God’s Mechanics

With an “adroit and self-effacing style,” a Catholic brother, astronomer and physicist explains how scientists and engineers make sense of religion.   In God's Mechanics, Brother Guy tells the stories of those who identify with the scientific mindset—so-called “techies”—while practicing religion. A self-decribed techie, astronomer, physicist and Director of the Vatican Observatory, Brother Guy shares some classic philosophical reflections, as well as his interviews with dozens of fellow techies, and his own personal take on his Catholic beliefs to provide, like a set of “worked out sample problems,” the hard data on the challenges and joys of embracing a life of faith as a techie. And he also gives a roadmap of the traps that can befall an unwary techie believer.   With lively prose and wry humor, Brother Guy shows how he not only believes in God but gives religion an honored place alongside science in his life. This book offers an engaging look at how—and why—scientists and those with technological leanings can hold profound, “unprovable” religious beliefs while working in highly empirical fields. Through his own experience and interviews with other scientists and engineers who profess faith, Brother Guy explores how religious beliefs and practices make sense to those who are deeply rooted in the world of technology.   “Brother Guy Consolmagno speaks in the softest, sanest voice imaginable as he enters the current firestorm of opinion re science and religion. His engaging commentary exposes the mindset of a true ‘techie’—but one who equates science with a sacred act.” —Dava Sobel, author, Galileo’s Daughter

In God's Mechanics, Brother Guy tells the stories of thosewho identify with the scientific mindset--so-called"techies"--while practicing religion. A full fledged techiehimself, he relates some classic philosophical reflections, hisinterviews with dozens of fellow techies, and his own personal takeon his Catholic beliefs to provide, like a set of "worked outsample problems," the hard data on the challenges and joys ofembracing a life of faith as a techie. And he also gives a roadmapof the traps that can befall an unwary techie believer.With lively prose and wry humor, Brother Guy shows how he notonly believes in God but gives religion an honored place alongsidescience in his life. This book offers an engaging look athow--and why--scientists and those with technologicalleanings can hold profound, "unprovable" religious beliefs whileworking in highly empirical fields. Through his own experience andinterviews with other scientists and engineers who profess faith,Brother Guy explores how religious beliefs and practices make senseto those who are deeply rooted in the world of technology.

Introduction: The Lord of the Techies.PART ONE: WHY WOULD A TECHIE BELIEVE IN GOD?1. How Techies Believe.2. Where God Is Useful.3. Good Science, Bad Philosophy.PART TWO: WHY WOULD A TECHIE JOIN AN ORGANIZEDRELIGION?4. Big Science, Big Religion.5. The Functions of Religion.6. The Dangers of Organized Religion.PART THREE: WHAT IS THE TECHIE EXPERIENCE OFRELIGION?7. Talking to Techies.8. Listening to Techies.9. The Rule of Rules.PART FOUR: WHY WOULD A TECHIE BE A CHRISTIAN?10. What Does the Truth Look Like?11. The Root of Christianity.12. A Techie's Contemplation on the Trinity.13. The Supernatural in Nature.PART FIVE: THE CONFESSION OFA VATICAN TECHIE.14. Why Would a Techie Be a Catholic?15. How I Stay a Catholic.Acknowledgments.The Author.Index.