Author: Phil Mundt, Ph.D.

Publisher: Bridgeway Books

ISBN: 978-1-933538-61-7

Phil Mundt, a retired geologist reared in a Protestant family, spent four years researching and writing this book, in which he endeavors to a) reconcile misunderstandings between science and religion and b) answer religious questions that he wrestled with throughout his life. 

The book’s sixteen chapters are divided into two sections.  In the first section, Mundt discusses evolutionary theories and provides historical overviews of the three major world religions that arose in the Middle East: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 

Mundt accepts the general validity of the Big Bang theory, but, citing mathematical evidence, disputes that the universe could have arisen by chance.  He argues that scientists should accept intelligent design theory as a plausible alternative to the chance and complexity theories that are currently favored by many.  Mundt contends that many secular humanist scientists are intellectually narrow-minded and dogmatically predisposed to reject all theories that allow, in any way, for divine activity in the universe.  Mundt takes such scientists to task for rejecting out of hand all theories that do not rest on premises that are identical to, or at least compatible with, theirs.   

On the other hand, Mundt also accepts the general validity of evolutionary theories and urges conservative religionists to cast off their dogmatic predispositions and stop rejecting all evidence that contradicts a literal interpretation of the first eleven chapters of Genesis.  He notes that many contemporary Jewish rabbis and Christian theologians interpret these chapters poetically and allegorically rather than literally.  He also cites documents issued by Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul II that affirm the validity of evolutionary theories.  Mundt proposes that religionists could extend an olive branch in this debate by offering a “scientific paraphrase” of Genesis that incorporates accepted scientific facts, such as the age of the earth, etc. 

The historical discussions of Middle Eastern religions require a shift from the methods and propositions of natural science to those of social science.  Thus, even though Mundt presents a good case, from a social scientific perspective, for accepting the validity of Jesus’ resurrection, natural scientists will not find this argument persuasive.  Nevertheless, Mundt is to be commended for including relevant data from a range of disciplines in his studies.

 The final chapter of this section, entitled, “Final Thoughts,” rehashes, frequently verbatim, material from the previous chapters.  The chapter should have been excluded, as it did not enhance Mundt’s argument in any way.

The book’s second section, labeled a Scientific Annex, provides much interesting material regarding the evolution of the universe, the evolution of life on earth and ongoing scientific investigations in genetics.  Although this material is fascinating, it does not advance Mundt’s stated purpose of reconciling science and religion.  If this section were deleted, Mundt’s argument would not be hindered.  Mundt acknowledges this in the book’s introduction, where he states that this material is merely included for those who are interested in reading further about the science involved in his arguments.

Notwithstanding Mundt’s purpose, certain scientific and religious tenets will never be reconciled conclusively.  Jesus’ resurrection, for example, was a singular event that can not be replicated and tested under laboratory conditions.  And the initiation of the Big Bang may never be scientifically determined either, as it was also a singular event that cannot be observed or replicated in accordance with current scientific norms.  The truth of both of these propositions, to name just two, can only be inferred from available evidence.  Jesus’ resurrection continues to be a bone of contention across religions and the precise mechanisms of evolution continue to be debated among scientists.  Both of these controversies, and others, are likely to continue into the foreseeable future.

A Scientific Search for Religious Truth offers intriguing material that will interest readers seeking a better understanding of the historical and contemporary conflicts between science and religion.

The above review was contributed by: Evelyn Sears Ph.D:   Freelance writer, photographer and musician. Click here to read more of Evelyn's Review: