Atoms and Eden: Conversations on Religion and Science

by Steve Paulson

Here is an unprecedented collection of twenty freewheeling and revealing interviews with major players in the ongoing--and increasingly heated--debate about the relationship between religion and science. These lively conversations cover the most important and interesting topics imaginable: the Big Bang, the origins of life, the nature of consciousness, the foundations of religion, the meaning of God, and much more.

In Atoms and Eden, Peabody Award-winning journalist Steve Paulson explores these topics with some of the most prominent public intellectuals of our time, including Richard Dawkins, Karen Armstrong, E. O. Wilson, Sam Harris, Elaine Pagels, Francis Collins, Daniel Dennett, Jane Goodall, Paul Davies, and Steven Weinberg. The interviewees include Christians, Buddhists, Jews, and Muslims, as well as agnostics, atheists, and other scholars who hold perspectives that are hard to categorize. Paulson's interviews sweep across a broad range of scientific disciplines--evolutionary biology, quantum physics, cosmology, and neuroscience--and also explore key issues in theology, religious history, and what William James called ''the varieties of religious experience.'' Collectively, these engaging dialogues cover the major issues that have often pitted science against religion--from the origins of the universe to debates about God, Darwin, the nature of reality, and the limits of human reason. These are complex, intellectually rich discussions, presented in an accessible and engaging manner.

Most of these interviews were originally published as individual cover stories for Salon.com, where they generated a huge reader response. Public Radio's "To the Best of Our Knowledge" will present a major companion series on related topics this fall.

A feast of ideas and competing perspectives, this volume will appeal to scientists, spiritual seekers, and the intellectually curious.

Genres: Science, Religion, Philosophy, Nonfiction

312 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lee Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you really want to start an argument, ask a room full of physicists this question: Are the laws of physics fine-tuned to support life? This question and others are debated in Steve Paulson’s collection of interviews. In the great “religion vs. science” debate, this is a meet-the-players book, from renowned atheists Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins to Roman Catholic John Haught to affirmed Muslim Nidhal Guessoum. En route, you’ll talk with Karen Armstrong, Daniel Dennett, Ken Wilber, Robert Wright, Elaine Pagels, Paul Davies, Steven Weinberg, and more … 20 interviews in all, and these are big names!

These are some of our greatest thinkers, and none are closed-minded. You won’t find anyone here who rejects the overwhelming evidence for evolution; Paulson purposefully excludes fringe theorists like “young earth” believers and intelligent design proponents, preferring to stay on the cutting edge of both science and religion. But what you will find here is an appreciation for today’s mysteries, like consciousness.

There’s another hot spot that’s sure to start an argument: the whole mind-body question. It’s very hard to figure out what’s going on when you throw together 100 billion neurons and 100 trillion connections, but is our mind (in religious terms our soul) hidden in there? Surprisingly, the majority of our greatest thinkers punt on the subject, sometimes suggesting consciousness is a topic we’ll never understand. As Dawkins says, “consciousness is … a very, very big problem.”

I found the book fascinating and, of course, highly intelligent; the best of its kind I’ve read. This is not a book about accepting or rejecting a particular caricature of God, such as the Judeo-Christian God. It is about the big questions: Can consciousness survive after death? (atheist Sam Harris: “I just don’t know.”) Is human existence a lucky evolutionary accident? Does the universe have a purpose? Is faith evil or necessary?

Buy this one.

[Daniel Wrench · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly thought-provoking and profound series of interviews with a diverse range of interesting thinkers. Definitely one to re-read.

[Joshunda Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read, with a range of authors from Karen Armstrong and Elaine Pagels to Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins. The overarching theme is that scientists dislike making definitive statements about what/whom created the universe. They seem to like questions. My favorite quote in the book comes from Karen Armstrong, who says that religion is like an art and it is extremely difficult to do it well.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book does a nice job of getting into the difficult crevices within debates about religion and science, particularly around Darwinism and purpose in the universe. The nature of the book - a series of interviews with various scientists and philosophers - makes for some uneven reading, as some of the interviewees are more interesting than others, but it raised interesting questions and challenged easy answers.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of interviews with prominent scientists and religious thinkers.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of interviews with some big names in the science vs. religion debate, and it was just what I needed. I really liked learning about the different perspectives of this ongoing argument and formulating and strengthening my own thoughts about it all. Of the twenty interviews, I enjoyed some more than others but I feel like each contained some bit of truth that resonated within me. Simon Conway Morris and Jane Goodall were probably my favorites. I'll certainly be thinking about these ideas for some time, but for now I feel better about the personal conclusions I've come to and I am more open to new ideas on this topic. I would like to own a copy for frequent reference.

[Kassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok. I felt like it was good to read once, to remind myself that things are not always as black and white as they seem. However, it could have been written ... I don't know ... Better? It's just that I had a hard time remembering who people were and what they had said in their interview. Perhaps it tried to present to many ideas and opinions. They are all jumbled in my mind, and the only one I can really remember is the last one. If I were to read it again, I would not read all the interviews back to back

[Steve Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Write a review...I am enjoying Steve Paulson's new book, _Atoms_and_Eden_, which is basically transcripts of his interviews on science and religion on the Wisconsin Public Radio program, "To the Best of Our Knowledge" (http://www.ttbook.org/). When I do get to hear the program, I am always intrigued by the conversation, and it is great to have the transcripts so I can think about the ideas more carefully. Look for my review in _Library_Journal_ in a couple months.

[Jacq Jardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of interviews with prominent scientists. Discusses everything from creationism to evolution, religion, nature of consciousness, intelligent design, natural selection, the nature of reality, the limits of human reason, etc. Interesting to hear from different points of view as the interviewees include Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics, and others who refuse to fall under any category.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent discussions and food for thought.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. I need to read it again and again