Product Description

[A] brilliant defense of science's place in the religious life (and vice versa).--Publisher's Weekly

Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno's moving and intellectually playful memoir of a life lived in the active interplay of science and religion is now available in a handsome paperback edition.

Blending memoir, science, history, and theology, Consolmagno takes us on a grand adventure. We revisit the infamous Galileo affair and see that it didn't unfold in quite the way we thought. We get a rare glimpse into the world of working scientists and see how scientific discoveries are proposed and advanced. We learn the inside story of the Mars meteorite: how can we be sure it's really from Mars, and why can't scientists agree on whether or not it contains evidence of life? Brother Astronomer memorably sets forth one scientist's conviction that the universe may be worth studying only if it is the work of a Creator God.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #959438 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 229 pages

From Publishers Weekly
It's the last two words of its subtitle that will arouse interest in this amiable book--and deservedly so. Like other Jesuit scientists before him, most notably Teilhard de Chardin, Consolmagno conveys well a passion for science wed to faith in God: two objects of devotion that, as Consolmagno realizes, many see as mutually exclusive. The triumph of his book is its persuasive argument that doing science can be a religious act--"that studying creation is a way of worshipping the creator." Regrettably, that triumph is confined to only a minor portion of the text, which overall, despite its other merits, has a ragtag feel, with Consolmagno moving from a look at his monastic-scientist's routine to discussions of his specialty, the study of meteorites; a history of Galileo's problems with the Church; a mini-autobiography; and Consolmagno's experiences hunting meteorites in Antarctica. And, in fact, the final chapter reveals that much of the book consists of reworked versions of the author's past talks and papers. Other than the brilliant defense of science's place in the religious life (and vice versa), no section of the book excels, though all are serviceable. The hard science discussions are elegant but rather technical; the Antarctic narrative, while enjoyable enough, lacks the alert wordsmithery of the practiced storyteller; and some of Consolmagno's statements, such as that all of Western science's achievements result "from the Incarnation," are so bald as to deny anyone but a devout Christian any grip. Even so, the book works, and well, for Consolmagno is a charming writer, witty, self-deprecating and, above all, genuine. There's not a whit of posturing in his words, but, instead, a sincerity and enthusiasm that are consistently congenial and infectious. 60,000 first printing; author tour. (Mar.) FYI: Brother Astronomer launches McGraw-Hill's ambitious new trade science program, which in the year 2000 will publish books by, among others, Ellen J. Prager, Alan Lightman and Joel de Rosnay.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Consolmagno, a Jesuit brother for the past ten years, has spent 25 years as an astronomer. He is now at the Vatican Observatory, where he curates one of the largest meteorite collections in the world. Consolmagno's book is an uneven mix of memoir, science, and religion; four large sections cover meteorites and comets, the perceived rift between science and theology, his life's path leading up to the decision to join the Jesuits, and his recent participation in a scientific mission to the Antarctic. The threads connecting these disparate topics are clear, deft writing and a mind at home with science and faith. However the four sections, while interesting in themselves (the last one on Antarctica is especially wonderful), do not make a cohesive whole. In addition, parts of the text were conference presentations or previously published articles, adding to the book's cut-and-paste feel. Recommended for larger collections.
-Michael D. Cramer, Cigna Healthcare, Raleigh, NC
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Consolmagno long had the scientific qualifications to be the pope's astronomer but didn't join the Jesuits, whose bailiwick the Vatican observatory is, until, at age 37, God told him he was ready. After settling in, he concentrated on the Vatican's meteorite collection, continuing his research on what such literally unearthly rocks might reveal; providing plenty about procedure, he traces that research in the first part of his ingratiating memoirs. In the second, he discusses the relationship of religion and science, arguing that because Christianity holds that what God has created, including human rationality, is good, the Catholic Church has always strongly encouraged science, the suppression of Galileo--the only incident of its kind in church history--notwithstanding. In the third part, Consolmagno presents his journey from brainy, devout youth through MIT and academic astronomy to the Jesuits and the Vatican, and in the last he describes, from firsthand experience, what meteorite gathering in Antarctica is like. Congenially conveying both meaty science and meaty theology, Consolmagno contributes vitally to the rapprochement of science and faith. Ray Olson

Customer Reviews

a brief review of Brother Astronomer's book
(Brother)(Dr) Guy Consolmagno has given us a delightful book, obviously written by someone who has comfortably lived (and uncomfortably adventured) in the two worlds of scientific and religious inquiry. The author discusses his infectious enthusiasm for both "worlds," although he doesn't think there is an essential line between the two. During the course of this book, you will travel to the ends of the earth to look for fragments of another world, understand why serendipity (and a good high school English teacher) are often major parts of a successful big-league scientific presentation, and learn why the Vatican maintains one of the world's best meteorite collections (in a home built by the pope who helped condemn Galileo). You will also find how Dr C answered the "killer question" -- namely, why care a fiddle or a fig about the makeup of Jupiter's moons, when people are suffering on earth? (Dr C mentions he briefly gave up science, joined the Peace Corps to directly help starving people, wound up teaching science to Kenyan students, and came away convinced that scientific development can provide one of the soundest foundations for preventing ignorance and starvation. It can also provide a sound foundation for religious understanding). Dr C discusses how the established church helped found modern science and scientific thinking (Galileo's trial was a correctable aberration, just like the regrettable dark alleyways occasionally taken by scientific minds). The established church and science have traditionally been partners in seeking methodological and insightful understanding, appreciating truth in our world, and combating ignorance and superstition. I did have some editorial quarrels (examples: there is no index and no bibliography, and Father Lemaitre did not "invent" the Big Bang theory; he "proposed" it). Nevertheless, when I closed this book, I had improved both my understanding of why a sane person would risk his life for science, and why a sane scientist would want to become a good Jesuit.

A multi-faceted book.......
Following are just some of the things this small book manages to be:

An autobiography tracing a career in science and a path toward a religious calling.

A discussion of meteor and planetary science.

An adventure set against the harshness of Antarctica.

A discussion of the Occidental attitude toward nature which has led to the historical development of the scientific method.

A meditation on life as a gift and love superceding both obligation and duty as a motive for action.

Finally, a gentle reminder that the threadbare proposition that science is incompatible with religious belief is far too facile and much too simple. Brother Consolmagno portrays a reality that is more complex, more ambiguous and flat out more interesting.

By the way, it's all related with a winning sense of humor

Do Science for Religious Reasons? Absolutely!
This book is an eye-opener for both true-believing religious folk who mistrust science and hard-nosed materialists who consider theological ways of thinking to have been overthrown by science. For those who already knew better, this book falls a bit short of advancing recent dialogs between religion and science. Subjective religious experiences are uncritically reported as "God's" influence with little or no reflection on the psychological nature of their origin. Further, both past "mistakes" and current dogmatic assertions of the Catholic Chursh are discussed without persuading this reader that the author has been as thoroughly honest in his pursuit of "Truth" as is claimed. But all in all, this is an enjoyable book with an entertaining exposition of meteorite hunting that constitutes an honest-to-God adventure. Well worth reading!