redemption, was ever present. This is the core that holds everything together. One of the strong points overall is the way the authors weave the Biblical truths, particularly of Jesus' sacrifice, love, and redemption.

Personally, I enjoyed the majority of the stories, but in an anthology like this one, individual preferences will play a part. If you are an aficionado of any type of science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, horror, or cyberpunk, you are going to want a copy of Light at the Edge of Darkness. It will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Awesome; a must read
This book is a must for any readers, Christian or otherwise, who like speculative (sci-fi, fantasy, horror) fiction."Light at the Edge of Darkness" is an anthology of biblical speculative fiction compiled by the Lost Genre Guild.The authors do a great job of telling stories with Christian themes without becoming "preachy" in the process.All of the stories are good, but among the best are Donna Sundbland's "Caleb Sees the Light," C.E. Lavender's "Protected," Daniel I. Weaver's "Taken," and Stephen L. Rice's "At the Mountains of Lunacy."Awesome reading, and a real steal at Amazon's pricing.

Something for everyone
Light At The Edge Of Darkness is an anthology of Biblical Speculative Fiction. The stories contained in the book were written by members of The Lost Genre Guild, a group of talented writers dedicated to increasing awareness of their particular genres-science fiction, cyber punk, and horror just to name a few.

Since it's an anthology, odds are a reader will find favorites among the collection. For me the most powerful story was "Undeniable" by A.P. Fuchs. "Fair Balance" turned some stereotypes on their ear. "Small and Simple Things" was familiar yet totally different at the same time, while "Soar On Wings" has a point of view that is most unusual.

Light At The Edge of Darkness is an unusual book, from the standpoint of the different story genres it contains. The members of the Lost Genre Guild have done a good job with their first anthology. I hope to see more from LGG members in the future.

Something New & Interesting For Christian Speculative Fiction
A man who's been robbed of his eyes and soon his only son by those demanding he deny Christ, crying out to God for mercy, justice, and sight...and receiving it. A man named Steven caught by a sadistic killer, denying not only his faith, but the tremendous gift he's been given....even though it's his only hope for survival. Futuristic societies in which believing in God is a crime, because all Christians must be registered with the government. Alternate universes who have sworn allegiance to the dark, rather than the One who died for them, and a writer so obsessed with success, he sells his soul to his agent...and the devil Himself...to become the next literary great.

If you're lingering on the edge of darkness and you see the light, do you dare cross over to what waits beyond...or do you lie immobilized by your fears and sins in the dark, until what waits in the shadows claims you?

Light at the Edge of the Darkness, edited by Cynthia MacKinnon and published by Writer's Café Press, is an introspective and eclectic anthology of dark, speculative tales musing about what goes on in the shadows we don't dare think of in the light of day, and how God's mercy shines at the shadow's edge, beckoning to all, saving some, and judging others. Consisting of genres ranging from science fiction, cyberpunk, fantasy, suspense, and horror, this anthology is a collection of talented writers; some making their first published foray into the writing world, others simply adding to their resume these dark and haunting tales.

Among the notables are stories from writers Frank Creed, Daniel Weaver, and A.P. Fuchs, writers who are clearly making their way in the world of fiction. Both Frank Creed and Daniel Weaver are writers/reviewers active in several different book review blog organizations, and Daniel Weaver himself is currently seeking a home for his current project, When Nightmares Walk; and AP Fuchs is the creator of the comic book Axiom Man.

Light at the Edge of the Darkness was createdby The Lost Genre Guild, a collective of writers who focus on creating a place of Biblical speculative fiction in the publishing world. ... Read more

