Who Made You: Theology, Science, and Human Responsibility

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Howell's evocative and multifaceted inquiry into man's perceptions of God and truth incorporates discussions of the major world religions as well as the modern scientific disciplines of physics, biology, zoology, neuroscience, and ecology. In his attempt to answer the question Can men learn to live together in peace and harmony Howell explores the meaning of faith, the nature of the physical universe, the relationship between science and religion, and the misconceptions that have exacerbated wars, persecutions, and other inhumane behavior throughout human history. With his evocative approach, Howell brings fresh light to old questions. Here is science in religion and religion in science on a Biblical and cosmological background. . . . All in all, great erudition and great fun. Calvin Plimpton, M.D., Emeritus President of Amherst College Howell's evocative and multifaceted inquiry into man's perceptions of God and truth incorporates discussions of the major world religions as well as the modern scientific disciplines of physics, biology, zoology, neuroscience, and ecology. In his attempt to answer the question Can men learn to live together in peace and harmony Howell explores the meaning of faith, the nature of the physical universe, the relationship between science and religion, and the misconceptions which have exacerbated (and in some cases have provided), the sole cause of wars, persecutions and other inhumane behavior throughout human history. A historian by training, Howell has written an unusually eloquent and shrewd analysis of some of the seminal issues that arise at the juncture of religion and science. He carefully weighs the creation myths versus what science currently tells us and compares and contrasts Darwinian evolution with religious explanations about the development of the human brain and its capacity for rational thought. Howell then moves to a consideration of how and why man developed his various conceptions of the world around him--Deus Universalis, Deus Sapiens--and the changing faces of an anthropomorphic God. Finally, Howell offers a trenchant discussion of the Revelation and issues a call to the individual to decide who made me Ideal as supplemental reading for courses in the history of religions, philosophy of religion, or religion and science, Howell's work offers revealing new insights into the complex relationships among faith, religion, God, truth, and man.

Reviews

"Alfred Howell boldly puts forward a layman's credo at a time when credos are too often considered irrelevant or the province of recondite specialists. He molds the scientific with the theological in a remarkably persuasive way and offers an understandable and humane refuge from pointless agnosticism and atavistic fundamentalism. If you have found the cosmological idea of the Big Band fascinating but not really germane to your day-to-day life, let Howell tell you why you're wrong."-Richard W. Bulliet, Ph.D Professor of History, Columbia University
"The inquiring historian, Howell, with his evocative approach, brings fresh light to old questions. Here is science in religion and religion in science on a Biblical and cosmological background. In a long footnote he outdoes Scweitzer's Quest for the Historical Jesus. Howell is candid and lucid, and as he surround his question: Who Made You', he comes intriguingly close. All in all, great erudition and great fun."-Calvin H. Plimpton, M.D. Emeritus President of Amherst College

Author Bio

ALFRED H. HOWELL is a retired banker who graduated from Princeton University in 1934 with an A.B. degree in History. He received his M.A. in Medieval Islamic History in 1976 and an M. Phil. in 1978, both from Columbia University.