Six contributors here debate the relative merits of four distinct conceptions of the relationship between Christianity and science today. Views range from a strict creationist posture to full-fledged partnership. Edited by Richard F. Carlson.
Richard F. Carlson is research professor of physics at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California and formerly a visiting scientist in the department of radiation sciences at Uppsala University, Sweden. He received a B.S. (University of Redlands), M.S. and Ph.D. (University of Minnesota) in physics, and an M. A. (Fuller Theological Seminary) in biblical studies and theology. His physics research interests are in experimental nuclear physics, and he has done postdoctoral research at UCLA. While teaching at the University of Redlands he has continued his nuclear research at UCLA, the University of Manitoba, University of California Davis, and currently at Uppsala University. Carlson has published more than fifty articles in physics research journals. Recently his interests have shifted to the area of science and Christian faith, and between 1995 and 2005 he taught a number of science and theology courses at the University of Redlands and Fuller Theological Seminary. His courses at Redlands and Fuller have resulted in two Templeton Foundation prizes.He is the general editor of Science Christianity: Four Views (InterVarsity Press, 2000), as well as the author of a number of articles appearing in nuclear physics research journals and theological journals.
Frair is professor emeritus of biology at The King's College, Tuxedo, New York. Frair graduated from Houghton College in 1950 with an A.B. in zoology and then from Wheaton College in 1951 with a B.S. also in zoology. He completed an M.A. in embryology in 1955 at the University of Massachusetts, and a Ph.D. in biochemical taxonomy in 1962 from Rutgers, The State University. His research interests have focused on turtles, with emphasis on biochemical taxonomy. Frair is the author of more than fifty research papers, including some dealing with the topic of science and the Bible. He is a coauthor of the book A Case for Creation, now in its third edition. He was a witness for the defense at the 1981 creation v. evolution trial in Little Rock, Arkansas. Frair is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Scientific Affiliation, the Society of the Sigma Xi, the Creation Research Society, the Victoria Institute (England) and a number of other scientific societies. From 1986 to 1993 he was the president of the Creation Research Society, and he remains a current member of its board.
Patterson is professor of chemical physics and polymer science at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his B.S. in chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in 1968 and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Stanford University in 1972. He was a member of the technical staff in the chemical physics department at ATT Bell Laboratories from 1972 until 1984. Patterson is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He received the National Academy of Sciences Award for Initiatives in Research in 1981. His research interests are in the structure and dynamics of molecular systems. He has published more than one hundred papers in professional journals and has written chapters for many books, including Methods of Experimental Physics, Dynamic Light Scattering, Advances in Polymer Science, Advances in Materials Science and Annual Review of Physical Chemistry. Patterson has taught a wide range of science courses to chemistry, chemical engineering, biology and physics majors at Carnegie Mellon University. He also cotaught a course in Christianity and science in the philosophy department, with support from the Templeton Foundation, and he continues to lecture in philosophy of science and philosophy of religion.
