For thousands of years, religious ideas have shaped the thoughts and deeds of human beings, and therefore many early geological concepts were initially developed in this context. The book discusses this long-standing relationship from a historical point of view, which in the past has been sometimes indifferent, sometimes fruitful and sometimes full of conflict. The relationship continues well into the present. While Christian fundamentalists attack evolution and related palaeontological findings as well as the geological evidence of the age of the Earth, mainstream theologians strive for a fruitful dialogue between science and religion. Much of what is written and discussed today can only be understood, when the historical perspective is added.
This book considers the following topics: the development of geology from mythological approaches towards the European Enlightenment, Biblical or Geological Flood and the age of the Earth, geology within religious organizations, biographical case studies of geological clerics and religious geologists, religion and evolution, historical aspects of creationism and its motives.
The Geological Society of London
Founded in 1807, the Geological Society of London is the oldest geological society in the world, and one of the largest publishers in the Earth sciences.
The Society publishes a wide range of high-quality peer-reviewed titles for academics and professionals working in the geosciences, and enjoys an enviable international reputation for the quality of its work.
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In our days geology and religion is often restricted to the conflict of natural scientists and creationists with their strong belief in the bible. Thus the book covers more than just this aspect, as the editor writes in the introduction ('Geology and religion: a historical perspective on current problems'), where someone may read: 'From such thoughts, and of course the papers in this volume, the reader may gather that the relationship is much more complex than might be supposed at first glace.'
In fact the 30 papers reveal a wide thematic range offering some interesting spotlights in the history of religion starting even at a time when the terminus 'geology' did not even exist.
Thus the books may be recommended to all who are interested in the various aspects of geology and religion. Readers might learn from the historical context that there is enough space for personal positions in between geology and religion. --Thomas Hofmann, Jahrbuch Der Geologischen Bundesanstalt, Band 149, 2009
In spite of the fact that the first language of many of the authors is not English, the book is very well edited, well illustrated, and free of typographical errors...This book offers an excellent sampling of the history of that relationship, presented in many more chapters than I have space to discuss in this brief review. --Stephen M Rowland, Reports of the National Center for Science Education, Jul-Aug 2010-10-25
In spite of the fact that the first language of many of the authors is not English, the book is very well edited, well illustrated, and free of typographical errors. .....This book offers an excellent sampling of the history of that relationship, presented in many more chapters than I have space to discuss in this brief review. --Stephen M Rowland, Reports of the National Center for Science Education, Jul-Aug 2010-10-25
