A collection of essays by experts in the field, exploring how nature works at every level to produce more complex and highly organized objects, systems, and organisms from much simpler components, and how our increasing understanding of this universal phenomenon of emergence can lead us to a deeper and richer appreciation of who we are as human beings and of our relationship to God. Several chapters introduce the key philosophical ideas about reductionism and emergence, while others explore the fascinating world of emergent phenomena in physics, biology, and the neurosciences. Finally there are contributions probing the meaning and significance of these findings for our general description of the world and ourselves in relation to God, from philosophy and theology. The collection as a whole will extend the mutual creative interaction among the sciences, philosophy, and theology.

"stimulating and thought provoking book." - Celia Deane-Drummond, Science & Christian Belief

"The essays here are a welcome contribution" - James G. Murphy Milltown Studies

"All in all this is a fascinating collection of essays with differently nuanced positions on the vital themes of emergence, human personhood, and theological reflections thereon." - Rodney Holder, Journal of Theological Studies