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Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge.
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Earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge.
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Earned a Doctorate in Quantum Field Theory from Trinity College, Cambridge.
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Became a Lecturer in Mathematical Physics at the University of Edinburgh.
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Became a Lecturer in Mathematical Physics at the University of Cambridge.
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Promoted to Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Cambridge.
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He completed his second Doctorate from Trinity College, Cambridge, this time in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics.
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Selected as a Fellow of the Royal Society for the creation of mathematical models to calculate the paths of quantum particles.
[https://royalsociety.org/people/john-polkinghorne-12106/] -
He resigned his post as Professor of Mathematical Physics and began pursuing Theological Studies at Westcott House in Cambridge.
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Was ordained as an Anglican Priest and was assigned to a parish in Bristol south.
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Published “The Way the World Is: The Christian Perspective of a Scientist.” He uses his background as a Physicist to reconcile the divide that can sometimes exist between people of Science and people of Religion.
[https://youtu.be/w040asDOlfg]
Polkinghorne, J. C. The Way the World Is: the Christian Perspective of a Scientist. 2nd ed., Westminster John Knox Press, 2007. -
Became the Vicar of a country parish in Blean, which is in the Canterbury district of Kent.
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Was appointed Fellow, Dean, and Chaplain of Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
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Became a founding member of the Society of Ordained Scientists, which started as a preaching order of the Anglican communion. It has expanded worldwide with members from multiple denominations and is still active today.
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Became President of Queens College, Cambridge until his retirement in 1996.
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Published “The Faith of a Physicist: Reflections of a Bottom-Up Thinker.” This book is based on a series of lectures he gave in 1993, in which he states, among other things, that faith seeking understanding in just as much of an intellectual pursuit as any scientific quest.
[https://youtu.be/F8VD2ZlXWuw]
Polkinghorne, J. C. The Faith of a Physicist: Reflections of a Bottom-up Thinker. Fortress Press, 1994. -
Was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for distinguished service to science, religion, learning, and medical ethics.
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Published “Faith, Science and Understanding.” In this book, he explores the interaction between science and theology. He focuses on what science can say about an active God and defends theological studies at the university level.
[https://youtu.be/C-RBaGLtjEc]
Polkinghorne, J. C. Faith, Science and Understanding. SPCK Publishing, 2000. -
Published “The God of Hope and the End of the World.” In this book, he attempts to reconcile the widely held scientific belief that the universe will eventually end with the idea of a divine creation.
[https://youtu.be/78ilbF9Sf50]
Polkinghorne, John. The God of Hope and the End of the World. Yale University Press, 2002. -
Became a founding president of the International Society for Science and Religion. It has grown to over 200 members and includes many different faiths worldwide.
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Awarded the Templeton Prize for “progress toward research or discoveries about spiritual realities including research in love, creativity, purpose, infinity, intelligence, thanksgiving and prayer.” (TempletonPrize.org)
[http://www.templetonprize.org/downloads.html#polkinghorne] -
Published “Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship.” In this book, he deals with the question of Truth. From objective truth to the idea that truth varies according to the believer to an idea he calls “critical realism.” He compares the methods used in the search for the truth between theology and quantum physics.
[https://youtu.be/U_NG6Ea0ABM]
Polkinghorne, J. C. Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship. Yale University Press, 2007. -
Published “From Physicist to Priest: An Autobiography.” In this book, he not only tells the story of his life, he also describes how his thoughts and understandings developed, in both physics and theology. He also describes his belief in the interdependence between the two seemingly divergent fields.
[https://youtu.be/H8zybWx9AcE]
Polkinghorne, J. C. From Physicist to Priest: an Autobiography. Cascade Books, 2007.
