Overview

Are there parallels between the ""moment of insight"" in science and the emergence of the ""unknowable"" in religious faith? Where does scientific insight come from? Award-winning biologist Robert Pollack argues that an alliance between religious faith and science is not necessarily an argument in favor of irrationality: the two can inform each other's visions of the world. Pollack begins by reflecting on the large questions of meaning and purpose-and the difficulty of finding either in the orderly world described by the data of science. He considers the obligation to find meaning and purpose despite natural selection's claim to be a complete explanation of our presence as a species-a claim that calls upon neither natural intention, nor design, nor Designer. Next, the book focuses on matters of free will, from the choice of a scientist to accept evidence, to the choice of a religious person to accept a revelation, to a patient's loss of free will in medical treatment. Here Pollack addresses questions of ethics and offers a provocative comparison of two difficult texts whose contents remain incompletely understood: the DNA ""text"" of the human genome and the Hebrew record of Jewish written and oral law. In closing, Pollack considers the promise of genetic medicine in enabling us to glimpse our own future and offers a reconsideration of the possible utility of the so-called placebo effect in curing illness. Whether refuting a DNA-based biological model of Judaism or discussing the Darwinian concept of the species, Pollack, under the banner of free inquiry, presents a genuine, vital, and well-argued assay of the intersection of science and religion.

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9780231115070

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Reviews

Pollack's book is enigmatic and provocative... [He] argues for the value of religious or spiritual insights in making decisions about DNA research and other aspects of medical biology... [and] shows that good medicine is as much a religious as well as a scientific exercise. Tikkun Pollack, distinguished as a clear persuasive writer on the biological sciences, makes a challenging entry into the developing academic field of science and religion with The Faith of Biology and the Biology of Faith. His mix of cutting-edge life science and open-minded Judaic exploration is original, meaty, and moving. -- Herman Wouk A thought-provoking and refreshingly good read. Biologist Pollack's short book is a thoughtful addition to current efforts to integrate the messages of objective science and subjective spirituality. Network Pollack's insights are original and often engagingly personal, conveying the authentic flavor of his passionate engagements with both biology and his Jewish faith. Publishers Weekly Pollack lucidly explores the interface between science and religion, and thoughtfully discusses the bioethical issues that loom large as the twenty-first century begins. Drawing on his own faith and his work in molecular biology, he highlights striking parallels between the seemingly disparate practices of science and Torah study. Booklist Pollack writes gracefully, and is able to make science, in particular, molecular biology, accessible to the layman. His approach is original and provocative, as he brings emotions and religious experience to the scientific discourse. -- Sandee Brawarsky The Jewish Week

Pollack's book is enigmatic and provocative... [He] argues for the value of religious or spiritual insights in making decisions about DNA research and other aspects of medical biology... [and] shows that good medicine is as much a religious as well as a scientific exercise. Tikkun Pollack, distinguished as a clear persuasive writer on the biological sciences, makes a challenging entry into the developing academic field of science and religion with The Faith of Biology and the Biology of Faith. His mix of cutting-edge life science and open-minded Judaic exploration is original, meaty, and moving. -- Herman Wouk A thought-provoking and refreshingly good read. Biologist Pollack's short book is a thoughtful addition to current efforts to integrate the messages of objective science and subjective spirituality. Network Pollack's insights are original and often engagingly personal, conveying the authentic flavor of his passionate engagements with both biology and his Jewish faith. Publishers Weekly Pollack lucidly explores the interface between science and religion, and thoughtfully discusses the bioethical issues that loom large as the twenty-first century begins. Drawing on his own faith and his work in molecular biology, he highlights striking parallels between the seemingly disparate practices of science and Torah study. Booklist Pollack writes gracefully, and is able to make science, in particular, molecular biology, accessible to the layman. His approach is original and provocative, as he brings emotions and religious experience to the scientific discourse. -- Sandee Brawarsky The Jewish Week This important book provides stimulating insights for believers and non-believers alike. The Biologist Vol 61, No 4

Author Information

Robert Pollack is professor of biological sciences at Columbia University. His books include The Missing Moment: How the Unconscious Shapes Modern Science and Signs of Life: The Language and Meanings of DNA.

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