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Radiology professor, Ken Miles takes a detailed look at what happens inside the brains and bodies of churchgoers when they are worshipping. Rather than concluding that the words and actions performed during a church service are tricks which help to transmit false beliefs, he found that his appreciation of Christian worship was increased, and his faith strengthened.

Using scientific principles, Ken refutes the notion that science is incompatible with faith and undermines common criticisms of religious belief.  He builds a case for worship by drawing on the methods of evidence-based medicine to argue that experiences of God are worthy of inclusion in serious theorising. 

A woman with a fever and a doctor with a blocked stethoscope are just two of the real and imaginary medical scenarios used to explain key concepts. Worship narratives, actions and environment are shown to be fundamental to the way God is experienced and to the changes in behaviour these encounters produce. Rather than being historical quirks, patterns of worship have developed over the centuries through trial and error with successful elements preserved. Science can now show why they are effective. Regardless of belief or background, readers will see Christian worship in a new light.

“From Billiard Balls to Bishops explores an often-neglected area: the relationship of science and worship. Too often science and religion are presented as a pure and at times boring intellectual pursuit. But the Christian doctrine of creation is deeply embedded in the joy and excitement of worship of the Creator. Drawing on extensive experience as a scientist, Kenneth Miles introduces us to the joy of science and worship.”

—David Wilkinson, principal, St. John’s College, Durham University

“For me, the faith experience is first and foremost about encounter. So, I am delighted that Kenneth Miles’s book about the dialogue between faith and science is focused on worship, one of the places of encounter. Miles demonstrates how worship and scientific exploration are bound together by the shared experience of being fascinated. Miles speaks to my own journey of becoming an ordained scientist, a journey that allowed for the combination of two transforming fascinations.”

—Peter Catt, dean, St. John’s Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane