The Word and the World, a splendid collection of essays, sheds light on matter of religion-science debate in a fresh, even startling way. Rather than considering how religion in general may have nurtured or hampered the rise of science, this book examines the role of biblical exegesis in the formation of the early scientific method. Featuring twelve essays by a variety of American, English, German, and Swedish thinkers-two teach at Catholic universities, the other ten at secular institutions--The Word and the World is organized around the provocative thesis that the new science and biblical interpretation, "far from being implacable enemies ... seem to have been inextricably intertwined."