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John Polkinghorne

John Polkinghorne Quotes

Physicist

John Polkinghorne, born on October 16, 1930, is a renowned theoretical physicist and an active religious philosopher. He made significant contributions to quantum field theory and cosmology, and later turned to the study of religious philosophy, exploring the relationship between science and religion.

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All World Universe Creation Theologian Thinking Evolution Reality Should Years Courses Ideas Ifs Theology Billions Doctrine Five Humans Produce Science Theological

Famous John Polkinghorne Quotes

“Of course, nobody would deny the importance of human beings for theological thinking, but the time span of history that theologians think about is a few thousand years of human culture rather than the fifteen billion years of the history of the universe.”

Thinking Years Humans Culture Universe Courses Human Beings Thousand Importance Deny Billions Fifteen Thousand Years Theologian Theological Logical Thinking

Author:John Polkinghorne

“Evolution, of course, is not something that simply applies to life here on earth; it applies to the whole universe.”

Whole Earth Universe Courses Evolution

Author:John Polkinghorne

“Science cannot tell theology how to construct a doctrine of creation, but you can't construct a doctrine of creation without taking account of the age of the universe and the evolutionary character of cosmic history.”

Character Age Universe Creation Accounts Theology Doctrine Cosmic Constructs

Author:John Polkinghorne

“After all, the universe required ten billion years of evolution before life was even possible; the evolution of the stars and the evolving of new chemical elements in the nuclear furnaces of the stars were indispensable prerequisites for the generation of life.”

Years Universe Stars Generations Evolution Ten Elements Nuclear Billions Evolve Chemicals Indispensable Prerequisites Furnaces

Author:John Polkinghorne

“When you realize that the laws of nature must be incredibly finely tuned to produce the universe we see, that conspires to plant the idea that the universe did not just happen, but that there must be a purpose behind it.”

Ideas Reason Happens Law Purpose Universe Nature Realizing Behinds Produce Evolution Plant Theologian Physicist Laws Of Nature Everything Happens For A Reason Conspiring Anthropic Principle

Author:John Polkinghorne

“Mathematics is the abstract key which turns the lock of the physical universe.”

Turns Universe Teaching Keys Mathematics Math Abstract Locks

Book:One World: The Interaction of Science and Theology

Source: One World: The Interaction of Science and Theology

“The rational transparency and beauty of the universe are surely too remarkable to be treated as just happy accidents.”

Universe Accidents Treated Rational Remarkable Transparency Happy Accidents

Book:Questions of Truth: Fifty-one Responses to Questions about God, Science, and Belief

Source: Questions of Truth: Fifty-one Responses to Questions about God, Science, and Belief

About the Author

Born: October 16, 1930
Known for: Physicist
Quotes: 38

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World Universe Creation Theologian Thinking Evolution Reality Should Years Courses Ideas Ifs Theology Billions Doctrine Five Humans Produce Science Theological

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Books & Sources

One World: The Interaction of Science and TheologyRelated source material

Questions of Truth: Fifty-one Responses to Questions about God, Science, and BeliefRelated source material

Serious Talk: Science and Religion in DialogueRelated source material

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