Resources for Churches

CiS seeks to serve the church in the UK and further afield, to help it be more effective in living out God's purposes. CiS committee members, for example, are all active and committed participants in local congregations.

Scientific discoveries are advancing at an ever increasing pace, with many potential ethical and social ramifications. Science has a powerful public voice, which is good, and necessary. Churches may, however, need to respond to some of the issues raised by new scientific discoveries and possibilities. Furthermore, many church members will have their own questions about scientific issues, or find that their friends and neighbours do.

It would be very difficult for an individual congregation to meet all these challenges. CiS hopes to serve the church by producing reliable information and thoughtful materials on the many ways that science and faith relate. These are put together by acknowledged scientific experts, and informed by Biblical thinking.

Much of the information on this web-site should be useful for churches, but on this page we list some introductory resources that we hope are particularly helpful for (non-scientist) church members.

Articles in the popular Christian Press

Two helpful articles by Tony Watkins, in Christianity Magazine (August and September 2005):

• What you need to know about the evolution debate
• 10 things you need to know about the evolution debate
• Other articles by Tony Watkins

IDEA, the magazine of the Evangelical Alliance, of which CiS is also a member, ran a series of articles written by CiS stalwarts:

• "Isn't science more rational than faith?" (pdf) by Prof. Alister McGtath.
• "Why should Christians care for the planet?" (pdf) by Prof Bob White.
• "Don't my genes determine my behaviour?" by Prof John Bryant.
• "Can a Christian believe in evolution?" by Dr Denis Alexander.
• "Am I significant in the Universe, or just an accident? (pdf) by Mike Poole.

Articles in Evangelicals Now:

• Is Intelligent Design Biblical? (pdf) by Denis Alexander
• Is evolution atheistic? by Denis Alexander
• Why some evangelicals believe in evolution by Denis Alexander

Science and the Bible

Lectures from the CiS-St.Edmunds Cambridge local CiS group:

• Science and the Bible: Are they incompatible? The creation story as a test case
  by Rev Dr Ernest Lucas

Study guide: "Don't Put God in a Box"

A helpful and interesting short book on Astronomy and Christianity, written by CiS member and astronomy teacher Frank Flynn. It's designed for general reading, or use as a study guide for church small groups, together with the notes below.

Buy the book

Download the study notes

Test of FAITH: Resources for churches from the Faraday Institute

for Science and Religion

New in 2009! An award-winning three-part documentary, 'Test of FAITH', explores the main issues that arise where science and Christianity meet.

A Study Guide is provided to take a small group through the topics covered at their own pace. All the relevant scientific and theological background
information is provided on briefing sheets and in the Leader's Guide. A short book gives the life stories of ten of the scientists featured in the documentary.

Further information and details of how to buy on www.testoffaith.com. In addition versions for schools and also youth groups are now also available.