LA JOLLA, Calif., Sept. 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Christianity employs a supernatural god as the underlying cause for the universe, a God who demands obedience in this world to his dictates and laws in exchange for personal salvation. Science employs lowly man as the primary force for acquiring knowledge of nature through the scientific process with theories and laws verified through experiments. Our democracy empowered by the people attains its laws from a secular Constitution written by the people. These three disciplines at times present overlapping and conflicting laws. Jefferson's Scissors by author Louis W. Perry will open our awareness about these interwoven and sometimes conflicting disciplines and delve into solving the conflicts, which have resulted from the confluence of democracy, religion and science.
Many questions regarding these realities have been raised, and many remain in conflict. Jefferson's Scissors will help us understand the evolution of religion, science and democratic governance through examining the conflicting theories, laws and dictates of each discipline. Religions have had an additional historical dimension to modify, for their churches have had theocratic power in countries, but in the new democracy, there is no basis for linking theocratic power. What are acceptable positions of power for churches to take with democracy and science?
Our Founding Fathers understood the potential conflicts with religion from examining the far-reaching religious wars and persecutions in Europe. With Thomas Jefferson and James Madison as leaders, the revolutionary concept of the separation of church and state was adopted to remove the conflicts with religion. The United States was to be the initial experiment in removing religion from government.
In our newly formed country, religions were placed into an independent position outside of the government, a position with which churches had had little experience. How were multiple religions to be a force for advocating religious concerns on laws and science from positions with no direct power from the government? Science also was placed outside of government in an independent position to be the force for understanding nature. Our democracy is the vehicle that brings all of these forces together and provides the leadership to ensure that religion and science are used to their fullness for the country. There are numerous things we need to know about these very intricate and relevant issues, therefore finding a very valuable time to read this book will absolutely give us enrichment. For more information, log on to www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author
Growing up in the South, Lou Perry was immersed in the religious and democratic conflicts. He took and finished his degree in physics at the University of Alabama and MS Texas Christian University. As a scientist he worked on nuclear weapons at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, nuclear reactor projects in industry and energy research programs for the government. The science programs brought the broad demands of modernity in focus. This experience was brought together in a series of lectures on the interrelated conflicts of religion, science and democracy at the University of California in San Diego. These lectures were assembled into this book, Jefferson's Scissors, the textbook for the lectures. Lou Perry, Emeritus, University of California San Diego, continues to lecture and enjoy tennis with his family in La Jolla.
Jefferson's Scissors * by Louis W. Perry
Solving the Conflicts of Religion with Science and Democracy
Publication Date: July 30, 2009
Trade Paperback; $19.99; 310 pages; 978-1-4415-0982-6
Cloth Hardback; $29.99; 310 pages; 978-1-4415-0983-3
To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7876. For more information, contact Xlibris at (888) 795-4274 or on the web at www.Xlibris.com.