The Measure of God, Our Century-Long Struggle to Reconcile Science & Religion: The Story of the Gifford Lectures by Larry Witham
The Gifford Lectures provide one of the best and most comprehensive markers of dialogue and debate over the relationship of science, including psychology, and religion. The lectures began through the funding of Lord Gifford, who used left his fortune to four Scottish Universities to fund the lecture series. They were intended to be a discussion of the relationship between science and religion. From early on, receiving an appointment to give these lectures was seen as a greater marker for the success of one's career.
In The Measure of God, Witham does an amazing job at a difficult task. The book provides a very comprehensive overview of the significant messages and trends of these lectures in just over 300-pages. One feature makes this accomplishment even more amazing. Witham presents this overview in a very readable and engaging style of writing. To cover the highlights of ideas ranging from quantum physics to process philosophy/theology in a readable language is no small task.
Witham argues that the history of this dialogue as seen in the Gifford Lectures can be divided into four main periods. The first period, science and religion seemed to join together in a type of natural theology. This pushed the more philosophical explorations aside and focused more on a modernistic approach based in science. The second period was dominated by the various approaches to scientific materialism. In this phase, religion was called into question because of its metaphysical claims. A third period is marked by a general rebellion against science or scientism and a return to subjectivism. The final period marks a bit of a split. In the Gifford's, there is a return to a new form of natural theology that is very interested in pluralism and the dialogue between religions. However, there are also strong counter-movements toward religious fundamentalism and nihilism. While these later two movements don't receive as much attention in the Gifford's, they can be seen as a natural reaction to what is occurring recent Gifford lectures.
The progression Witham describes provides strong evidence that the Gifford's are very much in tune with important currents in academia, science, and religion. The Gifford's are likely to retain their status as the premiere lecture serious on the dialogue between science and religion and, I believe, the series will continue to draw some of the more important contemporary thinkers. Just looking back over the many people who have given the Gifford lectures is quite impressive. Many of these individuals also received Nobel Prizes and the books resulting from the lectures have been widely influential. The names include William James (Varieties of Religious Experience
There are limitations to the Gifford Lectures, despite all the great benefits. White males are greatly over-represented in the speakers is a very noticeable limitation. Also, for most of the history, the Gifford Lectures have focused mostly on Western Theism, particularly Christianity. However, despite these important limitations which hopefully will be rectified in later lectures, it would be difficult to under-estimate the importance of these lectures.
In reference to the Gifford's, Witham's book is maybe the best overview of the series to date and an important read to anyone interested in the dialogue between science and religion.