John Hedley Brooke

I enjoyed this book. It gives a historical account of how modern science developed from natural theology. Thus modern science has in its roots a spiritual quest. However, since the Renaissance, science has been progressively disciplining itself to become materialist, logical, and evidence-based. But having this historical perspective of how science arose does help to explain some of the scientific controversies that bubble into public discourse (e.g., stem cells and evolution).

Admirably, Brooke describes some of the most subtle relationships between science and religion. He surveys the disagreements and the conflicts as well but he highlights where science and religion share aspects in common.