If the Ocean Has a Soul: A Marine Biologist's Pursuit of Truth through Deep Waters of Faith and Science
Ebook
Overview
The ocean is filled with scientific discoveries—and God’s presence.
For marine biologist Rachel Jordan, both science and Scripture are means of knowing creation and Creator. In If the Ocean Has a Soul, Rachel considers the natural world through a spiritual lens, meshing marine biology with biblical truths in a keen and current take on faith and science. With engaging storytelling and deep knowledge of the Bible, she asks and answers questions like:
- How can Christians reconcile religion and science when the two seem opposed?
- What do suffering and death teach us about the character of Jesus?
- How do we care for the environment when there seems to be little hope for repair?
- What do the ocean and its sea creatures, specifically, reveal about God?
In these pages, Rachel recounts fascinating aquatic phenomena alongside the sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic stories of animals she has known. You’ll lose yourself in the shadows of an underwater labyrinth; hear spiritual wisdom from a great-grandmother coral the size of a Volkswagen Beetle; and fall in love with Porky, the pudgy porcupinefish greeting visitors at the Windjammer shipwreck. And along the way, you’ll see how the promise of restoration unfolds in both physical and spiritual ways. Rachel’s thoughtful scientific and theological insights encourage us to know the Creator of the sea and everything in it.
Rachel Jordan is a marine biologist and spiritual guide. Using the ocean as a lens, she points us to the God revealed in biology. Her writing is as rich and colorful as the sea creatures she describes. Her love for the ocean is a clear reflection of God’s.
Rachel Jordan has done us a tremendous service with her presentation of theology and ecology in light of our aching search for truth. Rachel is uniquely gifted in both areas of study and assures us that there are indeed not as many conflicts between science and Scripture as is commonly assumed. Readers will be fascinated by the enchanting descriptions of creation and motivated to keep seeking truth—and I trust they’ll find assurance in the conclusions reached in If the Ocean Has a Soul.
Marine biologist and devoted Christian Rachel G. Jordan has crafted an exceptional book that seamlessly integrates her vibrant scientific expertise and her faith in a way that’s both enlightening and deeply personal. Without forcing conclusions, she presents a wealth of resources and insights, inviting readers to think critically and ask hard questions. If the Ocean Has a Soul explores Scripture and connects it to creation—from vast coral reefs to leopard sharks to creatures as small as hermit crabs and as disregarded as betta fish. You’ll feel like you’re right there with her, learning side by side. Ocean lovers, this is a must read. Christians, come learn. And to those exploring their faith, don’t pass up Rachel’s thoughtful insights.
As a pastor and teacher for over four decades, I have met countless people who felt that science and faith are incompatible. For anyone dealing with such matters, Rachel Jordan’s book is a gift. She weaves science, faith, and her own story together as a seamless ecosystem, inviting people to curiosity, awe, worship, and even wholeness in the process. A must read!
This book is a deeply personal and compelling account of the author’s journey as a Christian and marine biologist. She poignantly expresses her awe at God’s creation, her grief over the loss of her beloved coral, and her hope for creation’s resilience. The resounding message of this book is that we need both faith and scientific knowledge to fully understand and to be effective stewards of God’s creation.
- Title: If the Ocean Has a Soul: A Marine Biologist's Pursuit of Truth through Deep Waters of Faith and Science
- Author: Rachel G. Jordan
- Publisher: Tyndale Refresh
- Print Publication Date: 2025
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Pages: 304
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9798400505867, 9798400505843
- Resource ID: LLS:9798400505867
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-17T22:40:35Z