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Abrahamic Reflections on Randomness and Providence

Palgrave Macmillan
  • This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access

  • Collects perspectives from the great Abrahamic religions on the single topic of randomness

  • Presents the findings of a team of scholars in theology, philosophy, and religious studies

  • Offers new insights into the age-old questions of God's role in the chaos of the universe?

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiv
  2. Introduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Randomness and Providence: Is God a Bowler or a Curler?

      • Kelly James Clark, Jeffrey Koperski
      Pages 3-10Open Access
  3. The Problem(s) Stated

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-11
    2. The Many Faces of Randomness

      • Jeffrey Koperski
      Pages 13-27Open Access
    3. Randomness and Providence: Defining the Problem(s)

      • Aaron M. Griffith, Arash Naraghi
      Pages 29-53Open Access
  4. Science

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 55-55
    2. Randomness in the Cosmos

      • Nidhal Guessoum
      Pages 57-84Open Access
    3. Randomness, Providence, and the Multiverse

      • Bruno Guiderdoni
      Pages 85-105Open Access
    4. Can a Muslim be an Evolutionist?

      • Caner Taslaman
      Pages 107-117Open Access
  5. The Abrahamic Faiths

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 145-145
    2. Judaism and Providence

      • Tyron Goldschmidt, Samuel Lebens
      Pages 147-169Open Access
    3. Randomness and Providence in Christian Thought

      • Karen R. Zwier
      Pages 171-197Open Access
  6. Providence and Chance

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 221-221
    2. Creatio Continua and Quantum Randomness

      • Emil Salim, Shoaib Ahmed Malik
      Pages 243-264Open Access
    3. Divine Action and the Emergence of Four Kinds of Randomness

      • Robert C. Koons, Rana Dajani
      Pages 287-310Open Access

About this book

This open access book addresses the question of how God can providentially govern apparently ungovernable randomness. Medieval theologians confidently held that God is provident, that is, God is the ultimate cause of or is responsible for everything that happens. However, scientific advances since the 19th century pose serious challenges to traditional views of providence. From Darwinian evolution to quantum mechanics, randomness has become an essential part of the scientific worldview. An interdisciplinary team of Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars—biologists, physicists, philosophers and theologians—addresses questions of randomness and providence.



Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Kelly James Clark

  • Department of Philosophy, Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, USA

    Jeffrey Koperski

About the editors

Kelly James Clark is author, co-author, or editor of more than 30 books including Religion and the Sciences of Origins, Strangers, Neighbors Friends: Muslim-Christian-Jewish Reflections on Compassion and Peace, and Abraham’s Children: Liberty and Tolerance in an Age of Religious Conflict.

Jeffrey Koperski is Professor of Philosophy at Saginaw Valley State University. He is the author of The Physics of Theism: God, Physics, and the Philosophy of Science, and Divine Action, Determinism, and the Laws of Nature.



Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Abrahamic Reflections on Randomness and Providence

  • Editors: Kelly James Clark, Jeffrey Koperski

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75797-7

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2022

  • License: CC BY

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-75796-0Published: 28 September 2021

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-75799-1Published: 28 September 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-75797-7Published: 27 September 2021

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIV, 384

  • Number of Illustrations: 9 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Comparative Religion, Philosophy of Religion, Christian Theology

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access