In this timely and provocative book, Nancey Murphy sets out to dispel skepticism regarding Christian belief. She argues for the rationality of Christian belief by showing that theological reasoning is similar to scientific reasoning as described by contemporary philosophy of science.
Murphy draws on new historicist accounts of science, particularly that of lmre Lakatos. According to Lakatos, scientists work within a "research program" consisting of a fixed core theory and a series of changing auxiliary hypotheses that allow for prediction and explanation of novel facts. Murphy argues that strikingly similar patterns of reasoning can be used to justify theological assertions. She shows that theological research programs such as those of Wolfhart Pannenberg and of the Roman Catholic Modernists already come close to satisfying the demands of Lakatos's methodology. Murphy provides an original characterization of theological data and explores the consequences for theology and philosophy of religion of adopting such an approach.
Editorial Reviews
"A highly original book. Lakatos's analysis, which has substantial support among philosophers of science, has been mentioned by several theologians and philosophers, but its relevance for theology has not been systematically explored. Murphy carries out this project with an unusual combination of theological, philosophical, and historical skills" --Ian Barbour, author of Myths, Models, and Paradigms
"Theology in the Age of Scientific Reasoning will be much respected and widely cited." --Frederick Ferré, University of Georgia
