John Polkinghorne

By paulisczak

  • The Beginning

    John Polkinghorne was born on October 16th, 1930, in Weston-super-Mare, in the United Kingdom. His faith was an integral part of his life, but so was his desire to learn more in the fields of physics and mathematics. O'Conner, J J, and E F Robertson. “John Charlton Polkinghorne.” Cardan Biography, www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Polkinghorne.html.

  • Polkinghorne: The Scientist

    Polkinghorne earned his PhD in physics from Trinity College in Cambridge, England, in 1955. Over the next couple of decades, he researched, taught, and published around the world on elements of theoretical physics. He helped discovering the quark, and gained degrees in mathematics (O'Conner n.d.). O'Conner, J J, and E F Robertson. “John Charlton Polkinghorne.” Cardan Biography, www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Polkinghorne.html.

  • Polkinghorne: The Ordained

    In 1977, Polkinghorne decided to pursue a second career, citing that he had done enough for science in 25 years, and his best mathematics were in the past. His faith had always been important to him, and so he trained for the Priesthood, ordaining in 1982 at Trinity College, where he received his first PhD (O'Conner n.d.). O'Conner, J J, and E F Robertson. “John Charlton Polkinghorne.” Cardan Biography, www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Polkinghorne.html.

  • Science meets theology.

    Polkinghorne argues that science takes much for granted without explanation, and theology can fill that void.
    "Yet our surplus intellectual capacity, enabling us to comprehend the microworld of quarks and gluons and the macroworld of big bang cosmology, is on such a scale that it beggars belief that this is simply a fortunate by-product of the struggle of life" (Polkinghorne 1998 2-3). Polkinghorne, J. C. Belief in God in an Age of Science. Yale University Press, 1998.

  • Polkinghorne on Evolution

    Polkinghorne argued that much of science relies on chance, such as evolution. That chance can be eliminated by God pushing results into a desired direction.This can apply to evolution, or as wide as cosmic matters (Polkinghorne 1998). Polkinghorne, John Charlton. Science and Theology an Introduction. SPCK, 1998. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KlJ7Bt3oxE

  • Quantum Physics and Theology an Unexpected Kinship

    In his book, "Quantum Physics and Theology an Unexpected Kinship", Polkinghorne shows how science and theology look for truth in similar ways. Starting with moments of enforced radical revision, a period of unresolved confusion leads to new synthesis and understanding, and continued wrestling with unresolved problems lead to deeper implications (Polkinghorne 2007).
    Polkinghorne, J. C. Quantum Physics and Theology an Unexpected Kinship . Yale University Press, 2007.

  • Thought Experiments

    Polkinghorne championed the use of thought experiments. Like the famous case of "Schrodinger's cat", they deal with experiments that can/should not be conducted, but still can form logical conclusions. These are used in both theology and science (especially physics) (Fehige 2007). Fehige, Yiftach J. H. “QUANTUM PHYSICS AND THEOLOGY: JOHN POLKINGHORNE ON THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS.” Zygon®, vol. 47, no. 2, Blackwell Publishing Inc, June 2012, pp. 256–88, doi:10.1111/j.1467-9744.2012.01253.x.

  • Polkinghorne: The Teacher

    Polkinghorne uses his knowledge of religion and science to show that both can coexist with proper interpretation. Publishing books, and lecturing, he speaks in ways that anyone can understand, yet invites theologians and scientists to further the conversation (Davis 2009)
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    Davis, Edward B. “The Motivated Belief of John Polkinghorne | Edward B. Davis.” First Things, Institute on Religion and Public Life, www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2009/07/the-motivated-belief-of-john-polkinghorne.