When it comes to relating Christianity to modern Western culture, perhaps no topic is more controversial than the relationship between Christianity and science.Outside the church, the myth of a backwards, anti-science Christianity is very common in popular culture and can poison the well before a fruitful dialogue can begin. Within the church, opposing viewpoints on the relation between Christianity and science often lead to division.Three Views on Chri...

Christmas Magic by Anne Kane: Tali hopes the Christmas Magic of the Sugarplum Ball is strong enough to get Jax into her bed.Blitzened by Elizabeth Jewell: Christmas Eve rolls around, Nick gets a yen to kindle some holiday spirit in his human boyfriend’s heartEmmy’s Wish by Ayla Ruse: Will this little Elf get the huge (male) present she wants?Santa’s Treat by Camille Anthony: Plum’s been a very good girl, and the treat she wants is Santa.Christmas Stalkings b...

Philosopher of science Michael Ruse is an influential and provocative voice in current debates on biology, religion, and ethics. This collection brings into one volume representative samples of the broad range of Ruse's oeuvre, as represented in his academic books, mainly from post-2000. Ruse's writings in this period are gathered under seven headings, each with five readings: -Atheism, Belief, and Faith -Darwinism, Belief, and Religion -Darwin, Darwinism, and Darwinian Thought -Progress a...

Two evolutionists debate the intellectual roots of Darwin's theories, drawing connections to German Romanticism, the Scottish Enlightenment, and more.Charles Darwin is an icon of modern science, and his theory of evolution is commonly referenced by scientists and nonscientists alike. Yet there is a surprising amount we don't know about the father of modern evolutionary thinking, his intellectual roots, or even the science he produced. Debating Darwin bring...

Over the last decade, "New Atheists" such as Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens have pushed the issue of atheism to the forefront of public discussion. Yet very few of the ensuing debates and discussions have managed to provide a full and objective treatment of the subject. Atheism: What Everyone Needs to Know provides a balanced look at the topic, considering atheism historically, philosophically, theologically, sociologically and psychologically. Written in an...

"The book is full of empathetic, insightful, and often very funny portraits of Margulis, Lovelock, and a community of other figures associated with Gaia." —Carla Nappi, New Books in Science, Technology, and SocietyIn 1965 English scientist James Lovelock had a flash of insight: the Earth is not just teeming with life; the Earth, in some sense, is life. He mulled this revolutionary idea over for several years, first with his close friend the novelist William...

A brief, accessible history of the idea of purpose in Western thought, from ancient Greece to the presentCan we live without the idea of purpose? Should we even try to? Kant thought we were stuck with purpose, and even Darwin’s theory of natural selection, which profoundly shook the idea, was unable to kill it. Indeed, teleological explanation—what Aristotle called understanding in terms of “final causes”—seems to be making a comeback today, as both religious propo...

“An excellent sprint through the highlights of Darwin’s life and work. Ruse is a masterful writer who presents a clear account of who Darwin was and why he was important. It’s the connection to larger questions of our lives that makes this book a success. Well done, Ruse!”—Joe Cain, Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology, University College LondonSimply Darwin tells the story of Charles Robert Darwin (1809–1882) and his theo...

Twelve tales of Seasonal Magic from your favorite Changeling authors.Santa's Clause by J. Hali Steele: Breaking Bad with Santa is so damn good!Strange Bedfellows by Julia Talbot: One dentist Elf. Two lumberjacks. A Christmas deadline. Peppermint can't even cool them off.Shifter's Challenge by Megan Slayer: Time to see what magic Christmas has in store for Steve, a black cat shifter, and Landon the ElfOh My Deer by Saloni Quinby: Will the sexy reindeer shifte...

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was one of the most significant revolutions in the history of science. Widely debated after the publication of the Origin of Species in 1859, it continues to be controversial. In this volume, Michael Ruse offers the definitive history of the theory of evolution through natural selection. Tracing Darwin's intellectual journey and experiences that lead him to his novel insights, Ruse explores his scientific contributions as well as their relationship to p...

Does human life have any meaning? Does the question even make sense today? For centuries, the question of the meaning or purpose of human life was assumed by scholars and theologians to have a religious answer: life has meaning because humans were made in the image of a good god. In the 19th century, however, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution changed everything-and the human organism was seen to be more machine than spirit. Ever since, with the rise of science and decline of religious b...

Epiphany by Mychael Black: Ryan's going to show the gorgeous Elven waiter that Christmas means a whole lot more than crowds and stress.Aliens Stole the Frozen Turkey by Ashlynn Monroe: Betty Jean never imagined she'd spend her Christmas Eve searching for three tiny alien tumblers with the sexiest ringmaster in the galaxy.Valentine's Ghost by Alice Gaines: Agnes claims to be Phyllis's fairy ghostmother, and she's going to take Phyllis to Valentines past, present, and future....