Encyclopedia of Science and Religion

Thousands of books have been written about the relationship between science and religion, but few can be characterized as reference resources. This two-volume set helps fill that niche with more than 400 scholarly articles written by experts from around the world. Intended for students and researchers, it provides a glimpse into the effects of major scientific discoveries on world religions. The multidisciplinary scope extends coverage into the social sciences and humanities, which results in a wide spectrum of entries, such as “Buddhism,” “Economics,” “Evil and Suffering,” “Language,” “Reproductive Technology,” and “String Theory. The articles range from 100-word definitions of key terms to 4000-word essays on broader topics containing background information and discussions of the religious and scientific perspectives of the issues. The longer articles include bibliographies, and there is a separate annotated bibliography for the reader who wants to explore further some of the major themes covered here. The alphabetical arrangement, synoptic outline, numerous cross references, and detailed index make this encyclopedia easy to use. While lay readers will find The History of Science and Religion in the Western Tradition, edited by Gary B. Ferngren and others, more accessible, the Encyclopedia of Science and Religion includes more contemporary issues, Eastern traditions, and disciplines outside of science and religion. However, both resources complement each other well. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries.