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Two Book Reviews
Heroes Of The Faith series
Reviewed by Bridget Bonetti
Our reading this summer has been exciting with the Heroes Of The Faith series. The children and I were always on the edge of our seats. We could not wait to read from one night to the next. Each of these books tell of incredible Christian strength and faith these men and women had in the face of seemingly devastating odds. You will enjoy each and every one. There are eleven books in the series: Corrie Ten Boom, John Bunyan, Fanny Crosby, Jim Elliot, Billy Graham, David Livingstone, Martin Luther, D.L. Moody, John Newton, Sojourner Truth and Charles Spurgeon.
THE SOUL OF SCIENCE: CHRISTIAN FAITH AND NATURAL PHILOSOPHY
by Nancy R. Pearcey and Charles B. Thaxton
Reviewed by Leigh Bortins
I have read many books and have been profoundly affected by many great books, but in general, they have all been written before I was born and mostly by authors who are no longer on this earth. This summer I had the pleasure of reading a book I would call life changing: THE SOUL OF SCIENCE. Written in 1944 by two scientific historians, THE SOUL OF SCIENCE will challenge every thought you've ever had on the realm of science and its penetrating effects on life in general.
Current non-fiction books take me about 20 minutes to read and two minutes to explain their general premises. Most popular authors are hugely overrated today compared to C. S. Lewis, M. Adler, Muggeridge, or even a fiction writer like Jack London. Pearcey and Thaxton have written in the same league as these other great authors. THE SOUL OF SCIENCE had me stopping and rereading every paragraph. Many parts I have read three times and am looking forward to reading again. I spent my reading time between feeling excited, very angry, and downright joyful. It felt so good to know that there are classics still being written.
The book explains how the ideas of scientists have consequences in all other realms of thought, particularly in philosophy and theology. It also relates how scientists' worldviews have affected their research while breaking the myth that science is sterile and objective. Starting with the ancient Greeks and ending with quantum mechanics, these historians of science interweave the effects of Aristotle and Plato's philosophies on the Christians responsible for the majority of our scientific breakthroughs. They explain how and why scientists began to reject Christianity and how modern Christians can respond.
Each major scientific breakthrough is described in terms that provide clarity to non-scientists and then is evaluated in terms of philosophical origins and consequences. The book alternates between easily readable and very difficult sections. I found myself having to put the book down after each chapter in order to think for a while before I went on, but it was worth the effort.
As homeschoolers, I feel it is important for my children to have as complete an understanding as possible of what develops a worldview as well as being able to think clearly and defend theirs. THE SOUL OF SCIENCE has sent us leaping toward this goal.
If you read this book, please call me, as I am very eager to discuss it with another living soul.