Why am I passionate about this?

My first love was architecture. But while I was working as an architectural drafter in my early twenties, I began taking college courses in philosophy and religious studies. During that time, I also acquired a set of the Great Books of the Western World by Encyclopædia Britannica. I was hooked. I quit my job and became a full-time student of philosophy, religion, and history. Since then, I have seen Pascal’s maxim demonstrated in all my research. Namely, that humanity is a living oxymoron: he is like a “reed,” easily blown over. Nevertheless, the human is also a “thinking reed,” concerned with meaning, purpose, and transcendence. 


I wrote

Science, Religion, and the Protestant Tradition: Retracing the Origins of Conflict

By James C. Ungureanu,

Book cover of Science, Religion, and the Protestant Tradition: Retracing the Origins of Conflict

What is my book about?

Step into the intellectual arena, where the historical clash between science and religion unfolds. Central to this narrative are John…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Post-Darwinian Controversies: A Study of the Protestant Struggle to Come to Terms with Darwin in Great Britain and America, 1870-1900

James C. Ungureanu Why did I love this book?

When I first came across this book, I couldn't put it down. Moore examines in fine detail the fascinating world of Protestant reactions to Darwin’s theories in 19th-century Britain and America.

His exploration gripped me from the start, unraveling the complex interplay of religion, science, and society during this pivotal period. As someone intrigued by the intersection of faith and reason, this book illuminated how differing theological perspectives shaped responses to evolutionary theory.

Moore's meticulous research and engaging narrative style make this a must-read for anyone curious about the historical tensions between religion and science. Trust me, you won't want to miss this captivating journey through the post-Darwinian era.

By James R. Moore,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Post-Darwinian Controversies as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Post-Darwinian Controversies offers an original interpretation of Protestant responses to Darwin after 1870, viewing them in a transatlantic perspective and as a constitutive part of the history of post-Darwinian evolutionary thought. The impact of evolutionary theory on the religious consciousness of the nineteenth century has commonly been seen in terms of a 'conflict' or 'warfare' between science and theology. Dr. Moore's account begins by discussing the polemical origins and baneful effects of the 'military metaphor', and this leads to a revised view of the controversies based on an analysis of the underlying intellectual struggle to come to terms with…


Book cover of The Origins of Agnosticism: Victorian Unbelief and the Limits of Knowledge

James C. Ungureanu Why did I love this book?

This book resonated with me deeply.

Lightman explores the intellectual landscape of Victorian unbelief. He sheds light on the complexities of doubt and skepticism in an era marked by scientific and religious upheaval. His research and compelling analysis offer profound insights into the minds of Victorian thinkers grappling with questions of faith and reason.

As someone drawn to the intersections of philosophy and history, this book left me contemplating the nature of belief and the pursuit of truth. Whether you're an academic seeking a deeper understanding of Victorian thought or simply intrigued by the intersection of religion and philosophy, this book provides a valuable and thought-provoking exploration of a pivotal moment in intellectual history.

By Bernard Lightman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Origins of Agnosticism as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Originally published in 1987. The Origins of Agnosticism provides a reinterpretation of agnosticism and its relationship to science. Professor Lightman examines the epistemological basis of agnostics' learned ignorance, studying their core claim that "God is unknowable." To address this question, he reconstructs the theory of knowledge posited by Thomas Henry Huxley and his network of agnostics. In doing so, Lightman argues that agnosticism was constructed on an epistemological foundation laid by Christian thought. In addition to undermining the continuity in the intellectual history of religious thought, Lightman exposes the religious origins of agnosticism.


Book cover of Modern Christian Thought: The Enlightenment and the Nineteenth Century, Volume 1

James C. Ungureanu Why did I love this book?

This book offers a vital perspective on the contending theological traditions that underpin the backdrop of the "conflict thesis."

I found Livingston’s insights to be invaluable. By investigating the Enlightenment and the subsequent developments in the 19th century, Livingston provides crucial context for understanding the origins of the perceived conflict between science and religion. His meticulous analysis illuminates the divergent theological currents that shaped intellectual discourse during this period.

For anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between faith and reason, this book is essential reading. It not only enriches our understanding of the past but also sheds light on contemporary discussions surrounding science, religion, and society.

By James C. Livingston,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Modern Christian Thought as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This widely acclaimed introduction to modern Christian thought, formerly published by Prentice Hall, provides full, scholarly accounts of the major movements and thinkers, theologians and philosophers in the Christian tradition since the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, together with solid historical background and critical assessments.


Book cover of When Science and Christianity Meet

James C. Ungureanu Why did I love this book?

This book stands as a testament to the enduring legacies of two remarkable scholars whose contributions continue to shape our understanding of the relationship between science and religion.

