Philip Clayton: Science & the Sacred

Tripp Fuller

What’s up Theology Nerds! Today I’m thrilled to share my conversation with the brilliant Philip Clayton on his new book Science and the Sacred: Beyond the Gods in Our Own Image. This isn’t your typical science vs. religion debate – it’s something way more interesting! Philip co-authored this book with Claudia Pierce, an atheist religion journalist, creating a beautiful dialogue between theistic and non-theistic perspectives that finds surprising common ground. We explore how their five-year collaboration revealed shared values even as they maintained different views on God. Phil walks us through how modern scientific understanding can coexist with spiritual meaning, challenging both religious fundamentalism and reductive scientism. We dive into questions from both conservative Christians and skeptical atheists who read the book in advance, creating a lively three-way conversation about doubt, faith, and what it means to approach mystery with openness rather than certainty. If you’re tired of culture war takes on science and religion and hungry for nuanced dialogue across differences, this episode is your jam! And guess what? Phil’s coming to Theology Beer Camp this year, so grab your tickets before May 15th when prices go up!

As a scholar, Philip Clayton (Ingraham Professor, Claremont School of Theology) works at the intersection of science, philosophy, and theology. As an activist (president of EcoCiv.org, President of IPDC), he works to convene, facilitate, and catalyze multi-sectoral initiatives toward ecological civilization. As a disciple of Jesus, he finds himself energized by the Spirit in the Quaker community.

Previous Podcast Convos w/ Philip Clayton

• Celebrating the Life, Legacy, and Thought of Jürgen Moltmann
• The Christology Ladder
• Christ, Christmas, & the Incarnation
• How to Think Theologically
• On the Meaning of Life
• on the Mindfulness of Nature
• The Theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg w/ Philip Clayton
• Finding God in Everyone and Everywhere w/ Philip Clayton and Andrew Davis
• Can a process theologian be an Evangelical & other questions with Philip Clayton
• The #GodDebacle w/ Philip Clayton and LeRon Shults
• Philip Clayton on the Shape of Postmodern Theology
• Party Time with Philip Clayton for “The Predicament of Belief”
• Bootlegged Christianity with Philip Clayton, Jack Caputo, Bill Mallonee, Peter Rollins, & Jay Bakker
• Philip Clayton on The Resurrection, Trinity, Eschatology & the Predicament of Belief
• Coming to Jesus with Daniel Kirk & Philip Clayton

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