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Not a Chance: The Myth of Chance in Modern Science and Cosmology
by
As technology allows a better view of the universe, R. C. Sproul asks an important question: Can chance be responsible for all that is?
In a lively dialogue with modern thinkers from Einstein and Hume to Niels Bohr and Carl Sagan, Not a Chance consults the laws of logic, linguistic and scientific theory, and mathematical understanding to probe the cause-effect relationship. ...more
In a lively dialogue with modern thinkers from Einstein and Hume to Niels Bohr and Carl Sagan, Not a Chance consults the laws of logic, linguistic and scientific theory, and mathematical understanding to probe the cause-effect relationship. ...more
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Paperback, 250 pages
Published
February 1st 1999
by Baker Books
(first published September 1st 1994)
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Start your review of Not a Chance: The Myth of Chance in Modern Science and Cosmology
In the defense of the Christian faith, there are many approaches. But this book by R.C. Sproul is more than a defense of Christian faith, it is a very readable introduction to philosophy and logic.
There are, he argues, four possible causes for the cosmos. But only one of them stands the test of logic. This leads him to provide the arguments for a "necessary cause" of the universe, and that cause can only be God. No other cause has within it the "necessary being" to produce the world as we know i ...more
There are, he argues, four possible causes for the cosmos. But only one of them stands the test of logic. This leads him to provide the arguments for a "necessary cause" of the universe, and that cause can only be God. No other cause has within it the "necessary being" to produce the world as we know i ...more
R.C. Sproul has not written a small-minded, fear-mongering diatribe against science. His purpose in Not a Chance is to point out the precipitous slide into fiction that occurs when the brilliant minds that discover and describe the unseen workings of God’s creation attempt to make a side step into the realm of philosophy.
Typically, the debate about origins revolves around the controversy of how the universe bridged the gap between “nothing” and “something.” Intelligent design advocates argue fro ...more
Typically, the debate about origins revolves around the controversy of how the universe bridged the gap between “nothing” and “something.” Intelligent design advocates argue fro ...more
Empirical science has staked its claim to Alpha status in the world of truth. However, not all disciplines are quite ready to bow down to the god of the senses. RC Sproul and Keith Mathison do a brilliant job in refuting empirical science's claim to supremacy and show why philosophy is not DOA in regards to interpreting general revelation.
I highlight that this is a book dealing with general revelation because both authors are known as theologians. This is not a book on theology and does not eng ...more
I highlight that this is a book dealing with general revelation because both authors are known as theologians. This is not a book on theology and does not eng ...more
This is a review of the book Not a Chance: God, Science and the Revolt Against Reason by R.C. Sproul and Keith Mathison. This review was written by my wife, as she was the one who read the book. Her review:
Do you like rhetoric? Philosophy? Arguing a point ad nauseum? Then, you will love this book. Do you like to think deep thoughts? Come across big words only academics use? Again, this book is for you.
Sproul and Mathison spend the first four chapters just on debunking the word "chance." The foll ...more
Do you like rhetoric? Philosophy? Arguing a point ad nauseum? Then, you will love this book. Do you like to think deep thoughts? Come across big words only academics use? Again, this book is for you.
Sproul and Mathison spend the first four chapters just on debunking the word "chance." The foll ...more
"If chance exists in any size, shape, or form, God cannot exist. The two are mutually exclusive."
If you just read that quote then, congratulations! You know as much about this book as I do! It's very likely I'm not smart enough to understand what Sproul is trying to say, but it seems to me he's making the same point ten million ways and never moving forward in his argument.
Sproul very clearly explains why "chance" does not have the power of causality. He examines the scientific arguments of the ...more
If you just read that quote then, congratulations! You know as much about this book as I do! It's very likely I'm not smart enough to understand what Sproul is trying to say, but it seems to me he's making the same point ten million ways and never moving forward in his argument.
Sproul very clearly explains why "chance" does not have the power of causality. He examines the scientific arguments of the ...more
I’m sure it’s a great book but it was difficult to read, digest and follow. Ponderous. I would only recommend it to folks who are truly interested in delving into a philosophical and theological perspective on why “chance” cannot be a cause of for the existence of anything.
Sproul does a good job refuting something coming from nothing.
R. C. Sproul is one of evangelical Protestantism's leading theologians, but his book, "Not a Chance: God, Science, and the Revolt Against Reason," isn't intended to preach to the choir, nor is it a book that will tell you much about Jesus, or Christianity. Sproul's short (two-hundred-page) document is intended to answer the question "Is it possible an act of chance led to creation of our world?"
His answer, of course, is no, but this book is not one that appeals to the emotions. There's little ab ...more
His answer, of course, is no, but this book is not one that appeals to the emotions. There's little ab ...more
Sproul and Mathison systematically confront modern day scientists and their illogical and irrational claims of the origins of the universe. Here is a basic synopsis of Not A Chance.
Chance is merely the probability of something happening. If we flip a coin, the chances of it landing on heads is fifty percent. But chance doesn’t cause it to land on heads. Chance isn’t an entity and has no power to cause anything to happen.
Most scientists agree that the universe has a beginning. If the universe has ...more
Chance is merely the probability of something happening. If we flip a coin, the chances of it landing on heads is fifty percent. But chance doesn’t cause it to land on heads. Chance isn’t an entity and has no power to cause anything to happen.
Most scientists agree that the universe has a beginning. If the universe has ...more
After the first full chapter I was tempted to put the book away (thankfully it improved thereafter). The author writes as if he is offended that as a theologian and philosopher that he does not automatically understand quantum theory. The writing seemed overly arrogant – which surprised me as I would never accuse the author of the same. After that the book settled down into something that was boring. Ultimately the book is a treatise against those new atheists who push scientism (the self-refuti
...more
Sproul is excellent at synthesizing and explaining different philosophical strains. I would have enjoyed a bit more on the consequences of different ideas and philosophies. He does a good job explaining different philosophical ideas and why we can't logically ascribe causal power to chance. He doesn't though really do much to explain why believing something illogical like that is so bad. I think if you want a good summary of philosophy from a theologian philosopher this is great book to go to.
