God and Gravity: A Philip Clayton Reader on Science and Theology

Philip Clayton is well known as a major thinker working at the interface of science, philosophy, and Christian theology. Here, for the first time, a representative selection of his far-reaching works have been brought together into one place. After a general introduction to the breadth of Clayton's writing, the book is divided into six main sections: 1) Science & Religion; 2) Science, Faith, & God; 3) Panentheistic Reflections on Science & Theology; 4) Science & Emergence; 5) Science, Spirit, & Divine Action; and 6) Progressive Theology. This introduction and reader will become the go-to text for all inquiries regarding Philip Clayton's expansive theology. ""Bringing together a 'highlight reel' of Philip Clayton's writing is a daunting task! But Bradford McCall does it well in this Reader. In addition to forty of Clayton's sophisticated writings on theology, philosophy, and science, we get a testimonial of his personal journey of faith and questioning. The Clayton synthesis of wide-ranging ideas, diverse traditions, various fields of inquiry, and experiences provides an open-ended, transformative theology-in-dialogue worth embracing!"" --Thomas Jay Oord, Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, ID ""It is indeed a matter of festive gravity that Philip Clayton's vast spectrum of writing between science and religion has been here so richly and accessibly collected. Clayton is our leading theologian of science. His panentheism, with its concept of divine action evolved so far beyond the contradictions of traditional theism, is itself a dauntless labor of emergence. So what a gift it is for thinkers in science or religion to find this treasure chest of gem-like excerpts selected from the cosmically wide spectrum of Claytonian writings."" --Catherine Keller, The Theological School at Drew University, Madison, NJ ""Philip Clayton is a philosopher and theologian to be reckoned with, and one of the most positive and creative writers on religion and science. This is a very illuminating introduction to his thinking."" --Keith Ward, Gresham College, London ""Readers fulfill at least the following roles: (1) introduce a prolific thinker to new audiences in one place; (2) cover the gamut of such a thinker's oeuvre in ways that enable comparative and analytical perspective on the parts in relationship to the whole and vice-versa; and (3) provide a vista for the evolution of an important and influential set of ideas vis-.-vis the shifting contexts being navigated. God and Gravity meets these objectives, in particular situating Philip Clayton's three-decades-plus engagement with the science-and-theology conversation against what manifests gradually as a triadic backdrop that includes the emerging church grappling with developments in the theological academy and the field of philosophy of science. Those new to the intersection of these three spheres seeking orientation will benefit from this volume even as it serves as a handy reference for seasoned scholars and theologians wishing to engage Clayton's achievements."" --Amos Yong, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA ""This new edited collection is without a doubt the most comprehensive and in-depth look into the fascinating work and mind of its author's endeavor to situate primal and important questions about religion and science, evolution, the human mind, ecology, and their theological treatments in search for responding and responsible visions of panentheism in the current context of the pressing issues of and for the future of humanity."" --Roland Faber, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA Philip Clayton is the Ingraham Professor of Theology at Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA. Bradford McCall is a PhD student at Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA. He is the author of A Modern Relation of Theology & Science (Wipf and Stock, 2018) and many peer-reviewed journal articles.