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Birth
John Polkinghorne would publish over two dozen books in his lifetime, most of which explored the relationship between science and religion. He believed that the search for truth must involve both science and religion, arguing that it could not be found in just one or the other. -
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Physicist Career
Polkinghorne earned his doctorate in quantum field theory in 1956. He would go on to teach mathematical physics at the University of Edinburgh and then Cambridge University. He played a role in the discovery of quarks and developed mathematical models to calculate the paths of quantum particles before ending his career in physics in 1979. -
Priest
Polkinghorne was ordained as a priest in 1982, completing his transition from the science community to the religious community. His experience in both shaped his philosophy, as seen in the various books he would go on to publish. -
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Relationship Between Science and Religion
Polkinghorne believes that science and religion must be used together in order to understand the complex world we live in. Science is useful for answering "how" questions about our world, while religion is useful for answering the "why" questions that have to do with meaning, value, and purpose. He notes that the "how" of science and the "why" of religion must be compatible with each other (University of California Television 2011). -
Bottom-Up Thinking
In his 1994 book titled, "The Faith of a Physicist: Reflections of a Bottom-Up Thinker", Polkinghorne advocates for being a bottom-up thinker when it comes to both science and religion. That is, starting with interpreted experience and moving to understanding. -
Sources
Turner, Darrell J. "John Polkinghorne". Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Oct. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Polkinghorne. Accessed 8 January 2023. University of California Television. "An Afternoon With John Polkinghorne." January 7, 2011.
https://youtu.be/nFrYXr8JYgU