Testing God

Synopsis

David Malone’s 3-part series takes a fresh look at how the universe was formed, from a scientific and theological point of view. TESTING GOD re-examines the relationship between science and religion and asks: is science’s claim to victory premature? Includes contributions from Professor Sir Roger Penrose, Paul Davies, John Polkinghorne, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Neil Turok and Frank Tipler, Richard Dawkins, John Sulston, Geoffrey Miller, Denis Alexander, Steven Mithen and Jurgen Moltmann,George Steiner, Andy Clark, Peter Fenwick, Brian Goodwin, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Bart Kosko and Andrew Newberg.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2007

Year of production

2001

Availability

Out of Distribution

Notes

Broadcast in 3 weekly parts on Channel 4, beginning 2/9/2001.

Now out of distribution. Previously available from Uniview and becauseyouthink.tv.

Subjects

Philosophy; Religious studies; Science

Keywords

cosmology; creationism; human evolution; philosophy of science; religious belief and practice; logic

Credits

Director

David Malone

Contributor

George Steiner; Richard Dawkins; Roger Penrose

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 0

Price

£15.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

165 minutes

Year

2008

Sections

Title

Killing the Creator

Synopsis

This first part in the series examines whether science has foreclosed on the possibility of a creator God and, if not, whether it can. The answer on both counts is no. Science is actually having to grapple with the fact that our universe, far from being explicable as a logical or mathematical necessity, is a highly unlikely place. Is this evidence that the laws of nature are a product of design? If so, surely this is indisputable evidence for God. The alternative explanation, that ours is one of an infinite number of universes, poses more problems for science than it solves. Contributors to the programme include: Professor Sir Roger Penrose, Paul Davies, John Polkinghorne, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Neil Turok and Frank Tipler.

Duration

50 mins

Title

Darwin and the Divine

Synopsis

The second programme asks what piece of work is a man? Is the overwhelming evidence that we are a product of evolution final evidence that God does not exist? Does this in turn mean that we are little more than beasts, that morality and spirituality are mere illusions? On all counts, the answer is no. Programme 2 shows that a god who wanted his creations to have free-will - and therefore moral responsibility - would have to have used a process like evolution. The death of the "argument by design" is not the death of god. Contributors to the programme include: Richard Dawkins, John Sulston, Geoffrey Miller, Denis Alexander, Steven Mithen and Jurgen Moltmann

Duration

50 mins

Title

Credo Ergo Sum

Synopsis

The final programme looks at the human brain and the human mind. Are our minds based purely on binary logic, or is there something irrational - something subjective - at the root of reason? We look at ideas in physics, neurology and psychology and suggest that, whatever you think about the existence of God, the ability to believe is a crucial part of living in a fundamentally uncertain world. If we deny this in a quest for rational "certainty", might we be denying the very thing that makes us human? Contributors include: George Steiner, Andy Clark, Peter Fenwick, Brian Goodwin, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Bart Kosko and Andrew Newberg.

Duration

50 mins

Sponsor

Name

Channel Four Television

Phone

071-396 4444

Address

LONDON
SW1P 2TX