Cosmology Without God? The Problematic Theology Inherent in Modern Cosmology
Ebook
Is God a superfluous hypothesis for modern cosmology? According to the normal understanding of modern science, the answer should be affirmative because modern science is supposed to be free of metaphysical and theological presuppositions. However, despite its self-proclaimed neutrality regarding metaphysics and theology, modern science is full of metaphysical and theological presuppositions. These can be summarized as a mechanistic understanding of nature, a reduction of God to an external agent in competition with natural processes, and creation to a worldly mechanism. These presuppositions are deficient and untenable, and they remain unconscious for the most part in the dialogue between science and theology, making it intellectually impossible because of the reduced notions of God, nature, and creation assumed. Using the coherent and unreduced image of God and nature provided by the Christian doctrine of creation ex nihilo, Fr. David Alcalde intends to uncover and criticize the incoherent theological assumptions inherent in a concrete branch of modern science, which is modern cosmology. The author points out the presence of these inadequate theological presuppositions in both the theologians who use modern cosmology to offer scientific proof for the existence of God and the atheistic cosmologists who use their science to reject the idea of God.
“The assumption persists that modern science is free of
metaphysical and theological presuppositions, and therefore neutral
in their regard. Appealing to the image of God and nature found in
the Christian doctrine of creation, Fr. David Alcalde, trained as
both a theologian and an astrophysicist, examines this assumption
from both ‘sides’—and clearly exposes its problematic
character.”
—David L. Schindler, Pontifical John Paul II Institute, Washington,
DC
“For anyone interested in the relationship between science and
theology, this work is indispensable. In language that is
mercifully free of academic jargon and scientific technicalities,
the author unveils the non-neutrality of modern science… As a
humanities type whose scientific education stopped in secondary
school I found the argumentation of this work easy to follow. It
will be of great value to scientists, theologians, and thoughtful
Christians in general.”
—Professor Tracey Rowland, University of Notre Dame
(Australia)
"David Alcalde's book stands amongst a growing body of writings
which begin not with the mesmerizing discoveries of science, but
with the foundational theological and metaphysical presuppositions
of science… Alcade is a scientist, theologian and philosopher who
calls for better science built on firmer metaphysical and
theological foundations."
—Simon Oliver, Durham University
“One reason theologians and scientists so regularly speak past each
other is that scientists tend to be unaware of the significant
theological and metaphysical assumptions built into their thinking
and practice, and theologians tend to have too little ‘expertise’
in science to be able to show them how and why they do. Fr. Alcade
is the rare person who overcomes both deficiencies, and his book
promises therefore to help this discussion finally bear genuine
fruit.
—David C. Schindler, Pontifical John Paul II Institute (Washington,
DC)
Product Details
- Title : Cosmology Without God?: The Problematic Theology Inherent in Modern Cosmology
- Authors:
- Alcalde, David
- Hanby, Michael
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Publication Date: 2019
- ISBN: 9781532636851
Fr. David Alcalde is a professor at both the Instituto de Filosofía Edith Stein and the Instituto de Teología Lumen Gentium, located in Granada (Spain). He has PhDs in both astrophysics and theology.