Unlocking Divine Action: Contemporary Science & Thomas Aquinas: Contemporary Science and Thomas Aquinas - Rilegato

Dodds, Michael J.

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0813219892 ISBN 13: 9780813219899

Casa editrice: Catholic Univ of Amer Pr, 2012

Riassunto

Our ability to talk about God's action in the world is closely tied to our understanding of causality. With the advent of modern Newtonian science the conception of causality narrowed, and the discussion of divine action became locked into that contracted understanding. There seemed to be simply no room for God to act in the world without interfering with nature and the laws of science that describe it. Fortunately, the idea of causality has been greatly expanded through developments in contemporary science. Discoveries in quantum mechanics, cosmology, chaos theory, and biology have all led to a broader understanding of causality. These developments have opened two fundamentally new ways for theologians to ""unlock"" the discussion of divine action. One is to use the developments of science themselves to speak of God's action. The other is to speak of divine action not directly through the theories and interpretations of science, but rather through the broader understanding of causality that they suggest. This book explores both approaches and argues that the latter provides a more effective way for discussing divine action. After showing that the idea of causality in contemporary science is remarkably reminiscent of key concepts in the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, it then retrieves those notions and applies them to the discussion of divine action. In this way, it provides a sustained account of how the thought of Aquinas may be used in conjunction with contemporary science to deepen our understanding of divine action and address such issues as creation, providence, prayer, and miracles.

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Recensione:

"This book treats a hot topic in the area of science and religion. Dodds makes an important contribution by laying out the neglected Thomistic view that envisages God's causality as transcending the causality of natural causes. For those interested in discussions concerning divine action, this book is a must." -- Marie I. George, professor of philosophy, St. John's University

L'autore:

MICHAEL J. DODDS, O.P., is professor of philosophy and theology at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California. He is author of The Unchanging God of Love: Thomas Aquinas and Contemporary Theology on Divine Immutability (CUA Press), and coauthor of The Seeker's Guide to Seven Life-Changing Virtues and Happily Ever After Begins Here and Now: Living the Beatitudes Today.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Catholic Univ of Amer Pr
• Data di pubblicazione: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0813219892
• ISBN 13: 9780813219899
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 311