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Writer Takes Scientific Inquiry Into Christianity

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By KEVIN WALKER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 24, 2008

"The Physics of Christianity" by Frank J. Tipler (Doubleday, $15.95)

I intended to read this when it came out in hardcover, but never got around to it. Just based on the title it seems completely nuts - the physics of Christianity? Isn't that like saying "the democracy of communism" or "the ketchup of chocolate"? Aren't science and religion two things that just do not go well together?

Tipler argues, of course, that the answer is "no." That's intriguing enough for me to give it a second look now that it is available in paperback.

Tipler, a professor of mathematical physics at Tulane University in New Orleans, came to national prominence for the book, "The Physics of Immortality," in which he argued that because energy never completely disappears, it is merely converted into something else. Here, he takes it much further. He uses scientific theory as the foundation upon which to build his theory that miracles, a virgin birth, a resurrection from the dead and God are all possible under known scientific principles. Whether you agree or disagree with Tipler - and many disagree vehemently - he deserves credit for trying to bridge the gap between science and religion.

What you might not expect is the excellent tutorial the professor gives in the first three chapters, in which he covers modern physics and some of the more interesting theories, including the multiverse, dark energy and universal collapse. That part can be recommended. His conclusions? Read with a dose of salt handy. You might also try going to Amazon.com and reading reviews from fellow scientists.

Kevin Walker is a reporter for the Tampa Tribune.

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