Product Description
If every effect in science has a cause, what caused the birth of the Universe? Have scientists brought themselves face to face with the possibility of God? In God and the Astronomers, Dr. Robert Jastrow, world-renowned astrophysicist, describes the astronomical discoveries of recent years and the theological implications of the new insights afforded by science into mankind's place in the cosmos. He explains the chain of events that forced astronomers, despite their initial reluctance ("Irritating," said Einstein; "Repugnant," said the great British astronomer Eddington; "I would like to reject it," said MIT physicist Philip Morrison) to accept the validity of the Big Bang and the fact that the universe began in a moment of creation.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 9 reviews)

An informative journey throught the Big Bang

I was tempted to read the new biography written on Einstein. My motive was to learn about all the evidence that changed the majority of scientists from the Steady State view to the Big Bang. I knew Einstein was a pivotal figure and struggled with the philosophical implications of the Big Bang. He was reluctant to accept the view; however, he eventually was won over by the evidence showing the universe had a begining.

The problem with the new Einstein biography is its over 500 hundred pages. Also, I am not interested in all of Einstein's history. (I don't care how many women Einstein slept with).

In God and the Astronomers, Robert Jastrow has written just what I was looking for. I wanted the segments of scientific history that delt with the Big Bang. I wanted to the know who the major players were. I wanted to see how the different theories arose and how evidence then supported those theories. An example would be, after Hubble discovered the evidence for "red shift", some scientist theorized that if the universe came from a type of explosion, then a faint trace of radiation should exist in the background of the universe. In other words, even though the Big Bang is a supposed one time event in history (science of origin), we can use our knowledge of explosions (operative science) and predict likely evidence. Now, the theorists were not the same people who found the evidence. But, in each case Jastrow takes us step by step between theory and discovery.

Also, I like that Jastrow does not speculate beyond the Big Bang. He is honest. He simply states, although it is not science, he finds the question interesting. In the edition of the book I read, Jastrow includes responses by two different theologians. These portions were average.

If you are looking for a complete yet concise book on the history of discovery involving the Big Bang, get this book.
July 22, 2008

Excellent Book on the Big Bang for Lay People

First of all, I read a 1978 edition of Jastrow's book so I can't comment on the theological appendix. As to the text itself, I believe it gives a very good non-technical overview of the Big Bang Theory. While an agnostic himself, Jastrow gives in my opinion a very fair and uncontroversial (in respect to either side) overview of the formation of the universe. The book is a fast read and is especially suited to readers who want some basic scientific information without diving into a lot of the fine details. Jastrow writes about a number of scientists in the book and a number of beautiful space photographs are included as well. One of my only complaints is that more wasn't said regarding Lamaetra. Overall, I enjoyed the book considerably.
May 22, 2008

The Big Bang for non-physicists

If you are looking for an enjoyable, accessible introduction to the science behind the Big Bang theory, then this book is for you. Non-specialists need not fear being put to sleep by complex mathematical formulae and arcane terminology. Dr. Jastrow lays out the basic evidence for the theory in a non-technical way and explains why it gained acceptance over the competition. Along the way he provides interesting glimpses of the important figures in the history of the theory.

On the negative side, there isn't a great deal of discussion of the relation of Big Bang cosmology to theism until the end of the book. Appropriately, it includes afterwords by a Catholic scientist and a Jewish professor of religion presenting their take on the implications of the theory for theology, but they hardly represent the broad spectrum of opinion on the subject. On the positive side, the sparse theological discussion makes this great primer for anyone who wants to know about the Big Bang even if they don't care about theology.
August 25, 2006

The Big Bang and Intelligent Design

"Irritating," said Einstein; "Repugnant," said the great British astronomer Eddington; "I would like to reject it," said MIT physicist Philip Morrison (On the Big Bang, and that the universe began in a moment of creation)

God and the Astronomers:
In his informing updated book, Dr. Robert Jastrow, a world class astrophysicist, renders a lucid account of the astronomical discoveries in recent years. This book focuses primarily on the Big Bang, how scientists discovered the evidence for it, and how they, reluctantly, gave up alternative theories. Jastrow focuses on several points where the two disciplines of science and religion converge, but a cyclic feedback is kept alive. He, meanwhile, discusses the various theological implications of the new scientific insights. He examines what the philosophical and theological implications might be. He ventures through this without risking any serious consequences, for mankind's place in the cosmos, arguing that; just because the Big Bang took place does not mean that God and evolution cannot coexist.
Originally published in 1978, this second edition includes an appendix presentation by Catholic and Jewish theologians.
He concludes his book with this often quoted statement: "He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."

New Edition Reviews:
"Robert Jastrow, a world renown astrophysicist and agnostic, takes an honest and inquisitive look at the theological implications of recent astronomical discoveries. Every effect in science has a cause, so what caused the Big Bang and the birth of the universe?" [...]

"Dr. Jastrow explains the chain of events that forced astronomers, despite their initial reluctance to accept the validity of the Big Bang and the fact that the universe began in a moment of creation." (SCIENCE/ASTRONOMY)

Author & Astrophysicist :
Dr. Robert Jastrow, is the director of Mount Wilson Observatory and was founder and director for twenty years of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He authored books which explore the universe; Red Giants & White Dwarfs, and Until the Sun Dies.
September 05, 2005

It is not what the title reads

I expected arguments, analysis and reasoning between the vision of God from the religious point of view constrasted with the vision of God from scientists.

Instead of this, I found the biographies of Einstein, Hubble, and other scientists. And the main subject, the reason of the book is found in the last chapter. If you want to read the book in a flash, just read last parragraph on page 138. That's it.
Deceiving.
August 02, 2005

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