God and Randomness

by Thomas R. McFaul, Al Brunsting

Overview

Most of us have experienced the impact of randomness in our lives not only as individuals but in our interactions with others as well. In God and Randomness, which is a sequel to our 2014 publication God Is Here to Stay: Science, Evolution, and Belief in God, we describe the connection between randomness and God and how this connection has permeated our universe from the start. We cover several areas that include personal stories, the micro and macro sources of world events, the origins of our cosmos and solar system, the emergence of human mindfulness and choice, major episodes of the twentieth century, the future, and the quest for fairness. In the course of examining these topics, we identify how current scientific research is consistent with our speculation of how God influences our lives in the presence of all this randomness. We conclude that the random events affecting us may originate in other dimensions that are inaccessible to us and that God is actively at work in the chaos and randomness that pervades our lives and our world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781532638985
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	12/01/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Thomas R. McFaul received his PhD from Boston University. His teaching and scholarly interests include comparative religions, ethics, philosophy, science and religion, and futures studies. He has published seven books and many articles. His most recent book that he coauthored with Al Brunsting is God Is Here to Stay: Science, Evolution, and Belief in God (Wipf and Stock, 2014). He has taught a broad range of courses and has received two awards for outstanding teaching. Although retired, he continues to teach comparative religion courses at Collin College in Frisco, Texas, and ethics courses in the graduate liberal studies program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

 

Al Brunsting received his PhD from the University of New Mexico and completed his graduate work at the National Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. He is a highly accomplished optical physicist and engineer with a successful record of innovative advancements in optical, mechanical, and electric systems; systems and competitive analysis. He holds fifteen issued USA patents and more than fifty foreign issued patents. One of his patented optical designs was integrated into a home blood glucose monitor used by diabetics and has sold over 1.5 million instruments. As a result of this and other outstanding accomplishments, he was the winner of Bayer Corporation’s award for distinguished technical achievement. He has also held the position of assistant professor of physics at Auburn University, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses. He has given over forty presentations at professional society meetings.
Drs. Thomas R. McFaul and Al Brunsting have a unique partnership. McFaul brings to their relationship a background in religion, ethics, social sciences, and futures studies. He has written many articles and six books, including The Future of God in the Global Village. Brunsting is a physicist who holds fifteen US and more than fifty foreign patents. He is an international winner of the Bayer Corporation's award for technical achievement and author of many scientific articles.

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Drs. Thomas R. McFaul and Al Brunsting have a unique partnership. McFaul brings to their relationship a background in religion, ethics, social sciences, and futures studies. He has written many articles and six books, including The Future of God in the Global Village. Brunsting is a physicist who holds fifteen US and more than fifty foreign patents. He is an international winner of the Bayer Corporation's award for technical achievement and author of many scientific articles.






Listen to an online interview with me about God is Here to Stay

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations ix

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xv

Chapter 1 Defining Randomness 1

Chapter 2 Three Stories 22

Chapter 3 Micro and Macro Sources 35

Chapter 4 The Universe and Our Solar System 50

Chapter 5 Conscious, Self-Aware, and Mindful Humans 71

Chapter 6 Twentieth Century History 91

Chapter 7 The Future 113

Chapter 8 Fairness 133

Chapter 9 Randomness and God 153

Bibliography 179

Index 181

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“In God and Randomness, the authors explore the presence of randomness in processes that encompass everything in the universe, from the world of subatomic particles all the way to the solar system and the galaxies, as well as human life and human history. . . . All these issues and many more are examined in depth in God and Randomness, yet using very readable language.”

—Francisco J. Ayala, Professor of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, and 2010 Templeton Prize Laureate



“God and Randomness. . . challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about randomness, using a lively writing style, that draws on autobiography of the authors and their profound knowledge of history, science, and religion. The book invites readers to view randomness, not as meaninglessness, but as a golden thread in the tapestry being woven by a purposeful God.”

—Alyce M. McKenzie, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor, Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University



“In God and Randomness, the authors span the whole scale of scientific thought, suggesting how they are related and incorporating compelling personal stories. Reading it will prompt thought and speculation as it provides a fresh view on a fundamental topic: Why does seemingly random badness as well as goodness occur in a world designed by God?”

—Graham Wills, Machine Intelligence Architect and Master Inventor, IBM




“Here, the whole scenario of the creation, its future in chaotic randomness; and, the presence of God in it all, are all laid out in clear and easily understood language.”

—Emery Percell, University of Chicago, retired pastor, United Methodist Church



“The preface creates a sense of intrigue and a desire to discover more about the topics in succeeding chapters. I was not disappointed. I found the discussion about the possible existence of other dimensions and the further possibility that God may be operating in those dimensions to be particularly intriguing.”

—Dale Zimmerman, Attorney and Recipient of the Milton Gordon Award in 1989



“Here in God and Randomness the authors make speculations that are similar to and consistent with current research in cosmology. This provides reader with an understanding of how God might be actively at work in all that chaos and randomness that pervades our lives and our world.”