Book Description
The Oxford Handbook of International Relations offers the most authoritative and comprehensive overview to date of the field of International Relations. Arguably the most impressive collection of International Relations scholars ever brought together within one volume, the Handbook debates the nature of the field itself, critically engages with the major theories, surveys a wide spectrum of methods, addresses the relationship between scholarship and policy making, and examines the field's relation with cognate disciplines. In so doing the Handbook gives readers authoritative and critical introductions to the subject and establish a sense of the field as a dynamic realm of argument and inquiry.The Handbook has two key and distinctive organizing principles. The first is its ground-breaking approach to the normative component in theorizing about International Relations. Earlier volumes have concentrated almost exclusively on theories as purely empirical or positive theories, with small sub-sections left for 'ethics and International Relations'. But all International Relations theories have both empirical and normative aspects; even methodological choices entail implicit normative commitments. Without this understanding, some of the arguments in International Relations are routinely miscast. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations offers a comprehensive survey of the field that deepens our understanding of how empirical and normative theorizing interact to constitute International Relations as a field of study.A second organizing principle is the analysis of how different perspectives have developed in relation to one another. Previousoverviews of the field have treated contending theories and methods as isolated bodies of thought, or organized them into stylized 'great debates'. But these approaches obscure the dynamic interplay, conversation, and contestation between different perspectives. The Handbook examines this interplay, with chapter authors probing how their theory or approach has been affected by contestation with, and borrowing from, other approaches. In doing so it shows how diversity within International Relations has promoted, or perhaps sometimes stultified, progress in the field.The Oxford Handbook of International Relations advances a markedly different perspective on the field of International Relations and will be essential for reading for those interested in the advanced study of global politics and international affairs.The Oxford Handbooks of Political Science is a ten-volume set of reference books offering authoritative and engaging critical overviews of the state of political science. Each volume focuses on a particular part of the discipline, with volumes on Public Policy, Political Theory, Political Economy, Contextual Political Analysis, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Law and Politics, Political Behavior, Political Institutions, and Political Methodology. The project as a whole is under the General Editorship of Robert E. Goodin, with each volume being edited by a distinguished international group of specialists in their respective fields. The books set out not just to report on the discipline, but to shape it. The series is an indispensable point of reference for anyone working in political science and adjacent disciplines. ... Read more

Book Description
1898. A selection of hymns that is believed to be representative of the best religious and poetic thought in hymnology, including a number of excellent compositions by Christian scientists. An effort was made in the musical department to present a useful and varied collection of tunes, the purpose being to appeal to every lover of church music, of whatever taste or ability. Five of the hymns were written by the Reverend Mary Baker Eddy, discoverer and founder of Christian Science. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Want a quick hit of inspiration?
I'm not much of a musician but I do like to sing. And I love to read. Many times, I've sat down with this hymnal and simply *read* the lyrics and have found them to be deep reservoirs of inspiration and spiritual insights.

Yeah, the hymns are old and they're from the Victorian era and the lyrics are clearly reminiscent of that time, but they're still beautiful and touching. For instance, there was someone in my life that I felt I had every reason to hate, but being a Christian, I knew that hating any of God's children was wrong and was not part of God's plan for my life.

One of my favorite hymns in this book reads,

"Speak gently to the erring ones,
they must have toiled in vain;
Perhaps unkindness made them so,
Oh win them back again."

That simple sentiment has helped me release the animous and contempt I feel toward this person and reminds me to pray for her each day and ask God to send her nothing but blessings.

I highly recommend this hymnal.

Inspirational Lirics
I have owned several copies of the Hymnal, and keep giving them away and buying a new one. I love the lyrics and find them inspirational at all times, and especially in times of trouble.Hightly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com
You'll have to look hard to find a better explanation of therelationship between basic Christian tenets and the Darwinian theory ofevolution than Can a Darwinian Be a Christian? by Michael Ruse. Theauthor, a professor of philosophy and zoology at the University of Guelph inOntario, Canada, writes with bracing candor ("Let me be open," he begins. "Ithink that evolution is a fact and that Darwinism rules triumphant.") andsophisticated sympathy to Christian doctrine ("if one's understanding ofDarwinism does include a natural evolution of life from nonlife, there is noreason to think that this now makes Christian belief impossible."). Writing thisbook, he also clearly had a hell of a lot of fun (disarming skeptical Christianreaders at the beginning, he asks, "Why should the devil have all the goodtunes?"). Can a Darwinian Be a Christian? answers its title question withheady confidence--"Absolutely!"--but the book journeys towards that answer withcircumspect integrity. Covering territory from the Scopes "Monkey Trial" tocontemporary theories of social Darwinism to the question of extraterrestriallife, Ruse applies an impressive wealth of knowledge that encompasses manydisciplines. Readers may or may not be swayed, but they can't help but bechallenged and edified by this excellent book. --Michael Joseph GrossBook Description
Can someone who accepts Darwin's theory of natural selection subscribe at the same time to the basic tenets of Christianity?Adopting a balanced perspective on the subject, Michael Ruse argues that, although it is at times difficult for a Darwinian to embrace Christian belief, it is not inconceivable. Ruse has produced an important contribution to a sometimes overheated debate for anyone interested in seeking an informed and judicious guide to these issues. Michael Ruse is professor of philosophy and zoology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.He is the author of many books on evolutionary biology.In addition, he has published several hundred articles and many book reviews.He is the editor of the Cambridge Series in the Philosophy of Biology and founding editor of the journal IBiology & Philosophy. Hb ISBN (2000): 0-521-63144-0 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Good book overall, good background
This was overall an okay book, I suppose. It was not anything deeply profound, but it was worth the read, for sure. What I most liked about this book was the fact that there is really no prior knowledge needed about the subject. For example, he basically explains everything that you have to know about the biological aspects of evolution, some central church dogma, etc, before delving into the actual heart of the issue. In addtion, I thought that the presentation style was extremely clear, which made it much more informative for the casual reader. The organization of the book was pretty amazing, I'd have to say. Ruse breaks down each individual topic into little sub-topics that all make a lot of sense and follow a logical progression.

