Reordering Nature: Theology, Society and the New Genetics

About the Book

In this book experts in the environment, theology and science argue that the challenge posed to society by biotechnology lies not only in terms of risk/benefit analysis of individual genetic technologies and interventions, but also has implications for the way we think about human identity and our relationship to the natural world. Such a profound--they would suggest religious--challenge requires a response that is genuinely interdisciplinary in nature, a conversation that draws as much on expertise in theology and philosophy as on the natural sciences and risk assessment techniques. They argue that an adequate response must also be sociologically informed in at least two ways. First it must draw on contemporary sociological insights about contemporary cultural change, the complex role of expert knowledge in modern complex society and the specific social dynamics of contemporary technological risks. Secondly, it must endeavour to pay sensitive attention to the voice of the lay public in the current controversy over the new genetics. This book attempts to realise such an aim, as a contribution not just to academic scholarship, but also to the public debate about biotechnology and its regulation. Thus the collection includes contributions from scholars in a range of intellectual domains (indeed, many of the chapters themselves draw on more than one discipline in new and challenging ways). The book invites the reader to enter into this conversation in a creative way and come to appreciate more fully the many-sided nature of the debate.

Table of Contents:

Preface
Introduction

PART I: CURRENT DEBATES IN THEOLOGY
Introduction to Part 1
1. Celia Deane-Drummond, Robin Grove-White and Bronislaw Szerszynski: Genetically Modified Theology, The Religious Dimensions of Public Concerns about Agricultural BiotechnologyChristopher Southgate: Response to Chapter 1
2. John Hedley Brooke: Detracting from Divine Power? Religious Belief and the Appraisal of New TechnologiesArthur Peacocke: Response to Chapter 2
3. Michael Banner: The Sublime, The Sabbath and the Limits of BiotechnologyMichael Reiss: Response to Chapter 3
4. Michael Northcott: 'Behold I Have Set the Land Before You' (Deut 1.8). Christian Ethics, GM Foods and the Culture of Modern FarmingPeter Scott: Response to Chapter 4

PART II: REFLECTIONS FROM SPECIFIC CASES
Introduction to Part II
5. Arthur Peacocke: Relating Genetics to Theology on the Map of Scientific Knowledge
6. Michael Reiss: Is It Right to Move Genes between Species? A Theological Perspective
7. Donald Bruce: Playing Dice with Creation, How Risky Should the New Technologies Be?
8. Stephen Clark: Thinking about Biotechnology, Towards a Theory of Just Experimentation

PART III: PUBLIC VOICES AND GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES
Introduction to Part III
9. Mairi Levitt: 'Just Because We Can Do Something Doesn't Mean We Should', Young People's Responses to Biotechnology
10. Bronislaw Szerszynski: At Reason's End, The Inoperative Liturgy of Risk Society
11. Brian Wynne: Interpreting Public Concerns about GMOs

PART IV: TECHNOLOGY, THEOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Introduction to Part IV
12. Jacqui Stewart: Reordering Means and Ends, Ellul and the New Genetics
13. Peter Scott: Nature, Technology and the Rule of God, (En)Countering the Disgracing of Nature
14. Celia Deane-Drummond: Aquinas, Wisdom Ethics and the New Genetics
15. Bronislaw Szerszynski and Celia Deane-Drummond: The Reordering of Nature, a Post-Script
List of Contributors
Index

About the Author :
Celia Deane-Drummond is Director of the Laudato Si' Research Institute and Senior Research Fellow in Theology, Campion Hall at University of Oxford, UK. Robin Grove-White is Professor of Environment and Society at Lancaster University, UK. Dr Bronislaw Szerszynski is Lecturer in Environment and Culture at Lancaster University, UK.

Review :
'...gestures to the rich background of the theological scholarship about the appropriate relations between the purposes of God and the processes of nature...The merits of this book are many.' ~ Journal of American Academy of Religion "The authors are to be congratulated for raising a clear set of issues in a complelling and focused manner. University classes across a range of disciplines could fruitfully engage with these essays as part of their curriculum and thinking Christians everywhere will benefit from careful reading and consideration of the arguments presented here." -Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, Vol. 56, No. 2, June 2004