IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES?

What if philosophy, theology, and science spent a little more time together? These fields often seem at odds, butting metaphysical heads. Instead of talking at, how about talking with one another? This book engages three academic disciplines--distinct yet sharing much in common--in a slice of conversation and community in which participants have aimed at validating the other and the way the other sees the world. The result is a collection of essays united by a thread that can be hard to find in academia. In bringing together a wide range of contributors on a project that at first seemed unlikely, Irreconcilable Differences? is also a testament to the spirit of cooperation and hard work--evidence that small acts and events can make a big difference, and that sometimes all you need in order to make something good happen is an idea with a little support along the way. The editors of this collection are hopeful that its contributors and readers will keep looking for ways to bridge academic, social, and political gaps. We need to forge relationships based on personal knowledge and proper confidence seeking to make meaningful claims in an increasingly complex world. Silo mentalities and reductionism often separate the fields of knowledge in confusing ways. The remedy is good relationships and a common vision, not first of all of between thought forms, but among the people pursuing them. This book is the outcome of that remedy. Here is a harvest of good fruit from the fields of theology, philosophy, and science for those hungry to provide complementary nutrients for the welfare of the world. --Roger Haydon Mitchell, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Politics, Philosophy, and Religion, Lancaster University A timely and important conversation! Robinson and Peck present us with a diverse collection of voices interweaving the often separated but intrinsically interconnected fields of philosophy, theology, and science. This book provokes thoughtful reflection, challen