Theological and Natural Science
Overview
This classic study establishes a sound theological base for the future of philosophical science. Torrance’s view was that science needs theology to properly maintain a requirement for contingency and to avoid ascribing eternality to the cosmos. Because scientific exploration is limited in its ability to know all things, Torrance argues for theological science. In order to avoid error, he argues for scientific theology.
Top Highlights
“Philoponos realized that Aristotelian logic applied only to static relations or idealized forms” (Page 10)
“Thus when he developed an explanation of the behavior of electro-magnetic particles, in particular of the way in which light particles, relate ontologically and dynamically with one another moving at the speed of light, he came up with the concept of the continuous dynamic field, which had the effect of transforming the laws of classical Newtonian mechanics, and opening the way toward a new understanding of physical reality in terms of relativity and quantum theory. This was a revolutionary counterpart to the transformation of Aristotelian science by John Philoponos in the sixth century through the combination of light theory and impetus theory.” (Pages 125–126)
“not simply by and in him as the eternal Creator Word of God but as the Creator Word of God incarnate in space and time,” (Page 77)
“that the creative Centre in the universe, the Causa Prima of all things in space and time is personal,” (Page 78)
“we must think of this ultimately in moral or personal terms” (Page 77)
- Title: Theological and Natural Science
- Author: Thomas F. Torrance
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Print Publication Date: 2002
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Religion and science; Philosophical theology; Faith and reason
- ISBNs: 9781579107901, 1579107907
- Resource ID: LLS:LGCLNTRLSCNC
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:14:00Z
Thomas F. Torrance (August 30,1913–December 2, 2007) was a Protestant Christian theologian and professor of Christian dogmatics for 27 years at the University of Edinburgh. Torrance was influential in the dialogue between science and theology.
He began studying in Edinburgh in 1931, focusing on classics and philosophy. At that time his own realist views of philosophy, theology, and morality started to develop, and they continued to do so as he moved to the study of theology at the Faculty of Divinity in 1934. From 1939 to 1940 Torrance studied at Oriel College, Oxford. He was ordained as minister on March 20, 1940.
He has authored several works, including Divine and Contingent Order, Ground and Grammar of Theology, and The Christian Doctrine of God, One Being Three Persons. Besides writing many books and articles, Torrance also translated several hundred theological writings into English from other languages, including the thirteen-volume, six-million-word Church Dogmatics of the Swiss theologian Karl Barth (co-edited with G.W. Bromiley).