SCIENCE

IN THIS CHALLENGING AND PROVOCATIVE BOOK, STEVE FULLER CONTENDS THAT OUR CONTINUING FAITH IN SCIENCE IN THE FACE OF ITS ACTUAL HISTORY IS BEST UNDERSTOOD AS THE SECULAR RESIDUE OF A RELIGIOUSLY INSPIRED BELIEF IN DIVINE PROVIDENCE. OUR FAITH IN SCIENCE IS THE PROMISE OF A LIFE AS IT SHALL BE, AS SCIENCE WILL MAKE IT ONE DAY. JUST AS MEN ONCE PUT THEIR FAITH IN GOD'S ACTIVITY IN THE WORLD, SO WE NOW TRAVEL TO A LAND PROMISED BY SCIENCE. IN "SCIENCE", FULLER SUGGESTS THAT THE TWO DESTINATIONS MIGHT BE THE SAME ONE. FULLER SYMPATHETICALLY EXPLORES WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN TO LIVE SCIENTIFICALLY. CAN SCIENCE GIVE A SENSE OF COMPLETENESS TO ONE'S LIFE? CAN IT ACCOUNT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF WHAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN? AND WHAT DOES OUR CONTINUING BELIEF IN SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS SAY ABOUT US AS A SPECIES? IN ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS, FULLER RANGES WIDELY OVER THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION - FROM ARISTOTLE AND THE ATOMISTS TO DAWKINS AND THE NEO-DARWINISTS - AND TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT SCIENCE IS,