A thought-provoking and eye-opening work in the vein of Sapiens, Walking the Bible, and The Language of God that offers a compelling argument for how science is not only compatible with faith, but can enrich it. For more than a century, philosophers and scientists have wrestled with reconciling evolution and religion, a debate that continues today. James Stump, the Vice President at BioLogos—a nonprofit started by Francis Collins, the scientist who led the international Human Genome Project and later served as Director of the National Institutes of Health—is both a man of science and a man of faith. In this moving and deeply thoughtful book, he shows Christians a hopeful way forward out of the morass.
The Sacred Chain seeks to open the dialogue between theology and science, to be a bridge to understanding and a view of God and nature that encompasses both. Stump draws on philosophy, theology, and the latest scientific research to tackle some of the biggest questions facing humanity and people of faith today, involving issues such as:
- How to consider the Bible
- How to understand the long history of the universe
- How a mind or soul could have evolved
- How evolution factors into faith
- How a species is defined
- How a good and loving God could create a world rife with pain
Deeply researched, wonderfully accessible, and both intellectually and emotionally engaging, The Sacred Chain provides clarity in our uncertain times, revealing a bigger picture of our world and our place within it. It is a panorama consistent with the scientific findings about who we are and where we come from that can actually bolster our faith as it engages our curiosity about ourselves, our universe, and the nature of existence itself.
The Sacred Chain is illustrated with 30 black-and-white line drawings.
About the Author
Jim Stump is vice president at BioLogos and host of the podcast Language of God. A former professor, he has a PhD in philosophy. He is the author of Science and Christianity: An Introduction to the Issues and a coeditor of Four Viewson Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design; How I Changed My Mind About Evolution; and The Blackwell Companion to Science and Christianity. He lives in Goshen, Indiana.
Industry Reviews
"Jim Stump has given us a rare and lovely gift: a generous, wise, compassionate, and readable overview of why understanding the facts of evolution need not threaten our relationship with a loving God, but should deepen it. People of all faiths will find much here to celebrate as well as to thoughtfully discuss, even respectfully argue with. And that, I maintain, is exactly the right way to joyously explore the miracle of life and the mystery of faith." - Sy Montgomery, New York Times bestselling author of Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell
"In this marvelously accessible book, philosopher-Christian Jim Stump provides the reader with new eyes for a journey through time, the origin of the soul, suffering, and morality, and reveals how the latest scientific findings about what it means to be human have led him to a deeper and more authentic faith." -Francis S. Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project and Founder of BioLogos, author of The Language of God
"Jim Stump presents a deep yet eminently accessible reflection on the compatibility of Christian belief and scientific insights about the origins of humanity. But what makes this book unique is Stump's personal narrative of faith and the stretching, wrestling, and reconsidering that come with a deepening awe for our Creator. The Sacred Chain will make you wonder anew at the majesty of God and propel your heart into worship." - Curtis Chang, author of The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self and The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics
"Stump constructs a wide-ranging and nuanced case that dismantles literalist interpretations of the Bible. . . . Stump's logical and nuanced approach stands a good chance of reaching those struggling to find a meeting point between the natural and the supernatural." - Publishers Weekly