—Richard L. Schwenk, Recipient of the Outstanding Educator award, Philippines



“This second book by McFaul and Brunsting presents valuable new perspectives on an unusual combination of two topics, God and randomness. The authors develop clear definitions and examples of randomness of varying arenas from the universe, to nano–scale physics, to evolution and to everyday human experiences. This is a well–researched thought–provoking book.”

—James Nelson, 18 US and many foreign patents



“The personal accounts in Chapter Two were found to be very moving.”

—Christopher T. Hill, Fellow of the American Physical Society



“This book was found to be inspiring and profound. The inclusion of experiences in family history enhanced the authors’ claim about the randomness that is a part of human life. The chapter on "Randomness, Fairness, and God" was found to be excellent as was chapter 6, where the focus was on randomness and twentieth-century history. This book speaks to the struggle to understand God and His actions that has puzzled thoughtful Christians throughout the centuries.”

—K. James Stein, Senior Scholar in Church History at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary



“God and Randomness is aimed for the reader who wants to know more about the Big Bang theory, the origins of life and how God fits into the scheme of things. The authors show how randomness determines this. . . This book is a natural extension of their earlier book God Is Here to Stay Science, Evolution and Belief in God.”

—Howard Lange, Physicist whose computers are helping in the search of extraterrestrial radio signals of intelligent life in the SETI project



“In God and Randomness, the authors present a unique investigation into the Creator’s use of random events in the evolution of the universe. The reader is treated to a fascinating review of a myriad integral topics such as human choice, free will, and predictability. Finally, and most significantly—the authors introduce the concept of God’s possible use of extra dimensions to understand God’s mysterious influence. A great read!”

—Gordon Leidner, Author of God and Dice

Editorial Reviews

In God and Randomness, the authors explore the presence of randomness in processes that encompass everything in the universe, from the world of subatomic particles all the way to the solar system and the galaxies, as well as human life and human history. . . . All these issues and many more are examined in depth in God and Randomness, yet using very readable language.”

—Francisco J. Ayala, Professor of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, and 2010 Templeton Prize Laureate



“God and Randomness. . . challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about randomness, using a lively writing style, that draws on autobiography of the authors and their profound knowledge of history, science, and religion. The book invites readers to view randomness, not as meaninglessness, but as a golden thread in the tapestry being woven by a purposeful God.”

—Alyce M. McKenzie, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor, Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University



“In God and Randomness, the authors span the whole scale of scientific thought, suggesting how they are related and incorporating compelling personal stories. Reading it will prompt thought and speculation as it provides a fresh view on a fundamental topic: Why does seemingly random badness as well as goodness occur in a world designed by God?”

—Graham Wills, Machine Intelligence Architect and Master Inventor, IBM




“Here, the whole scenario of the creation, its future in chaotic randomness; and, the presence of God in it all, are all laid out in clear and easily understood language.”

—Emery Percell, University of Chicago, retired pastor, United Methodist Church



“The preface creates a sense of intrigue and a desire to discover more about the topics in succeeding chapters. I was not disappointed. I found the discussion about the possible existence of other dimensions and the further possibility that God may be operating in those dimensions to be particularly intriguing.”

—Dale Zimmerman, Attorney and Recipient of the Milton Gordon Award in 1989



“Here in God and Randomness the authors make speculations that are similar to and consistent with current research in cosmology. This provides reader with an understanding of how God might be actively at work in all that chaos and randomness that pervades our lives and our world.”

—Richard L. Schwenk, Recipient of the Outstanding Educator award, Philippines



“This second book by McFaul and Brunsting presents valuable new perspectives on an unusual combination of two topics, God and randomness. The authors develop clear definitions and examples of randomness of varying arenas from the universe, to nano–scale physics, to evolution and to everyday human experiences. This is a well–researched thought–provoking book.”

—James Nelson, 18 US and many foreign patents



“The personal accounts in Chapter Two were found to be very moving.”

—Christopher T. Hill, Fellow of the American Physical Society



“This book was found to be inspiring and profound. The inclusion of experiences in family history enhanced the authors’ claim about the randomness that is a part of human life. The chapter on "Randomness, Fairness, and God" was found to be excellent as was chapter 6, where the focus was on randomness and twentieth-century history. This book speaks to the struggle to understand God and His actions that has puzzled thoughtful Christians throughout the centuries.”

—K. James Stein, Senior Scholar in Church History at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary



“God and Randomness is aimed for the reader who wants to know more about the Big Bang theory, the origins of life and how God fits into the scheme of things. The authors show how randomness determines this. . . This book is a natural extension of their earlier book God Is Here to Stay Science, Evolution and Belief in God.”

—Howard Lange, Physicist whose computers are helping in the search of extraterrestrial radio signals of intelligent life in the SETI project



“In God and Randomness, the authors present a unique investigation into the Creator’s use of random events in the evolution of the universe. The reader is treated to a fascinating review of a myriad integral topics such as human choice, free will, and predictability. Finally, and most significantly—the authors introduce the concept of God’s possible use of extra dimensions to understand God’s mysterious influence. A great read!”

—Gordon Leidner, Author of God and Dice

From the Publisher