Naturalism in the Christian Imagination
Providence and Causality in Early Modern England

A compelling contribution to 'science and religion' debates, showing how early modern thinkers reconciled naturalism with a providential world view.

Peter N. Jordan (Author)

9781009211987, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 July 2022

236 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.7 cm, 0.48 kg

'Naturalism in the Christian Imagination is a very interesting, well-researched book built around a central, profound question: 'What bearing should religious convictions have on how phenomena in nature are understood and explained?' This question touches on some of the deepest issues in the study of science and religion, and could be answered in a variety of ways. Peter Jordan argues that it is best answered through a series of grounded historical studies focused on early modern England. That place and time, he contends, provides us with 'flesh-and-blood' thinkers grappling with the problem – who are more helpful than purely philosophical or theological analysis. As well as preventing loose speculation, this kind of historical analysis also helps foreground one of Jordan's primary concerns: how answers to this guiding question should change the way people live their lives in the here and now. The book asks important things and answers them in very interesting ways. The focus on how intellectual issues of providence can affect actual life and practice today will be of great interest to philosophers as well as historians of science.' Matthew Stanley, New York University

Science today is often seen as providing the definitive frame of reference for understanding what goes on in nature. Furthermore, the history of science has frequently been portrayed as the story of steady progress in overturning religious explanation in favour of scientific truth. This narrative has been challenged by those who – like the author of this book – recognise that a naturalistic way of looking at the world, which lies at the heart of modern science, has a far richer relationship to religion than many have allowed. Peter Jordan now takes this recognition in fresh and exciting directions. Focusing on key thinkers in early modern England, who located causality within a divine and providential view of the cosmos, he shows how they were able to integrate ideas which today might be dichotomised as 'scientific' and 'religious'. His book makes a compelling contribution to current science and religion debates and their history.

Part I. Setting the Scene: 1. Explanation before science and religion
2. Providence in Early Modern England
Part II. Expanding the Explanatory Scope of Natural Causality: 3. Chance, lots, and games
4. Prodigies
Part III. Curtailing the Explanatory Ambitions of Naturalistic Philosophies: 5. Atomism
6. Theories of the Earth
Part IV. Conclusion: 7. Explanation after science and religion.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX], History of ideas [JFCX], History of religion [HRAX]