Playing God by Nick Spencer
A fascinating exploration of what it means to be human in the light of eight burning questions raised by science including AI, aliens, gene editing, the science of immortality, animal personhood, the treatment of mental health, mass vaccination and unborn children.
"Playing God is a powerful and very readable survey of the confrontation between science and religionThe authors refute the claim that science has somehow defeated religion by repeatedly showing the idea is a form of superstition that ignores the true complexity and depth of our existence. For people who have ever found themselves in the midst of this argument, this is an essential read." -- Bryan Appleyard CBE, author of The Brain is Wider than the Sky
"Playing God could not be more timely. It shifts the question of where science and religion intersect and sometimes collide away from the traditional and rather sterile arguments over creation and cosmology to the pressing debates about cutting-edge technologies that blur the boundaries of the human and which pose urgent ethical and societal dilemmas. Open-minded, thoughtful and humane, the book shows how religious perspectives can genuinely contribute to public dialogue on science and technology - and vice versa!" -- Philip Ball, author of How To Grow a Human
"On this deeply polarised issue the norm is crude generalisation. In contrast, Playing God sheds light and brings nuance. An insightful book on a deeply important topic." -- Philip Goff, Professor of Philosophy, Durham University
"An accessible, engaging and satisfying engagement with some of the big questions of our time." -- Alister McGrath, Senior Research Fellow, Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, University of Oxford
"It is sometimes said that debate on life's big questions boils down to anthropology. What is it to be human? And which of the available accounts of our nature in the marketplace of ideas is most robust?. . . Accessible as well as shrewd, Playing God deserves a large audience among believers and secularists alike." -- Rupert Shortt, author of Outgrowing Dawkins
"Nick Spencer has made a timely and powerful contribution to the Science versus Religion debate by rebutting the dogma that they are opposite ways of knowing about the world. Rather they address two different but overlapping aspects of human existence: its material basis and its purpose. Not only do most people not perceive a binary opposition between science and religion, even today, but it breaks down philosophically as soon as one asks the question not who created the world, but what humans are for." -- Robert Skidelsky, FBA, author of The Machine Age: An Idea, a History, a Warning
"Playing God is a compelling exploration that ventures beyond the conventional discourse into the realms where science and faith converge, clash, and coalesce. With clarity and insight, the authors navigate the intricate dance between two of humanity's most profound endeavours. . . Whether you are a person of faith, a science enthusiast, or simply someone who ponders the big questions of existence, Playing God is a richly rewarding read." -- John Swinton, FBA, FRSE, co-author of Struggling with God
"A highly intelligent, well-informed and perceptive analysis of the frontiers of science-faith conversations in the 21st century. The authors provide an accessible, nuanced and theologically grounded analysis of the implications of scientific advance challenging traditional understandings of what it means to be human." -- John Wyatt, co-editor of The Robot Will See You Now
"Playing God could not be more timely. It shifts the question of where science and religion intersect and sometimes collide away from the traditional and rather sterile arguments over creation and cosmology to the pressing debates about cutting-edge technologies that blur the boundaries of the human and which pose urgent ethical and societal dilemmas. Open-minded, thoughtful and humane, the book shows how religious perspectives can genuinely contribute to public dialogue on science and technology - and vice versa!" -- Philip Ball, author of How To Grow a Human
"On this deeply polarised issue the norm is crude generalisation. In contrast, Playing God sheds light and brings nuance. An insightful book on a deeply important topic." -- Philip Goff, Professor of Philosophy, Durham University
"An accessible, engaging and satisfying engagement with some of the big questions of our time." -- Alister McGrath, Senior Research Fellow, Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, University of Oxford
"It is sometimes said that debate on life's big questions boils down to anthropology. What is it to be human? And which of the available accounts of our nature in the marketplace of ideas is most robust?. . . Accessible as well as shrewd, Playing God deserves a large audience among believers and secularists alike." -- Rupert Shortt, author of Outgrowing Dawkins
"Nick Spencer has made a timely and powerful contribution to the Science versus Religion debate by rebutting the dogma that they are opposite ways of knowing about the world. Rather they address two different but overlapping aspects of human existence: its material basis and its purpose. Not only do most people not perceive a binary opposition between science and religion, even today, but it breaks down philosophically as soon as one asks the question not who created the world, but what humans are for." -- Robert Skidelsky, FBA, author of The Machine Age: An Idea, a History, a Warning
"Playing God is a compelling exploration that ventures beyond the conventional discourse into the realms where science and faith converge, clash, and coalesce. With clarity and insight, the authors navigate the intricate dance between two of humanity's most profound endeavours. . . Whether you are a person of faith, a science enthusiast, or simply someone who ponders the big questions of existence, Playing God is a richly rewarding read." -- John Swinton, FBA, FRSE, co-author of Struggling with God
"A highly intelligent, well-informed and perceptive analysis of the frontiers of science-faith conversations in the 21st century. The authors provide an accessible, nuanced and theologically grounded analysis of the implications of scientific advance challenging traditional understandings of what it means to be human." -- John Wyatt, co-editor of The Robot Will See You Now
Nick Spencer is Senior Fellow at Theos, the Christian think tank. He is the author of a number of books and reports, including Magisteria (Oneworld, 2023), The Evolution of the West (SPCK, 2016), Atheists: The Origin of the Species (Bloomsbury, 2014) and Darwin and God (SPCK, 2009).
Outside of Theos, Nick is Visiting Research Fellow at the Faiths and Civil Society Unit, Goldsmiths, University of London, and a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion.
Hannah Waite is Science and Religion Researcher at Theos, the Christian think tank.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780281090037 |
| ISBN 10 | 0281090033 |
| Title | Playing God |
| Author | Nick Spencer |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Spck Publishing |
| Year published | 2024-03-21 |
| Number of pages | 208 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |