Naturalism in the Christian Imagination : Providence and Causality in Early Modern England

Naturalism in the Christian Imagination explores the writings of key thinkers from early modern England who wrestled with the challenge of situating natural causes inside a providential vision of the world. The book compellingly explores the theological judgements at stake, making an important contribution to current science and religion debates.

Science today is often seen as providing the definitive frame of reference for understanding what goes on in nature. Furthermore, the history of science has frequently been portrayed as the story of steady progress in overturning religious explanation in favour of scientific truth. This narrative has been challenged by those who – like the author of this book – recognise that a naturalistic way of looking at the world, which lies at the heart of modern science, has a far richer relationship to religion than many have allowed. Peter Jordan now takes this recognition in fresh and exciting directions. Focusing on key thinkers in early modern England, who located causality within a divine and providential view of the cosmos, he shows how they were able to integrate ideas which today might be dichotomised as ''scientific'' and ''religious''. His book makes a compelling contribution to current science and religion debates and their history.