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Birth
Born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England -
Earned bachelor's degree in mathematics
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Earned master's degree
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Earned doctorate and appointed lecturer
Doctorate in quantum field theory from Trinity College, Cambridge and appointed as a lecturer in mathematical physics. Polkinghorne was part of the team which discovered the quark, a type of elementary particle. -
Professor
Became a professor in mathematical physics at Cambridge -
Another doctorate
Earned a doctorate in theoretical elementary particle physics from Trinity college -
Ordained
Polkinghorne was ordained and assigned to a parish in South Bristol -
Published, The Way the World Is
The book describes Polkinghornes perspective as a Christian of the world of science and how the two can be taken seriously together. Polkinghorne, J. C. The Way the World Is: the Christian Perspective of a Scientist. Westminster John Knox Press, 1983. -
Appointed president of Queens' College, in Cambridge
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The Faith of a Physicst
Explores how a person can have faith and think like a scientist. Polkinghorne goes through multiple Christian beliefs and analyzes each as a scientist. Polkinghorne, John C. Faith of a Physicist: Reflections of a Bottom-up Thinker. Princeton Univ Press, 1994. -
Knighthood
John Polkinghorne was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his service to religion, science, learning, and medical ethics. -
Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship
"People sometimes think that it is odd, or even disingenuous, for a person to be both a physicist and a priest. It induces in them the same sort of quizzical surprise that would greet the claim to be a vegetarian butcher. Yet to someone like myself who is both a scientist and a Christian, it seems to be a natural and harmonious combination." John Polkinghorne Polkinghorne, John C. Quantum Physics and Theology: an Unexpected Kinship. Yale Univ. Press, 2007. -
God vs. Science
"Science asks how things happen. But there are questions of meaning and value and purpose which science does not address. Religion asks why. An it is my belief that we can and should ask both questions about the same event." Polkinghorne Nelson, Dean, et al. “God vs. Science | The Saturday Evening Post.” The Saturday Evening Post God vs Science Comments, 16 Aug. 2011, www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2011/08/god-vs-science/. -
Interview With John Polkinghorne on Time
Polkinghorne is interviewed as a physicist and a theologian about his beliefs on time. https://youtu.be/U2SzRtLRNb4
