Book Review: The Story of the Cosmos edited by Paul M. Gould and Daniel Ray

Introduction

The Story of the Cosmos is a compilation of essays edited by Paul Gould and Daniel Ray. The essays span the entire spectrum of topics from science, philosophy, and history to art and literature, yet each essay contributes to the overarching theme: how the universe declares the glory of God. While many others have written on how science – including the history and philosophy of science – can reveal the handiwork of God, what makes this volume unique is the additional emphasis on how art and literature can similarly do the job.

Daniel Ray introduces the book by inviting the reader into a world filled with a collective sense of awe at the wonder of the universe. This, says Ray, is the true glory of the cosmos: that everyone from the poet to the physicist – across all generations – can look up at the night sky and recognize a sense in which this universe is truly wonderful. From there the book is broken up into three sections. The first set of essays focuses on the scientific exploration of the universe. The second set of essays focuses on the universe as seen through art and literature. And the third set of essays focuses on the evidence for the creation of the universe.

Exploration of the Cosmos

Melissa Cain Travis begins chapter 2 with an explanation of Johannes Kepler’s idea of a “tripartite harmony” in which the rational and discoverable order in the material world is best explained by appealing to a divine mind as the creator of a mankind endowed with the ability to reason. Throughout her essay, Travis demonstrates how this appeal to a divine mind has guided may of history’s greatest scientists. Furthermore, she outlines how naturalism fails to ground the rational ordering of the material world, let alone the ability of mankind to discover said rational ordering.

In chapter 3, Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ provides a largely personal exploration into his own life studying meteorites. In doing so, he demonstrates how his faith comes into play in that endeavor. This essay is less academic than others, reading more like a testimony than an argument, but the main takeaway is that, for Consolmagno, science is like an act of prayer through which he gets to grow close to God.

Guillermo Gonzalez reflects in chapter 4 on several implications of the requirements for planetary habitability. For starters, he discusses how the parameters that make Earth life-sustaining also make Earth conducive for astronomical observations. Following from this is the ability and desire to travel beyond Earth. This interplanetary – and interstellar – exploration, Gonzalez argues, is a further part of the purpose behind creation, and this is a phenomenon he expects to be maintained in the new creation.

In chapter 5, David Bradstreet takes the reader on a journey through the world of binary star systems. These are pairs of stars that orbit around each other. While he barely scratches the surface of what astronomers have been able to discover about binary stars, Bradstreet manages to reveal a little bit about how God’s glory can be seen through the fact that we can obtain such intricate knowledge of His creation.

Sarah Salviander’s essay in chapter 6 focuses on both the science and the history surrounding black holes. The science reveals how wholly “other” black holes are conceptually when compared to the rest of the universe. The history reveals how this profound “otherness” prevented many of history’s greatest scientists from even considering the possibility of black holes. Salviander reveals how this is a perfect parallel to how many atheists treat God; they treat the idea of God as so conceptually outlandish that they dismiss any serious consideration of God’s existence.

In chapter 7, Wayne Spencer outlines some significant historical details about the lives of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, both as individuals and as partners. Despite their differences, both displayed intellectual curiosity and a willingness to challenge the accepted dogma of the day. With that said, neither viewed their scientific endeavors as challenging the Christian faith as a whole, even when they challenged specific positions of the church. Instead, scientific inquiry was viewed largely as a theological obligation. 

The Cosmos in Art and History

Terry Glaspey’s essay in chapter 8 transitions the discussion away from science proper and toward a discussion of the artistic renderings of the created world. Art, he explains, has the ability to invoke a sense of scientific wonder by highlighting different aspects of creation in order to spur the audience into asking the right questions about creation. Therefore, art and science can go hand in hand when it comes to pointing people toward God, and Glaspey shows how this is the case through discussions of myriad artistic pieces.

In chapter 9, Michale Ward investigates C.S. Lewis’s response to the famed Russian astronautical quip remarking that they went to space and did not see God there. The issue Lewis takes is with the implicit equivocation of the term “space” with the word “heaven,” as though the former is supposed to serve as a replacement for the latter. Ward highlights how Lewis’s own work reveals the significance of recognizing what we call “space” instead as “the heavens” because it is only then that its true significance is revealed.

Holly Ordway reveals in her essay in chapter 10 how the fantasy writings of J.R.R. Tolkien are masterfully crafted to speak to an audience truths that are consistent with the Christian faith. Focusing on the Silmarillion, Ordway identifies the similarities between Tolkien’s narratives and the narratives in the Bible regarding the creation of the universe, the presence of sin, and the opportunity for redemption. By weaving these elements into a fantasy narrative, Tolkien effectively prepares his audience to receive the message of the Bible.

The Creation of the Cosmos

In chapter 11, William Lane Craig discusses two lines of scientific evidence in support of the claim that the universe began to exist out of nothing. First, he analyzes the scientific evidence in favor of the expansion of the universe. Second, he discusses the implications of the second law of thermodynamics. In both cases, Craig argues, the scientific evidence is most consistent with the claim that the universe began to exist – a claim that is entirely in line with the Christian faith. While much of what Craig argues here can be found in his other works, this particular essay does contain responses to more recent objections from cosmologists such as Sean Carroll.

Luke Barnes and Allen Hainline introduce the topic of fine tuning in chapter 12 and argue that the existence of fine tuning ultimately makes more sense given the existence of God than given atheism. Throughout this essay they survey significant instances of finely-tuned laws, constants, and quantities in the universe. In each case, they show how the universe would be inhospitable to life of any kind – not just life “as we know it” – had there been even a slight deviation from the values that are observed in the universe.

In chapter 13, Paul Gould contrasts two ways of viewing the world. The first – the Neo-Humean Model – is the worldview of scientism, reductionism, nihilism, indifference, and atheism. The second – the Platonic-Aristotelian-Christian Model – is the worldview of a participatory ordered creation which is endowed with rationality and ordered significance. Gould argues that the first alternative is baseless and the second ought to be affirmed. Only by seeing the God-intended purposes for creation can we see the world as it truly is.

In Conclusion

Ray closes out the book with a plea for the readers to regain a fascination with the stars. While it may not be the case that such knowledge is necessary for survival of the species or career success, we were created to contemplate creation so that we may be aware of the Creator – and the stars are precisely what point us to the Creator.

The Story of the Cosmos is an enjoyable read from start to finish. One pleasant surprise in this volume is that no essay dramatically outshines the others since all are of similarly high quality, which is a rare accomplishment among edited volumes. While some essays are more technical than others, each essay manages to be accessible to readers of all backgrounds. It is also worth reemphasizing that this book is unique in its masterful blend of science, philosophy, history, art, and literature. All who have even the slightest interest in the interaction of science and religion will find this book to be insightful and well worth a spot on the shelf.