The Oxford Handbook of Natural Theology

by Russell Re Manning (Editor), John Hedley Brooke (With), Fraser Watts (With)

Overview

The Oxford Handbook of Natural Theology is the first collection to consider the full breadth of natural theology from both historical and contemporary perspectives and to bring together leading scholars to offer accessible high-level accounts of the major themes. The volume embodies and develops the recent revival of interest in natural theology as a topic of serious critical engagement. Frequently misunderstood or polemicized, natural theology is an under-studied yet persistent and pervasive presence throughout the history of thought about ultimate reality - from the classical Greek theology of the philosophers to twenty-first century debates in science and religion.

Of interest to students and scholars from a wide range of disciplines, this authoritative handbook draws on the very best of contemporary scholarship to present a critical overview of the subject area. Thirty eight new essays trace the transformations of natural theology in different historical and religious contexts, the place of natural theology in different philosophical traditions and diverse scientific disciplines, and the various cultural and aesthetic approaches to natural theology to reveal a rich seam of multi-faceted theological reflection rooted in human nature and the environments within which we find ourselves.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199556939
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/01/2013
Series:	Oxford Handbooks
Pages:	648
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Russell Re Manning is Lord Gifford Fellow in the School of Divinity, History and Philosophy at University of Aberdeen.

John Hedley Brooke is Emeritus Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford.

Fraser Watts is Reader in Theology and Science, University of Cambridge.

Table of Contents

IntroductionI: Historical Perspectives on Natural Theology1. Classical Origins of Natural Theology, Stephen Clark2. Natural Theology and the Christian Bible, Christopher Rowland3. Natural Theology in the Patristic Period, Wayne Hankey4. Natural Theology in the Middle Ages, Alexander Hall5. Early Modern Natural Theologies, Scott Mandelbrote6. Nineteenth-Century Natural Theology, Matthew Eddy7. Natural Theology in the Twentieth Century, Rodney HolderII: Theological Perspectives on Natural Theology8. Jewish Perspectives on Natural Theology, Daniel Frank9. Islamic Perspectives on Natural Theology, Robert Morrison10. Natural Theology in Eastern Religions, Jessica Frazier11. Catholic Perspectives on Natural Theology, Denis Edwards12. Protestant Perspectives on Natural Theology, Russell Re Manning13. Natural Theology and the Eastern Orthodox Tradition, Christopher C. Knight14. Theological Critiques of Natural Theology, Andrew MooreIII: Philosophical Perspectives on Natural Theology15. Perspectives on Natural Theology from Analytical Philosophy, Keith Parsons16. A Perspective from Continental Philosophy, Russell Re Manning17. Process Thought and Natural Theology, David Ray Griffin18. The Design Argument and Natural Theology, Neil A. Manson19. Morality and Natural Theology, William Schweiker20. Religious Experience and Natural Theology, Mark Wynn21. Postmodernity and Natural Theology, Clayton Crockett22. Feminist Perspectives on Natural Theology, Pamela Sue Anderson23. Comparative Natural Theology, Wesley Wildman24. Philosophical Critiques of Natural Theology, Charles TaliaferroIV: Scientific Perspectives on Natural Theology25. Natural Theology: The Biological Sciences, Michael Ruse26. Physical Sciences and Natural Theology, Paul Ewart27. Chemical Sciences and Natural Theology, David Knight28. Mathematics and Natural Theology, John Polkinghorne29. Natural Theology and Ecology, Christopher Southgate30. Sciences of the Mind and Natural Theology, Fraser Watts31. A Sociological Perspective on Natural Theology, Richard Fenn32. Scientific Critiques of Natural Theology, Philip ClaytonV: Perspectives on Natural Theology from the Arts33. Aesthetics and the Arts in Relation to Natural Theology, Frank Burch Brown34. Imagination and Natural Theology, Douglas Hedley35. Natural Theology and Literature, Guy Bennett-Hunter36. Natural Theology and Music, Jeremy Begbie37. Images in Natural Theology, Kristof Nyiri38. The Film Viewer and Natural Theology God's "Presence" at the Movies, Robert Johnston

Editorial Reviews

"[A] valuable addition to the 'Oxford Handbooks in Religion and Theology' series... recommended." —CHOICE

"[A] fine collection... the editor of this varied and interesting collection is to be commended for his careful tightrope walk through the plethora of rival works. The Oxford Handbook of Natural Theology wisely eschews trespassing on the terrain of its predecessors in favour of original and distinctive meta-disciplinary perspectives on natural theology itself... this book combines diversity of approach with brevity and flashes of genuine depth." —The Expository Times

From the Publisher