On this other hand, the fact that it for the most part does not assume prior knowledge also meant that one may get really bored at certain portions. Especially (for me, at least) the parts which introduced scientific concepts related to evolution, I just wanted to get those topics over which. For the most part, the religion side of the arguments were well presented, I think, although he does jump right in and start using words like ontology and teleology, which definitely confused me because I'm not particularly well read in this particular area. But I mean, overall the presentation was really good.

As far as the content, you definitely get the sense at certain points in the book that it's not really an evolution vs. Christianity debate but rather science vs. religion, and I guess some parts in the book I just didn't feel were really that applicable to the subject at hand. But the arguments overall made a lot of sense to me and I think this was really informative on the whole.

I was also really impressed by how much outside information Ruse brought into his book. He definitely did a lot of historical and contemporary research, Huxley, Darwin, Gould, Wilson, were mentioned many many times throughout the book and it definitely provides us with a good context with which to evaluate the arguments Ruse presents. What I thought was kind of interesting is that throughout the book he makes it pretty clear that he distains Richard Dawkins' position on the whole issue(like...A LOT of distain), which makes sense, I guess, since Ruse is a big fan of intelligent design, basically the opposite of Dawkins' advocacy. Lastly, I just really appreciate Ruse's attempt to write this book in such a clear and distinct manner, it's really good to see that a believer in intelligent design can just come out and admit that he is indeed himself a Darwinian and believes in evolution right from page 1. That was pretty good.

Fair, Clear, and Funny
This is a very informative and helpful book, and a real delight to read. It is written in a charitable spirit and irenic tone with liberal doses of good humor. I happen to be both an ardent Darwinian and a devout Christian (Reformed with Roman Catholic leanings, and also very admiring of the Greek Orthodox tradition), and as such I wish to commend Ruse not only for writing so passionately yet soberly about Darwinism but also for engaging the Christian faith in such a thoughtful and respectful manner. In reading this book, I have come to realize how complicated some of the issues are. Yet his central argument-that one can affirm both Christian theism and Darwinian evolutionism-is not at all complicated. Among contemporary philosophers writing in this area, Ruse is much better informed about science and--surprisingly for one who is not himself a Christian--about the breadth and flexibility of the Christian tradition than, say, Alvin Plantinga is. Plantinga, the foremost Christian philosopher of religion in our time (and a friend and former coparishioner whom I greatly love and admire), has not taken the time to learn the science as Ruse has, nor the effort to seriously question the assumptions of literalist readings of Genesis. In this book Ruse gives Plantinga, if not exactly a butt-kicking, at least a spanking, and a well-deserved one at that. At the other end of the spectrum, blowhard atheists like Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett come off looking rather shortsighted and, in some ways, rather stupid in Ruse's book, even though Ruse has the utmost respect for them. I particular like the way that Ruse unpacks and clarifies the issues of pain (the problem of evil), freedom, and determinism. For me it is especially the Augustinian doctrine of original sin that needs serious rethinking in light of evolution, but on this point Ruse's treatment is so brief as to be only suggestive. Overall, I doubt that Ruse's book will gain a hearing from atheistic Darwinians, and certainly not from young-earth creationists. Agnostics might be willing to broaden their horizons with Ruse as their guide, but the real audience--and those with the most to gain--will be Christians who consider the evidence for evolution overwhelming and its implications glorifying to God. If Darwin made it possible for many people to be intellectually fulfilled atheists, Ruse has brightened the prospects for a lot of us becoming (even more) intellectually fulfilled theists.

