Reason, Faith, and Purpose: The Ultimate Gamble is a guide for believers and inquiring skeptics. This book summarizes the scientific view of the origins of the universe and life and analyzes the question of the existence of god from philosophical, religious, and scientific perspectives. The material is presented in two parts. Part I presents the secular, scientific view of the origin and evolution of the physical universe and life. Part II introduces other perspectives that are representative of ideas historically prevalent around the world. The material in Reason, Faith, and Purpose is designed to provide insight into the choice each of us must make in this life: the ultimate gamble. Errata(s) Errata (729 KB) Sample Chapter(s) Preface Contents: Preface About the Author Acknowledgments Quest for Truth The Secular View: Evidence for an Expanding Universe Evidence for Inflationary Cosmology The Big Bang The Inflation Model of Cosmology What Is Life? The Origin of Life The Evolution of Life The Ultimate Gamble: Mythological Creation Stories Origin of Religion Eastern Theology Western Theology Beyond the Natural Knowledge and Science Competing Worldviews Theism or Atheism? What Is Your Wager? Dates of Selected Characters Discussion Questions Endnotes References Selected Abbreviations Index Readership: Advanced undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and researchers in the fields of cosmology, astronomy, astrophysics, biology, evolution, philosophy, and religion. Valuable on any academic courses concerning the history of science, philosophy of science, cosmology, astrophysics, theology, faith, existentialism, theism, and reason. Secondary markets include continuing education courses in personal development, religion, philosophy, and popular science.