The Peacocke’s Tale

The Peacocke's Tale: An Arthur R. Peacocke Reader on Science & Faith, with a Foreword by Philip Clayton, is my effort to make one of the twentieth century's most thoughtful science‑engaged theologians accessible to a new generation. Arthur Peacocke, a biochemist and priest, spent decades grappling with evolution, emergence, and divine action; yet his essays are dispersed across journals and edited volumes that many readers never encounter.

This reader gathers key texts that display the breadth of Peacocke's work: his reflections on God's creative involvement through natural processes, his use of information theory and systems thinking, his proposals regarding embodiment and the imago Dei, and his sacramental vision of the world. The selections are organized thematically, with brief editorial introductions that locate each essay within Peacocke's wider corpus and within current debates in theology and science.

Philip Clayton's foreword situates Peacocke historically and philosophically, highlighting why his voice still matters for contemporary constructive theology. My own introduction and concluding essay draw out lines of continuity and contrast with other major figures, suggesting ways in which Peacocke can resource fresh work on divine action, panentheism, and evolutionary perspectives on creation.

The volume is designed for use in seminary and university courses on science and religion, as well as for scholars seeking a reliable gateway into Peacocke's thought. It also serves pastors and educated lay readers who have encountered brief quotations from Peacocke and now desire a more sustained engagement.