Why Science Does Not Disprove God

By: Amir Aczel

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

The renowned science writer, mathematician, and best-selling author of Fermat's Last Theorem masterfully refutes the overreaching claims of the "New Atheists," providing millions of educated believers with a clear, engaging explanation of what science really says, how there's still much space for the Divine in the universe, and why faith in both God and empirical science are not mutually exclusive.

A highly publicized coterie of scientists and thinkers, including Richard Dawkins, the late Christopher Hitchens, and Lawrence Krauss, have vehemently contended that breakthroughs in modern science have disproven the existence of God, asserting that we must accept that the creation of the universe came out of nothing, that religion is evil, that evolution fully explains the dazzling complexity of life, and more. In this much-needed audiobook, science journalist Amir Aczel profoundly disagrees and conclusively demonstrates that science has not, as yet, provided any definitive proof refuting the existence of God.

Why Science Does Not Disprove God is his brilliant and incisive analyses of the theories and findings of such titans as Albert Einstein, Roger Penrose, Alan Guth, and Charles Darwin, all of whose major breakthroughs leave open the possibility - and even the strong likelihood - of a Creator. Bolstering his argument, Aczel lucidly discourses on arcane aspects of physics to reveal how quantum theory, the anthropic principle, the fine-tuned dance of protons and quarks, the existence of anti-matter, and the theory of parallel universes, also fail to disprove God.

©2014 Amir Aczel (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

An argument for agnostic or deist views

True to the title, the book does little to argue for an existence of a god, just that science can't fully disprove it. While the author feels that he is opposing atheists, I know few atheists who don't also feel agnostic or deistic, but use the term atheist when it comes to the idea of knowing a personal god that will deal judgement based on actions, level of worship, sacrifice, and abstaining from thought crimes.
He mentions the anthropic principle and discusses how atheists assert authority on things they cannot know but then assumes things such as observed laws needing a lawgiver.
The author has or uses very little understanding of evolution. He points out peacock tails and acts of altruism and asserts that no one has any good theories on why these things exist. He also attempts to compare one field of science with another with a short list of quantum mechanics vs evolution. He makes the point that evolution shouldn't be trusted because it is not mathematical and because it has an inability to predict species thousands of years into the future. Biologists can't fully predict what will happen in a petri dish in 12 hours, this doesn't disqualify biology as a science or diminish it. Evolution has made many predictions such as age of the earth later verified by forms of dating, depths of various excavated lifeforms, the existence of transitional fossils, predicted resistance in infectious diseases to treatments, insects resistance to pesticides and changes with GM crops, and changes to insects like the peppered moth where it was expected that the light colored genes would emerge dominant after pollution is cleaned.
His observations on human differences from that of the animal world lacks the clarity and research like that of Jared Diamond who show that most hallmarks of humanity have animal origins or at least convergence.
All in all, this book gives more compelling arguments than do most religious arguments, but the conclusion is more of an agnostic or deist one, one that is already shared by a majority of those that identify as an atheist.

A bit deep in spots, but worth powering through them!

As a scientist that was raised in the church, I have many, many questions about this topic. Yet, through all my studies, I could not let go of the "what if/perhaps" of God's existence, and embrace the atheism as so many of my colleagues. The book talks to this deep feeling and belief I have in a scientific manner, using the excuses of the new atheist movement to call to question their declarations, as well uses deep theoretical but scientific declarations to illuminate that question mark.
I am now more confident in my belief that I stated in my 6th grade class - that things are just too complex and too perfect to be a sheer happenstance.

God is Real

Would you consider the audio edition of Why Science Does Not Disprove God to be better than the print version?

I always prefer hard copy but I travel so audio is at times more efficient for me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

God

If you could give Why Science Does Not Disprove God a new subtitle, what would it be?

A Christian's guide to navigate in a secular world!

Intellectually satisfying on many levels

Any additional comments?

Not a book to prove God.

If you are an aethiestic or theistic fanatic, you probably won't like this book (although I'd love you to prove me wrong!)

The approach of the book is mainly to counter the scientifically heretical assertions coming out of the fadish new atheist camp. Those assertions belie anti-religious sentiments which have been packaged and sold as scientifically validated truths.

If you want to understand why the new atheist arguments smell, I think you'll love this book.

If you trust science but also want to believe we are more than thinking meat stumbling around a cold meaningless unforgiving world, and feel snobbish atheism creeping in to leave room for little else, then I suspect you'll find this book is a Godsend.

I loved many aspects of this book... But I think the biggest surprise for me is the elevated perspective Amir walked me through of many of the areas I thought I already had a handle on. I thoroughly enjoyed the anthropologic story of religious evolution and the survey of mathematics, science, and history. So much fun food to chew on!

Thought provoking and well presented.

Some say science and religion are mutually exclusive. Amir Aczel gives a superlative history of science and religion and their dueling perspectives. He articulates their positions, and breaks down otherwise complicated mathematical and scientific arguments into layman’s terms, and presents their strengths and weaknesses as they pertain to evidence of God. He includes thought provoking examples of quantum mechanics, multi-verse and string theories in his analysis.

For anyone curious about the modern intersection of science and religion, especially from a scientific standpoint, you will enjoy this book. “Why Science Does Not Disprove God” gives solace to those who are champions of science yet retain faith in a Deity.

Logical and Hopeful

Well done. We are not as smart as some think we are. I should read books from Dawkins etc for the other side, but based on the structure of their arguments presented here, and the straightforward common sense probability discussed by the author...it has renewed my belief of god by a good 50%. That is significant to me. I love G.G. too!

Good but not what I expected

This was a very good book. It broke down the science on both sides of the argument of the existence of God. However, the author seems to be someone from a non religious background that believes in creation - but not the bible. In fact, he waves off almost all of the bible claiming that it's not literal, saying that obviously these miracles didn't happen because they break the laws of physics.

I found it interesting that someone who believes in a superior being that can create the universe and all of the laws of nature, but can't break them when it suits His purpose. It struck me as someone who is so steeped in the laws of physics that he couldn't see past them.

Beyond that, I highly recommend this book.

Helps keep science in the right place.

One of the best exposures of sciences attempt to exult itself above GOD. GOD had put in His word that it is impossible to please GOD
without faith and by faith we live and move and have our being.

Excellent

I enjoyed this book immensely. So much that I bought a hard bound copy for my own library. It answered many questions for me. Such as why science can't disprove the existence of God. There were several things that I could grasp, such as what was said regarding physics, time and different components of space; that make up the universe. For me this book was so informative I've decided to go through it for a second time.

Great listen.

Excellent book. The author has some exceptional points that counter the supposed iron-clad belief among people like Lawrence Krauss that science has disproved the existence of God.

A few of the chapters are a little dry, with some not adding much to the ultimate conclusion. But the analysis of nothing and infinity in the penultimate chapter alone is worth it.

I found it very compelling overall. And Grover Gardner is a marvelous narrator.