Science and the Mind of the Maker: What the Conversation Between Faith and Science Reveals About God Paperback – July 3, 2018

Science and the Mind of the Maker is a very good summary of the scientific evidence in favor of a divine Maker, what the author calls the Maker Thesis. The thesis is based on, “The fact that we inhabit an orderly universe structured in such a way that the human mind can grasp it to a remarkable degree is exactly what we should expect if there is a Maker of all things in whose image we are made and whose mind is made manifest in the rest of creation.”The book addresses a range of science disciplines including cosmology, physics, biochemistry, genetics, and neuroscience. In many areas the book does an excellent job of summarizing the evidence of design. It also makes the argument that numerous aspects of the design of the universe facilitate the practice of science and discovery.One of the areas in the book that is unique and very interesting is the discussion about mathematics. The author states that, “Several eminent thinkers have convincingly argued that we discover, rather than invent, the realities of mathematics.” She cites numerous references from several scientists supporting this thesis, including Max Planck, Sir Arthur Eddington, Eugene Wigner and Roger Penrose. For example, physicist Wigner (an agnostic) wrote, “The enormous usefulness of mathematics in the natural sciences is something bordering on the mysterious. There is no rational explanation for it.” Many of the scientists that recognized this mystery were agnostics or atheists. The book also asserts that, “Objective mathematical truth poses a problem for a strict materialist philosophy, which denies that there is any reality independent of matter and energy.” The problem for materialism is not just that there are mathematical truths, but also the fact that we have the capacity to understand them. The conclusion is that, “Materialism is woefully inadequate for explaining the connections that exist between mathematics, the material world, and the human mind.”One chapter addresses the question of the existence of the soul. It makes a very good argument in favor of dualism, and against the materialist view that the mind is simply the result of physical phenomena in the brain. Two specific aspects of the human mind described that support the existence of the soul are free agency and rationality. An example is a reference to an essay by Eddington which asserts that, “Rationality requires a Mind that can consciously direct its own activity to arrive upon truth (such as mathematical solutions) through correct reasoning.” Conversely, if the materialist view is correct, free will is an illusion.This book is highly recommended not only for Christians, but I recommend it to non-believers as well, if they are interested in understanding the scientific arguments for a divine Maker.

(tl;dr version: It’s brilliant, buy it now.)

Science and the Mind of the Maker ought to be required reading for every Christian. In a world that increasingly insists that we are the ultimate authority, which fights at every turn to deny the existence of any power higher than ourselves, and which is full of churches that focus more on self-help than on theology and apologetics, Christians by and large are woefully unprepared to counter our atheistic culture’s arguments. It is no wonder that so many Christian high school seniors have left the church by the time they graduate college. This book is a brilliant resource that can give Christians confidence that their beliefs are well-founded.In Cain’s own words, “The overarching goal of this book has been to reveal the harmonious, unifying framework that the Maker Thesis provides for scientific evidence gleaned from observable reality in conjunction with philosophic argumentation.” (p.200) She achieves this goal with remarkably clear, concise, and well-written explanations of some very difficult and complex arguments and theories, making a variety of scientific discoveries and their importance in Christian apologetics accessible to any layperson who is willing to put forth a bit of mental effort to comprehend them. 

The book examines six “peg-puzzle pieces” that, when fit into the puzzle board of the world, complete a picture that reflects reality. These pieces – 1) a finite universe, 2) fine-tuned for life, 3) a world that is just right for complex life and scientific study, 4) a biochemical design for life, 5) a mathematically structured, comprehensible cosmos, and 6) human nature and scientific rationality – span myriad fields of study, showing how evidence in support of the Maker Thesis draws from all over the major branches of science, as well as mathematics and philosophy, and all point together in the same clear direction.This is an incredibly ambitious task when your audience is the average person and *not* scientists. To achieve her goal, Cain must explain in layman’s terms some extremely complicated theories and processes. Not only does she accomplish this, but she does so masterfully, with a style that smoothly transitions from one heady concept to another without jerking the reader through what could easily have been clunky and unwieldy prose, given the difficulty one faces in bringing these concepts down to this level. The addition of personal anecdotes, pop culture references, and witty remarks adds a layer of approachability that help temper the weighty subject matter.Buy this book for your high school senior, your college student, your youth minister, yourself. You will be blessed and your faith bolstered.

I like the fact that the book takes an objective approach to past scientists who also happened to be Christian and philosophers. Much good information for the more science-minded among us Christians.

This is an excellent book for one to learn facts and theories about the science and philosophy of apologetics. Gleaning of evidence here on earth, all the way to the stars, you will find logical answers and insights that pertain to the mind of our Creator.My biggest take away from this book is the fact that as humans we are special, because our minds can comprehend and explore the supernatural in the universe that we take for granted in our ordinary lives.

I am a an older woman (64) born and raised in the southern Bible Belt. As a Christian, my only answer to non believers who asked how I knew the Word was real was: I know because He lives within my heart! Of course that answer was was part of an old hymn, and other Christians knew what that meant, but it meant nothing to “the world”! Apologetics was not routinely taught in Southern Baptist churches. How blessed we are today th be able to read books like this one. I can admit that some of it was a little over my uneducated head (totally my fault) but I loved this book. The writer was not “flowery” as a woman writer, nor was she a stern “in your face” author. I found parts of it so enlightening, and some just beautifully written. Some of her writing made me joyous and some made me stop and contemplate my lack of knowledge and how I need to rectify that. I will be re-reading this for a long time. With the onslaught of attacks on Christianity, this book can help equip us to give intelligent answers to people who question our faith and why we believe. I loved this book!

I did not love this book. Slightly difficult to follow. I was less than impressed

Excellent book! Leaves no doubt that God is the creator of the Universe.