Ruse leaves room for a God of the gaps
A more appropriate title for this book might have been _Is It Logically Possible for a Darwinian to Be a Christian?_ (but from an aesthetic perspective this would have been awful).Ruse deals with his subject soberly and respectfully, not something that can be said for all who have undertaken this project.Still, I have an objection, and I'm not sure Ruse himself would disagree with it.It is Ruse's position that the fact of evolution is not something over which reasonable people can disagree -- no problem so far.He also says that there are certain metaphysical conclusions (like supernatural creation of the universe) about which we cannot be absolutely sure.Again, I agree.However, acceptance of Darwinism (or science generally) has certain epistemological requirements, one of which is the basic assumption that the world is a predictable place -- the whole endeavor of science would be a waste of time without such a starting point.An easy corollary of this premise is that the laws of nature are never broken -- there is no such thing as magic.Yet Ruse counsels that when others claim that we can't be sure God didn't create the universe we should leave open the possibility, even though this violates the premise from which we began.He is aware of this (he deals with it in the form of a response from Daniel Dennett), and says the Darwinian should show some humility and accept the possibility of such a proposition.I guess I can go this far if he means we should accept the logical possibility of divine creation, but this is pretty weak.After all, there are many propositions -- some patently ridiculous -- that are not ruled out logically.One must sacrifice epistemological consistency to get on board with this Rusean compromise, something not all of us are willing to do.

This guy writes with Love
I don't say this lightly.He comes from a real Friendly Quaker perspective on things, in the process strongly affirming Christ's presence and reality in all places, and looking to see the Light of Truth wherever he looks.As a biologist Ruse affirms evolution, but he also shows how one can understand how this impacts the walk with God, and who God is in light of this.He honestly grapples with the difficulties that evolution poses- and equally honestly points out that the difficulties are largely nothing new in theology or philosophy.The problem of suffering, for instance, remains a problem, no larger nor smaller with the presence of evolution.Ruse also approaches the myriad possible understandings of this controversy, both scientifically and religiously, with care and compassion, affirming the search for truth by others, even if it does not agree with his understanding of the truth.

I found this book most helpful as a parallel to my own spiritual journey.I felt like Ruse was walking alongside me, helping me to clarify my own thoughts as he clarified his.Evolution doesn't bring up new problems for theology, true.But it magnifies those problems.So if we can solve those problems through the theory of evolution, or begin to, we come a lot closer to understanding God.

false conclusion
The author arrives at the incorrect answer to the question he approaches.Darwinian evolution is impossible without death.Thus, to allow that some single-celled organism evolved into people (an absurd conclusion, but beside the point of this review) depends on the acceptance of millions of millions of deaths before humans showed up.
However, we know from the Bible that death was a direct result of humankind's rebellion against God.This is a basic tenet of Christian belief.As such, it would be impossible for death to lead to the existence of humans.Therefore, there is no way darwinian evolution and Christian belief can coexist. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Intellectual bridge between science and faith
John Polkinghorne is a fine author; the combination of his faith, his deep understanding of physics and his ability to explain the most complex ideas in terms that are relatively easy to follow (sometimes requiring a second read!) make him uniquely qualified for the challenge of showing how it can be intellectually sound to embrace the Christian faith. His willingness to quote sources with whom he clearly disagrees and to do so with integrity towards the opposing view adds tremendously to the depth of his reasoning.

His comment on page 63 is typical: "The universe has proved to be astonishingly rationally transparent, and the human mind remarkably apt to the comprehension of its structure. We can penetrate the secrets of the subatomic realm of quarks and gluons, and we can make maps of cosmic curved spacetime, both regimes that have no practical impact upon us, and both exhibiting properties that are counterintuitive in relation to our ordinary habits of thought. Our understanding of the workings of the world greatly exceed (sic) anything that could simply be required for human survival."

