Science, Religion, And Society ─ An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, And Controversy

The intersection of science and religion through the ages, in various cultures, and in the present are the topics of the essays of this 2-volume reference. Written by academics and other specialists worldwide, the 86 essays are grouped into the broad topics of general overview; historical perspectives; creation, the cosmos, and the origins of the universe; the natural world; consciousness, mind, and the brain; healers and healing; death and dying; and genetics and religion. Each of these sections begins with a general introduction to the topic. A sampling of essay titles includes Taoist contributions to science in China, science in the classical Hindu world, African cosmologies, neurotheology, Navajo spirituality, and near death experiences. Eiser (he teaches biology and in the Center for Ethics) and Laderman (American religious history and culture) both teach at Emory U., where they have organized a faculty reading group, undergraduate courses, and symposia on the topic of science and religion. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)