Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?: . . . and Other Questions from the Astronomers' In-box at the Vatican Observatory

Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?: . . . and Other Questions from the Astronomers' In-box at the Vatican Observatory by Guy Consolmagno SJ and Paul Mueller

Two Jesuit scientists discuss the interaction of faith and science. In their few both are complementary as they address different concerns. While many "miracles" could be explained by science, that is largely irrelevant. God is beyond the universe. Miracles may be understood via science or they may not. It is largely irrelevant. 

Historically, there was no conflict between faith and science. Most science research was done by monks and other men of faith. The Bible was interpreted by the priest for the congregation. Both science and faith were used to explain the world. The Bible was seen as a source of truth. This truth may be communicated through figurative stories or literal truth. (The Bible even includes multiple accounts of the same event with different facts.) Only after the protestant reformation did people start interpreting the Bible as fully literal. This resulted in conflict, especially when the biblical accounts did not match the current state of science. This conflict relatively recent conflict is only among small groups on the science or faith side that seek the conflict. Historical figures like Galileo known for the "conflict" between church and science were actually caught in a political conflict rather than a faith/science conflict.

This book is an excellent exploration of how faith and science work well together, even though that is the "side" topic. The Chicago Art Museum is used as an introduction to faith and science. There are different ways to appreciate art. Different art provides different insights. Even the same artwork can be explored from different ways.  This is similar to how we look at the world. The bible has multiple creation accounts. Science also has gone through various theories of the creation. Quantum Theory and Relativity conflict with each other, yet they both work to explain natural phenomena. Pluto was once thought to be a planet, but now part of a new class of "dwarf planets". Science changes. Having a background in faith and science helps one to look at the big picture and better understand the world than when focussing entirely on one.