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"This book sets out some of the latest scientific findings around the evolutionary development of religion and faith and then explores their theological implications. This unique combination of perspectives raises fascinating questions about the characteristics that are considered integral for a flourishing social and religious life and allows us to start to ask where in the evolutionary record they first show up in a distinctly human manner. The book builds a case for connecting theology and evolutionary anthropology using both historical and contemporary sources of knowledge to try and understand the origins of wisdom, humility, and grace in 'deep time'. In the section on wisdom, the book examines the origins of complex decision-making in humans through the archaeological record, recent discoveries in evolutionary anthropology, and the philosophical richness of semiotics. The book then moves to an exploration of the origin of characteristics integral to the social life of small-scale communities, which then points in an indirect way to the disposition of humility. Finally, it investigates the theological dimensions of grace and considers how artefacts left behind in the material record by our human ancestors, and the perspective they reflect, might inform contemporary concepts of grace. This is a cutting-edge volume that refuses to commit the errors of either too easy a synthesis or too facile a separation between science and religion. As such, it will be of interest to scholars of religious studies and theology - especially those who interact with scientific fields - as well as academics working in anthropology of religion"--

Introduction: Future perfect? Or, what should we hope for? Peter Manley Scott and Celia Deane-Drummond -- Perfect humans or trans-humans? Ted Peters -- Human nature and the human condition Gordon Graham -- The nature of human welfare Søren Holm -- In whose image? Representations of technology and the 'ends' of humanity Elaine Graham -- In the waters of Babylon: the moral geography of the embryo Michael S. Northcott -- Neuroscience and the modification of human beings D. Gareth Jones -- Ensoulment revised in response to genetics, neuroscience and out-of-body experiences Gordon McPhate -- Medicine, science and virture Neil Messer -- Forecasting the future: legitimizing hope and calming fears in the embryo stem-cell debate Jenny Kitzinger and Clare Williams -- Never too late to live a little longer? The quest for extended life and immortality: some ethical considerations Ulf G̈örman -- Genetic perfection, or fulfulment of creation in Christ? Maureen Junker-Kenny -- Future perfect? God, the transhuman future and the quest for immortality Celia Deane-Drummond -- Saving us from ourselves: christology, anthropology and the seduction of posthuman medicine Brent Waters

"The threat of ecological collapse is a possibility that is increasingly becoming a reality for the world's populations, both human and nonhuman. Addressing this global challenge will require enormous cultural creativity and demand a diversity of perspectives, especially those that deal with religion and the human sciences. Toward this end, this volume draws from a variety of academic disciplines and positions to explore the role and nature of environmental responsibility, especially where these intersect with religious or theological viewpoints. The disciplines, including history, philosophy, literature, politics, peace studies, economics, women's studies, and the ecological sciences, to name a few, have begun to develop distinct perspectives on the urgent ecological issues of our day, as well as pointing toward specific practices at the local and global level. This volume provides a multidisciplinary point of departure for conversations on environmental responsibility that resist simplistic solutions but rather highlight the complex nature of the ecological issues and provide conversations about potential ways forward in what appears to be an intractable global problem of huge complexity."--

This book examines one of the most pressing cultural concerns that surfaced in the last decade - the question of the place and significance of the animal. This collection of essays represents the outcome of various conversations regarding the animal studies and shows multidisciplinarity at its very best, namely, a rigorous approach within one discipline in conversation with others around a common theme. The contributors discuss the most relevant disciplines regarding this conversation, namely: philosophy, anthropology, religious studies, theology, history of religions, archaeology and cultural

This collection of essays brings to the surface vital dimensions in the in the engagement between religion and ecology. The authors are aware of both the political urgency, but also the need to delve into a variety of diverse traditions in order to resource such a task, namely, what might religious traditions contribute to ecological debates? A core issue addressed here is how contemporary theology might become public theology, one that is deeply relevant to the particular problems and issues of today. This then raises important theoretical questions about how theology might engage with politi

In the immediate future we are likely to witness significant developments in human genetic science. Celia Deane-Drummond considers the ethical issues arising out of specific practices, including genetic screening, gene therapy and genetic counselling and takes a particular theo-ethical approach to current issues in genetics

This book promotes Christian ecology and animal ethics from the perspectives of the Bible, science, and the Judeo-Christian tradition. It covers diverse topics such as developing Christian virtue ethics, assisting species threatened by climate change, liturgical and hymnal ecologies, past and present Catholic ecological thinking, and Jesus and the animals in the Gospel of Mark.