Lindberg and Numbers, both of whom have sadly passed away in recent years, paved the way for a more nuanced and complex examination of this crucial intersection. Their edited collection brings together diverse perspectives and rigorous scholarship, offering invaluable insights into the historical, philosophical, and theological dimensions of the dialogue between science and Christianity.

If there's one book that captures the essence of this ongoing discourse, it's this one. Lindberg and Numbers' work is essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between these two realms of human inquiry.

By David C. Lindberg (editor), Ronald L. Numbers (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked When Science and Christianity Meet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This book, in language accessible to the general reader, investigates twelve of the most notorious, most interesting, and most instructive episodes involving the interaction between science and Christianity, aiming to tell each story in its historical specificity and local particularity.Among the events treated in "When Science and Christianity Meet" are the Galileo affair, the seventeenth-century clockwork universe, Noah's ark and the biblical flood in the development of natural history, struggles over Darwinian evolution, debates about the origin of the human species, and the Scopes trial. Readers will be introduced to St. Augustine, Roger Bacon, Pope Urban VIII, Isaac Newton, Pierre-Simon…


Book cover of The Beginnings of Western Science: The European Scientific Tradition in Philosophical, Religious, and Institutional Context, Prehistory to A.D. 1450

James C. Ungureanu Why did I love this book?

This book holds a special place in my heart as one of the first books I encountered on the history of science and religion. Lindberg's masterful exploration of the European scientific tradition from 600 B.C. to A.D. 1450 served as my introduction to this captivating field of study. 

In many ways, I owe my journey as a historian of science to the insights gleaned from Lindberg's work. While I never had the privilege of meeting him before his passing, his scholarship continues to inspire and shape my understanding of the intricate relationship between science and religion.

For anyone embarking on their own exploration of this fascinating topic, Lindberg's book is an indispensable guide that will leave a lasting impression.

By David C. Lindberg,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Beginnings of Western Science as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When it was first published in 1992, "The Beginnings of Western Science" was lauded as the first successful attempt to present a unified account of both ancient and medieval science in a single volume. Chronicling the development of scientific ideas, practices, and institutions from pre-Socratic Greek philosophy to late-medieval scholasticism, David C. Lindberg surveyed the most important themes in the history of science, including developments in cosmology, astronomy, mechanics, optics, alchemy, natural history, and medicine. In addition, he offered an illuminating account of the transmission of Greek science to medieval Islam and subsequently to medieval Europe."The Beginnings of Western Science"…


Explore my book 😀

Science, Religion, and the Protestant Tradition: Retracing the Origins of Conflict

By James C. Ungureanu,

Book cover of Science, Religion, and the Protestant Tradition: Retracing the Origins of Conflict

What is my book about?

Step into the intellectual arena, where the historical clash between science and religion unfolds. Central to this narrative are John William Draper and Andrew Dickson White, whose 19th-century accounts, many historians believe, portrayed religion as an adversary to scientific advancement. 

My book traces the genesis of this narrative, highlighting Draper and White's underlying aim: to reconcile religious belief with scientific progress. I demonstrate how this purported conflict emerged as a byproduct of theological disputes dating back to the Protestant Reformation, with divergent Christian traditions at odds. By the mid-1800s, narratives of “science versus religion” were primarily employed within theological circles, only later co-opted by secularists and atheists as ammunition against religious belief. My study offers a nuanced understanding of this phenomenon, contextualizing it within broader historical currents.

Book cover of The Post-Darwinian Controversies: A Study of the Protestant Struggle to Come to Terms with Darwin in Great Britain and America, 1870-1900
Book cover of The Origins of Agnosticism: Victorian Unbelief and the Limits of Knowledge
Book cover of Modern Christian Thought: The Enlightenment and the Nineteenth Century, Volume 1

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Book cover of Locked In Locked Out: Surviving a Brainstem Stroke

Shawn Jennings Author Of Locked In Locked Out: Surviving a Brainstem Stroke

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Shawn's 3 favorite reads in 2024

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Can there be life after a brainstem stroke?

After Dr. Shawn Jennings, a busy family physician, suffered a brainstem stroke on May 13, 1999, he woke from a coma locked inside his body, aware and alert but unable to communicate or move. Once he regained limited movement in his left arm, he began typing his story, using one hand and a lot of patience. 

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Locked In Locked Out: Surviving a Brainstem Stroke

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What is this book about?

Can there be life after a brainstem stroke?

After Dr. Shawn Jennings, a busy family physician, suffered a brainstem stroke on May 13, 1999, he woke from a coma locked inside his body, aware and alert but unable to communicate or move. Once he regained limited movement in his left arm, he began typing his story, using one hand and a lot of patience.

With unexpected humour and tender honesty, Shawn shares his experiences in his struggle for recovery and acceptance of his life after the stroke. He affirms that even without achieving a full recovery life is still worth…


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