There are few scholars today who are sufficiently versed in the tradition of theological reflection on creation, fewer still who possess both the theological and philosophical acumen required to make sense of it, and even fewer who have the ability to distil that tradition and explain its relevance in highly accessible prose. Simon Oliver is one of those rare scholars, and this work is a correspondingly rare achievement. one could not ask for a better introduction to the doctrine of creation - not just in its historical origins and scope, but also in its dazzling metaphysical depth.

John Betz, University of Notre Dame, USA

Oliver offers more than a cutting edge introduction to a key topic of Christian doctrine. He combines his unique skills as a didactically experienced common sense philosopher with an extraordinary historical erudition. This will not only provide future scholars with a firm grounding in the tradition of Christian learning. Since his book enables us to see through the pseudo-problems of half-educated philosophers, scientists and opinion leaders, it will also create space for the engagement with real challenges of our time: to face the spiritually, socially and ecologically devastating consequences of our techno-scientific world-view, which are anything but an inescapable adverse effect of the history of scientific progress.

Johannes Hoff, Heythrop College London, UK