Where the Conflict Really Lies

Science, Religion, & Naturalism

By: Alvin Plantinga

Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray

This audiobook is a long-awaited major statement by a pre-eminent analytic philosopher, Alvin Plantinga, on one of our biggest debates - the compatibility of science and religion. The last twenty years has seen a cottage industry of books on this divide, but with little consensus emerging. Plantinga, as a top philosopher but also a proponent of the rationality of religious belief, has a unique contribution to make. His theme in this short book is that the conflict between science and theistic religion is actually superficial, and that at a deeper level they are in concord.

Plantinga examines where this conflict is supposed to exist - evolution, evolutionary psychology, analysis of scripture, scientific study of religion -- as well as claims by Dan Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and Philip Kitcher that evolution and theistic belief cannot co-exist. Plantinga makes a case that their arguments are not only inconclusive but that the supposed conflicts themselves are superficial, due to the methodological naturalism used by science. On the other hand, science can actually offer support to theistic doctrines, and Plantinga uses the notion of biological and cosmological "fine-tuning" in support of this idea. Plantinga argues that we might think about arguments in science and religion in a new way - as different forms of discourse that try to persuade people to look at questions from a perspective such that they can see that something is true. In this way, there is a deep and massive consonance between theism and the scientific enterprise.

©2011 Oxford University Press (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Time well spent: lucid

Solid reading for those wanting to understand the issues underlying the conflict among naturalists and theists and how science and theism are at root allies.

Technical but accessible

I love probability and logic, so enjoyed the book. I think some of the probability equations need to be seen in print form to really concentrate on them enough for them to sink in.

thorough arguments about naturalism

naturalism and evolutionary theory are apparently incompatible. I enjoyed the ride that led to that conclusion and this helped me move the needle as I fill in my personal beliefs as a post-christian.

Great listen and subject matter that interests me

An in depth review of religion and it's differences in the natural world today.

Convincing and abstract

as an apologetic I was drawn to this book because of the foundational principles it deals with but the probabilities and Base arguments are often so intertwined and compound that a layman like myself would be found wanting using some of these arguments in defence

Historical Work by Plantinga

Powerfully persuasive since the book is airtight logical. Hope future discussions among others involved on the relevant topics to be at the equivalent level. For otherwise, they would be mere meaningless waste.
There are minor but irritating reader mistakes toward the end of the book: Page 320 (11:31:52) the reader reads the word "Neural" "Natural". Page 339 (footnote) on the third sentence, the reader misreads "Suppose" "Some", rendering the whole sentence incomprehensible.

a well-written and fair presentation

although I am an atheist I still have to admit this book presents the best argument I have yet heard for theistic belief. the author is fair and thorough. I appreciate this critique of naturalism as it gives me a lot to think about.

difficult for an audiobook

The book was good and the content good too. The main issue that I have is that some books are not meant to be listened to and this is one of them. maybe someone can understand the arguments a lot by listening to the audio, but the discussions about probabilities we not easy.

great

Taking up Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennet, and Harris. Nicely done. searching for their response would be interesting.

Very Powerful Book

What made the experience of listening to Where the Conflict Really Lies the most enjoyable?

Alvin Plantinga is spot on. The logical layout and the real world examples make this an easy and fun read. (listen)

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The intense logic was beautiful.

What does Michael Butler Murray bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think the narrator did an excellent job.