When I reflect on insights such as this (and the book is full of them) I find them so much more valuable than the confrontational approach of the materialists on one side and the Intelligent Design zealots on the other.

Three and a half stars, dissapointing
Polkinghorne is just not at his best in this volume. It starts out good, but just goes downhill. If he could just stay on the topic of the relationship between science and theology he would be great. No one but Stanley Jaki is as good when it comes to that subject, and that was what I wanted in this book. Unfortunately, Polkinghorne soon leaves this behind to talk about theology (mostly) apart from science, and some of his theological views are just wacko. For example, when discussing God and time, he concluded that God is bound by time (in His temporal pole at least), but of course time is relative, so we have to decide what "time-zone" God is on. Polkinghorne concludes that he is probably on the same time-zone as the cosmic background radiation, since that is the most common time zone! And I assure you he is not joking when he comes to this conclusion, he is quite serious. Also, on the way to this conclusion, he passes through a discussion on the bipolarity of God, sounds dangerously like a process theist. In fact, after reading this book, I am fairly convinced that Polkinghorne is either a process theist or something very close to it, certainly not a traditional Christian theist, and I am certain that he goes far beyond the bounds of even open theism. This was a very dissapointing discovery, but the book is still good in parts. If only he would stay on subject, for he discusses the main subject better than any other but one!

Theology and science
The task of theology and the task of science have many things in common, and many differences.In some sense, both seek the truth (albeit most often different in context and meaning), and while both make an appeal to reason as a methodology, they vary in their application of this.

Author John Polkinghorne has a combined profession of cleric and theoretical physicist.Physics and theology are both often caterogised as 'big picture' enterprises - I recall the time that I got better grades from in a biblical studies course after talking with the professor Marti Steussy; once she realised that I had had science training in physics, and I realised she'd had science training in biochemistry, we understood each other much better with regard to biblical studies (big picture vs. constitutent parts/small things approaches).Polkinghorne also approaches things from a big picture perspective, albeit involving small things (the smallest of things, in fact, that science can discern).

This book is derivative of lectures given at Princeton Theological Seminary in 2003.Polkinghorne's intention was to draw together science and religion in a dialogue, letting theological issues provide the framework.He covers different key areas in systematic theology (scripture, sacraments, doctrine of God, eschatology), and does so through an expressly trinitarian paradigm.'I believe that a discussion of this kind has to be undertaken from the standpoint of a particular faith tradition,' Polkinghorne states, and starts with many assumptions of the Christian faith - of course, his audience at Princeton was also primarily Christian, as will be most of the readers of this volume.Polkinghorne admits that this particularist stance is somewhat at odds with the aims of science: 'Scientists love generality, and they are often wary of particularity.'But for theological reasoning, one must be inside the circle, rather than outside; however, the scandal of particularity must be admitted.

This is not an 'in-depth' book in terms of attempting to provide a deep exposition of modern physics (many concepts are assumed to be familiar to the reader, if not completely understood).However, Polkinghorne avoids complex mathematical and technical terminology and constructions for the most part, so that the general non-scientist reader can follow the text readily.Polkinghorne does draw in elements of the history of science and theology and their often-troubled relationship, and shows something of the development of the way theological thinking since the Enlightenment.

This is an interesting book for those who are interested in the ongoing science/religion debate.It does not address the more-hot-button issue of evolution as a primary theme, although it does come up in several of the essays; this is a more general coverage of science and theology, the way they relate to each other.

A bold New Theological Synthesis
This may well be one of Polkinghorne's best.He assumes a knowledge ofrecent discoveries in phyiscs and doesn't really explain them.He does that elsewhere in books like Quarks, Chaos and Christianity, but he does refer to those facts in a determined attempt to develop a theology that is consonant with the physical facts known to scientists. He describes a new theology that sees God as both temporal and atemporal, a God who has created a developing universe in which He is active but which is also independent from Him.His view may not be satisfying to some but it is the grandest attempt I have read by a theologian to answer the questions that physics ask about the nature of the universe.He calls himself a "bottoms=up thinker"-- one who develops theory based on evidence.He does not claim to "prove" the existence of God only to show that it is the most satsifying explanation for the facts shown. His goal here really is not to persuade the unpersuaded to believe in God, rather is is addressed to those who, like him, are believers who nevertheless have many questions that have been undresolved for centuries-- Does God exist only outside of time?Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people.And so on.A great, but as usual, difficult, read for people of faith seeking greater understanding.

