Eerdmans John Polkinghorne Collection (2 vols.)

Twentieth-century science discovered that the physical world is profoundly relational—that, thanks to the phenomenon of quantum entanglement, there is a holistic connectivity at the deepest level of physical reality. This new way of comprehending the universe—which brings to mind the mystery at the heart of Trinitarian theology—has inspired 13 distinguished scholars from physics and theology to explore the role of relationality in both science and religion.

Besides containing insights from both expert scientists and theologians, The Trinity and an Entangled World considers the way in which these parallel insights can contribute to a harmonious dialogue between science and religion.

The development of kenotic ideas was one of the most important advances in theological thinking in the late twentieth century. In The Work of Love, 11 distinguished theologians and scientists discuss the kenotic view of creation, exploring the implications of this controversial perspective for Christian doctrine and the scientific enterprise generally. The authors’ backgrounds are diverse—ranging from systematic theology to neuropsychology—yet each agrees in seeing creation as God’s loving act of divine self-restriction. The key concept, kenosis (“self-emptying”), refers to God’s voluntary limitation of his divine infinity in order to allow room for finite creatures who are truly free to be themselves.

This engaging formulation of God’s creative work challenges the common conception of God as a divine dictator and provides a more satisfying response to the perplexing problem of evil and suffering in the world. The fruit of discussions sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation, these stimulating chapters bring a needed interdisciplinary approach to this weighty new trajectory in Christian thought.