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The Great Partnership: God, Science And The Search For Meaning (2011)

by Jonathan Sacks(Favorite Author)

4.33 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0340995246 (ISBN13: 9780340995242)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Hodder & Stoughton

review 1: This is an extraordinarily eloquent argument that science and religion are not conflicting or mutually exclusive areas of intellectual inquiry. Instead, this book argues that Science "takes things apart to see how they work. Religion puts things together to see what they mean." Or put another way "Science is about explanation. Religion is about meaning." In essence the two areas of inquiry are complimentary rather than contradictory. In the face of world where religious extremism captures headlines, it has become fashionable to blame religion for most or all of the world's problems. The author acknowledges the great harm that has been done and continues to be done in the name of God. He notes "you do not have to be an atheist to fear the new religiosity. I am a be... moreliever, and I fear it too. I fear angry people who invoke God and religion to justify their anger at a world that fails to meet their expectations." Yet, he sees that alternative as worse and makes an impassioned and compelling case for the importance of religion in giving meaning to life.Sacks argues that science is a left brain activity - pursuing understanding through logic - while religion is a right brain activity - pursuing understanding through the search for meaning. In his world, both are essential to human existence, but if "we have found all the mysteries and lost all the meaning, we will be alone, on an empty shore." Like others before him, Sacks argues that the intricacy and complexity of the universe as discovered through scientific inquiry does not refute the existence of God. What's different here is that he argues that dependence solely on science is a great risk. Science, he says, is based on a methodology of investigation that by it's very nature is based in the current, existing world. It seeks to explain more than anything else. Religion, on the other hand looks not to what we are, but instead what we could be. It is by its very nature a protest against what we are and as Sacks says "I, for one, prefer the theology of protest. We must accept only that which we cannot change." Whether you are religious or not, whether you agree with Rabbi Sacks' optimistic, hopeful world view or not, this is an exceptionally beautiful call for recognition of the good and essential nature of religion in our modern world. I don't agree with all he says, but it is an extraordinary book.
review 2: This is a brilliant discourse on the relationship between science, faith, and religion. It should be read by three groups of people: 1) religious fundamentalists who have rejected science; 2) secular fundamentalists who have rejected religion; and 3) everyone in between.The author, Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks, Kt is the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. His Hebrew name is Yaakov Zvi.In THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP Sacks rejects the extremism of both religious and secular fundamentalists who wish to but an unbreachable barrier between religion and science. And unlike Stephen J Gould's suggestion that religion and science should be kept separate, Sacks argues for a complementarity (a partnership) between them.This book is one of the most clearly articulated discussions on why both science and religion are necessary to maintain a full humanity and the way in which both need each other to avoid extremism. My finger was almost worn out with all the highlighting I was song on my Kindle. Sacks is very, very widely read, a deep thinker, and yet writes in a beautiful, easy-to-read narrative style making profound and memorable statements simply.His essential point is that science takes things apart to see how they work. Religion puts things together to see what they mean. The idea is simple but extremists on both ends of the alleged science vs religion divide have burdened this idea with some very destructive unhealthy nonsense. Sacks is gently critical of both religious and secular fundamentalists appealing for a respectful conversation which, all too often, neither side are willing to engage in.I can't speak highly enough of this book. It's one of the best I've read for ages. In fact, I nearly didn't read it, thinking that there can't be much more to say on the topic given the myriad books and debates on the topic. But I took the plunge and was incredibly rewarded. If you have any issues regarding the relationship between religion and science - whether you are an atheist or a “believer” - don't miss this brilliant, thought provoking read. It's easily digested meat for the mind! less

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