"This is an interesting and surprising volume: surprising because as a collection written by Pentecostals primarily for Pentecostals it is published by a respected university press; interesting because it provides a rare introduction to an impassioned plea for a dialogue characterized by counterintuitive accommodations. Consistently granting the counterintuitive nature of a cooperative conversation between cutting-edge science and Pentecostal theology, these essays surprise the reader by extracting accommodations to much of contemporary science from what is described as Pentecostal theological principles (which hardly appear representative of most Pentecostals). Hence the complementary accommodation: this volume is explicitly intended for the Pentecostal college student, and its essays propose that this audience can find accommodation for both what is conceded as necessary, a 'methodological naturalism' in the practice of science, and for the pervasive spirit. This attempted accommodation will certainly strike some as dancing surprisingly close to panentheism. Ultimately, this volume is not about science or the spirit; it is about constructing Pentecostal identity in the modern world, which explains both its intended audience and the difficulty of classifying it. Thus understood, it may prove to be most interesting to anthropologists, sociologists, and historians of religion. Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers/faculty and professionals/practitioners. — Choice"
J. C. Hanges
This is an interesting and surprising volume: surprising because as a collection written by Pentecostals primarily for Pentecostals it is published by a respected university press; interesting because it provides a rare introduction to an impassioned plea for a dialogue characterized by counterintuitive accommodations. Consistently granting the counterintuitive nature of a cooperative conversation between cutting-edge science and Pentecostal theology, these essays surprise the reader by extracting accommodations to much of contemporary science from what is described as Pentecostal theological principles (which hardly appear representative of most Pentecostals). Hence the complementary accommodation: this volume is explicitly intended for the Pentecostal college student, and its essays propose that this audience can find accommodation for both what is conceded as necessary, a 'methodological naturalism' in the practice of science, and for the pervasive spirit. This attempted accommodation will certainly strike some as dancing surprisingly close to panentheism. Ultimately, this volume is not about science or the spirit; it is about constructing Pentecostal identity in the modern world, which explains both its intended audience and the difficulty of classifying it. Thus understood, it may prove to be most interesting to anthropologists, sociologists, and historians of religion. Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers/faculty and professionals/practitioners. — Choice
Northwest Nazarene University - Thomas Jay Oord
This book is a sign that the Spirit still initiates wonder. In fact, science may need to embrace the Spirit described in this book as much as Pentecostals need to embrace the natural wold also described herein. This volume puts the Ghost back in the machine—and in all creation, for that matter.
J. C. Hanges]]>
This is an interesting and surprising volume: surprising because as a collection written by Pentecostals primarily for Pentecostals it is published by a respected university press; interesting because it provides a rare introduction to an impassioned plea for a dialogue characterized by counterintuitive accommodations. Consistently granting the counterintuitive nature of a cooperative conversation between cutting-edge science and Pentecostal theology, these essays surprise the reader by extracting accommodations to much of contemporary science from what is described as Pentecostal theological principles (which hardly appear representative of most Pentecostals). Hence the complementary accommodation: this volume is explicitly intended for the Pentecostal college student, and its essays propose that this audience can find accommodation for both what is conceded as necessary, a 'methodological naturalism' in the practice of science, and for the pervasive spirit. This attempted accommodation will certainly strike some as dancing surprisingly close to panentheism. Ultimately, this volume is not about science or the spirit; it is about constructing Pentecostal identity in the modern world, which explains both its intended audience and the difficulty of classifying it. Thus understood, it may prove to be most interesting to anthropologists, sociologists, and historians of religion. Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers/faculty and professionals/practitioners. — Choice
Universityof Alberta - Denis Lamoureux
Argues for a healthy relationship between science and Pentecostalism.
Messiah College - Douglas Jacobsen
This book illustrates something of the current, very preliminary, engagement that is beginning to take place between Pentecostal Christians and 'science' very broadly defined. It is a significant project.
The Universityof Tennessee at Chattanooga - Ralph W. Hood
Science and the Spirit should be required reading not only for undergraduates committed to various Pentecostal traditions, but to all who have an interest in the engagement of faith traditions with the sciences in a manner that respects and deepens the appreciation of both while denying neither.
