God Is Here to Stay
Science, Evolution, and Belief in God
by Thomas R. McFaul and Al Brunsting
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
God Is Here to Stay offers new insights into one of humankind's most profound questions: Does God exist? During the past ten years, theists and new atheists have argued to prove or disprove God's existence. Examining the pros and cons of each side leads to one overarching conclusion: The existence of God can be neither proven nor disproven with complete certainty, even though both sides draw on modern science to support their views.
Drs. Thomas R. McFaul and Al Brunsting approach the question of God's existence from an entirely fresh perspective. They examine scientific knowledge in several areas ranging across the physical sciences and human experience to explain how the universe operates within very narrow and highly structured boundaries. Most importantly, they create an innovative "L-M Confidence Scale" to establish confidence levels, not proofs, on how scientific discoveries impact belief in God.
McFaul and Brunsting describe the three stages of scientific evolution. In stage 1, the world's religions developed divergent pre-scientific views. Modern science started with stage 2, during which atheists predicted that science would eventually eradicate religion. In stage 3, the authors show how science, evolution, and belief in God have become increasingly integrated and mutually supportive.
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.
"The manuscript is well written and well argued; surely it will be an important addition to the God-and-science literature. A good and interesting book. Congratulations!"
--Francisco J. Ayala, Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA
"The authors take an unusual approach in ranking the probabilities of various arguments being convincing for the existence of God."
--Owen Gingerich, Emeritus Professor of Astronomy and History of Science, Harvard University, MA
"This book includes some of the hottest topics in science today, such as the relationship of the brain to spirituality, how inanimate matter became life, and the evolution of conscious, self-aware life."
--Gordon Leidner, author of Of God and Dice
"I think this book would be of interest to theologians, biblical scholars, and to my colleagues in Southern Methodist University's graduate program in religious studies. It is written by two people eminently positioned to collaborate from their areas of individual expertise. This book is written with accessible depth, so that academics as well as general readers will benefit from it."
--Alyce McKenzie, Le Van Professor of Preaching and Worship, Altshuler Distinguished Professor, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
"Your book is very well-written. It covers the subject thoroughly and in language everyone can understand."
--Emery Percell, retired pastor, United Methodist Church, IL
"Your assignment of confidence limits each of the evidences, which allows for building a cumulative case for God's existence."
--Russell Stannard, author of Science and the Renewal of Belief
"A remarkably original and compelling book. This book deals with the most important of all questions."
--Rodney Stark, Distinguished Professor of Social Sciences, Baylor University, TX
"An interesting and thought-provoking book."
--Jim Stein, Professor of Mathematics, California State University, Long Beach, CA
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