Christian scientists are grappling with the biggest global issues. This book explains how

What’s the difference between a Big Mac and a bag of rice?

A Big Mac tastes the same wherever you go - from Adelaide to Accrington - thanks to McDonald’s insistence on uniformity. Rice, on the other hand, is cooked and served in countless ways across the globe, reflecting the diversity and creativity of different cultures. Where the Big Mac represents conformity, rice celebrates local variation and innovation.

As Mike Brownnutt of the University of Hong Kong puts it in this thought-provoking book: “The engagement of science and Christianity globally is less like a Big Mac and more like rice. We must recognise that different places are indeed different and have different concerns and insights.”

This captures the heart of Global Perspectives on Science and Christianity (Langham Publishing) which explores how Christianity and science interact across a wide range of countries - from China to Brazil, New Zealand to Kenya, Greece and Canada. In doing so, it invites readers to reflect on their own views around issues that continue to challenge church leaders, theologians, and scientists, both Christian and atheist around the world.

Each chapter, written independently and in an academic tone, offers much to engage with. 

This book takes a global view of topical issues currently shaping society - artificial intelligence (AI) being a prime example. In Europe, concern centres on its risks, prompting calls for tighter regulation. In the United States, commercial developers focus on AI’s vast economic potential, while in China, the government is promoting its development to position the nation as a tech superpower and is already using it as a tool for surveillance and control.

In contrast, Christians see humans as created in the image of God and are concerned that AI is used responsibly - as a tool to serve God’s creation in a fallen world. In a chapter co-written by contributors from China and Canada, they explain: “The fallen nature of humans suggests they ultimately prioritise their own interests over those of others, and are prone to exploit the great potential of AI to gain more power or wealth at the expense of others.”

Christians see humans as created in the image of God and are concerned that AI is used responsibly 

Christianity and science can lead to some unlikely partnerships. In Canada, Margaret Atwood – the internationally renowned author of The Handmaid’s Tale – is supporting the work of evangelical environmental organisation A Rocha. Although Atwood describes herself as an agnostic, she has praised A Rocha’s work and has even donated to it. As the contrubutors of the chapter on Christianity and science in Canada observe: “Atwood is no easy friend of religious fundamentalists, but rather she is against fundamentalism of all kinds. Yet for Atwood, A Rocha – which is largely evangelical Christian – clearly has an appeal. There is a winsomeness about its approach that is not lost on her.” A Rocha, they note: “provides a bridge between some environmentalists who often think Christians are concerned only about saving souls, and those Christians who do not understand the biblical call for creation care and are ambivalent about environmental issues.”

While in Canada, Christianity and science can be seen as poles apart, in a number of African countries, they often intersect in surprising ways. According to the writers of the Africa chapter: “The holistic perspective of life in most African cultures means that the spiritual and physical arenas of life are intrinsically intertwined, and that all aspects of life are inescapably connected to religion.” In this context, there is ongoing debate around the use and effectiveness of traditional medicines, which often carry both physical and spiritual implications. The authors note that some African communities can be wary of scientific Western medicine being introduced into their communities. They go on to say: “The need for healing in Africa leads to an increase in the use of non-scientific modes of healing among certain communities, particularly the poor, who are quite often taken advantage of by malevolent proponents of the prosperity gospel.”

New Zealand, by contrast, is described as: “a secular, siloed, multi-cultural society,” where: “theology is misunderstood and almost eclipsed from the public sphere, especially as it relates to science.” The authors warn that in such an environment: “religion and faith are in danger of becoming silos within an aggressively secular New Zealand society.” The indigenous Māori people, however, have: “continued their own forms of spirituality, blended to an extent with Christian input in some areas,” and their customs and practices are protected under New Zealand law. According to the contributors, the Māori: “bring a contemporary critical voice to all matters of life in New Zealand,” and “may yet be the key to a return to a spirituality that combines nature, science, God and community, while offering a critique of scientific imperialism.”

If you’re looking to explore how science and Christianity intersect around the world, this book is for you.

Global Perspectives on Science and Christianity is out now