Publisher's Synopsis
Introduction
The fundamental concern of both science and religion is to make some sort of sense of
Ii fe, to discern some sort of order in the world. Yet, in the past, they were exaggerated
claims as constantly at intellectual conflict and completely at odds by various
thinkers. From the scientific point of view, religion is not empirically based and is
therefore irrelevant to science. From the theological point of view, science is
not based on Divine revelation, and is therefore irrelevant to religion.
Even today this compartmentalized view is not uncommon in popular and
professional circles.
However, pioneer modem scientists and natural philosophers were good at practising
religion and found no real incompatibility between their life as a scientist and as a
believer. Far from any cognitive enmity between science and religion, Divine Will and
Reason were fundamental for natural philosophers because on it was based their understanding
of the universe and the laws governing it. The founders of modern science expected to find
'law' in nature because they believed in a Lawgiver,