...more
A diatribe in the classical sense against chance as an instrumental cause. People often use the word as a magical cause. Dr Sproul offers a sustained logical critique against much of the sloppiness of language in the scientific world. In the last chapter he takes several famous atheists, a la Dawkins and Krause, to task for nonsensical statements and other logical fallacies. A worthy read.
The sections on philosophy were really enjoyable. I skimmed through the chapters on quantum physics & math, seeing as I suck at those areas. But I’m not going to give the book less than 5 stars because of my ignorance. RC was a great theologian, & am equally amazing philosopher.
It's a tricky book to read but really good and makes you think.
...more
90 percent of this was over my head. But reading the book deepened my respect for the brilliance of R.C. Sproul.
Chance is a statement of probability not a force acting on anything.
Sproul attacks the irrationality of modern scientific thinking. At first I thought he was only going to talk about misuse of the term “chance” as if it had value, but I enjoyed his history and critique of the First Mover argument. Liked this book more than I expected.
“Despite claiming unbelief in God or any higher power that may have designed or created the world and all that is in it, modern scientists often write and speak of chance as some kind of being or force that can cause things to happen. In one breath they push the evolution agenda and in the next they say that creatures were "designed" with specific traits. In this classic book, R. C. Sproul and Keith Mathison call the scientific world to employ logic and clarity in their discourse, to leave the w
...more
I've enjoyed most of Sproul's books but found this to be turgid going. Sproul does well at taking complex ideas & making this simply while avoiding being simplistic. But this volume was simply difficult to get through. The author spends a LOT of time on several aspects of the issue when he's already made his point clear. In my opinion, he could have accomplished his task admirably in about half the number of pages.
Still, if someone is looking for a cogent analysis of causality and its critical p ...more
Still, if someone is looking for a cogent analysis of causality and its critical p ...more
A worthy read
If you are sincerely interested in harmony or lack thereof between science and religion, this is well worth your time. It is certainly deep and demands more than ones casual attention to work through the technical language and particular definitions. But at the heart of it is an honest reading and evaluation of the offered explanations of causality and 'chance' on the very words of those expositing that science has somehow done away with religion since all has been caused by chance. ...more
If you are sincerely interested in harmony or lack thereof between science and religion, this is well worth your time. It is certainly deep and demands more than ones casual attention to work through the technical language and particular definitions. But at the heart of it is an honest reading and evaluation of the offered explanations of causality and 'chance' on the very words of those expositing that science has somehow done away with religion since all has been caused by chance. ...more
Dec 03, 2018
Bilbo
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
comparative-religion,
apologetics
Running through the major philosophers, R.C. Sproul points out their logical fallacies on their own terms. "Chance" is nothing. It is not a force or a source and thus has no power to exert or cause anything. Yet philosophers make "chance" into a substance, essentially. Chance, though, is nothing but an observation on probability. And the probability that "chance" (nothing) caused nothing to become something is zero.
And then what remains is the personal, sovereign, Almighty God who is there. The ...more
And then what remains is the personal, sovereign, Almighty God who is there. The ...more
Scientists have done something dangerous. They have proclaimed philosophy and other fields relatively useless in comparison to their own field. In doing so they have lost something very important: logic.
This book discusses the logic of chance creating the Universe. It takes a long look at the bold claims of scientists concerning this topic and finds much fault with their philosophical conclusions and sloppy logic.
This book discusses the logic of chance creating the Universe. It takes a long look at the bold claims of scientists concerning this topic and finds much fault with their philosophical conclusions and sloppy logic.
This is a extraordinary book, if you like reading technical breakdowns of philosophic themes and postulates that comprise the business of chance and causality. Although some might find this reading above comprehension and utility, there is a distinct scholarship Dr Sproul imparts and serious wisdom the reader can imbibe. Pick it up chicken.
Sproul's work on chance and causality is an outstanding introduction to this field of study. The compelling question Sproul asks is how we can assign such a large role to "chance," a mythological-level being in many realms of science and cosmology. Many critics have treated Sproul's work backhandedly, but Sproul never intended the work to be comprehensive; it's just an introduction. --jw
...more
This was book was very thorough and informational. It was a bit hard to understand in certain parts for the common man because of the big words Dr. Sproul uses, but he got his message across:) There is no chance we or anything else in this universe came about by chance. God is the Creator and He will be glorified.
Superb gets you thinking
Excellent book, provides much food for thought. I laughed at times at the absurdity of some of the scientist's thinking. I had to stop at times, and just think. Definitely a must read for anyone defending the faith, or seeking answers. ...more
Excellent book, provides much food for thought. I laughed at times at the absurdity of some of the scientist's thinking. I had to stop at times, and just think. Definitely a must read for anyone defending the faith, or seeking answers. ...more
This was a very dry book, not something the average individual would read. I felt the author tended to be rather set minded on their ideas. As I tend to be more open to all possibilities and ideas, this book did not especially appeal to me.
Good ideas, shows that there's no way to wiggle around basic logic and reason (because of the apparent actions of quantum particles) to explain origins. I like reading philosophical stuff, but this was kind of a laborious read in my opinion.
...more
Great Philosophy/Theology/Science.
Absolutely must read. Great defense of the cosmological argument. Even though I don't thing that is what was his intent.
...more
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Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort t
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“The twin enemies of mythology are logic and empirical data, the chief weapons of true science. If either weapon is neutralized, mythology is free to run wild.”
—
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