Fails to deliver
There isn't much Trinity and there isn't much science in this disappointing volume. Chapter 2, "The Role of Scripture" discusses neither and treats us to this gem: "[Peacocke] describes the Bible as being a 'unique and irreplaceable resource'. I agree very strongly with that assessment." Gee whiz, who wouldn't? Not worth the $24 I paid. The book is written in the rambling style you'd expect from a speaker at Club night at the Lizzie. Goes well with port, but not much else.

A more stimulating treatment of the same subject can be had by reading Kevin Sharpe's Sleuthing the Divine. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000. ... Read more

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Activity Page to Accompany Science 1. ... Read more

Book Description
Each of these three books (Developing a Christian Worldview of Science and Evolution, Developing a Christian Worldview of the Problem of Evil, and Developing a Christian Worldview of the Christian in Today's Culture) is drawn from Colson's highly successful How Now Shall We Live? Shorter in length and accessible to readers, the Developing a Christian Worldview series is ideal for small-group study and classroom use. Each chapter begins with pre-reading questions, and each study session is made up of newly written discussion questions, role-playing activities, and challenges to implement key insights. All are designed to help readers grasp Colson's arguments and learn how to use the points effectively with non-Christians. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

a disappointment
As a Christian, I found Colson's and Pearcey's magnum opun well worth reading, but this book (chapter in larger book) simply sides with the Intelligent Design side in the debate.I am sure the authors believe this is the Christian perspective, but I had hoped for insight into reconciling science and faith.

What A Disappointment!
What is badly needed is a case for a reasoned merger of Christian truth with scientific evolutionary theory. This has been eloquently done for Christian environmentalism, and I was looking forward to reading a thoughtful intellectual analysis of evolutionary theory and science from a Christian evangelical's perspective. What a disappointment! Colson and Pearcey had the opportunity to make a significant contribution, but chose instead to construct the usual tired strawman of equating science with naturalism and Christianity with allegiance to intelligent design. Neither naturalism nor intelligent design are science, and thus both are easily debunked from a scientific perspective.

Furthermore, Colson and Pearcey cannot even identify cogent new arguments for intelligent design. Instead they rely on naive and easily refuted arguments, such as the "irreducible complexity" of the eye (nonsense, there are numerous examples of intermediate stages of light recognition and processing) or that a fish evolving a lung would drown (we have air-breathing fish, and many amphibians change from a gill-breathing to a lung-breathing state).

In summary, if you want another stock argument for intelligent design, or if you like to read arguments that can easily be picked to pieces, get this book. Otherwise, don't bother. ... Read more

Book Description
In this day of the atheistic or agnostic stereotype that is attached to the man of science, it is refreshing to study the lives of eleven great scientists who professed Christ as their Lord and Savior.In these short biographies, we are presented with a distilled version of each man's scientific accomplishments and the evidences of his Christian faith.These testimonies demonstrate that true scientists can be genuine Christians, and that faith in God and the authority of the Bible is not a sign of inferior intellect.

This includes biographies of Johannes Kepler, Robert Boyle, David Brewster, Michael Faraday, Samuel Morse, Matthew Fontaine Maury, James Clerk Maxwell, Lord Kelvin, Howard Kelley, Henry Morris, and Walt Brown. ... Read more

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Knowledge of food science is applicable to all persons, in diverse college majors. This text is designed with a user-friendly approach to Food Science for the non-major.

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The relations between science and philosophy in the early nineteenth century remain one of the most misunderstood topics in modern European intellectual history. By taking the brilliant career of Danish physicist-philosopher Hans Christian Ørsted as their organizing theme, leading international philosophers and historians of science reveal illuminating new perspectives on the intellectual map of Europe in the age of revolution and romanticism. They show how Ørsted, an intrepid traveller and cosmopolitan from the periphery of enlightened Europe, mediated between the great scientists of Germany, France, and Britain and profoundly shaped post-kantian philosophy and the emerging new energy physics of the nineteenth-century.