The supposed incompatibility of science and religion is often trotted out as if it is the end to an argument, not the beginning. The pronouncements of Richard Dawkins and of the Australian archæologist reviewed recently make one wonder at how little understanding such people have of religion – and perhaps of science too.

Prophets and Protons is a schol­arly study of how three new religious movements interact with science, both how they view science in the light of their religious beliefs, and how they integrate science into their beliefs. Benjamin Zeller establishes early on that religion and science are not in conflict; they are in creative tension, which is a very different matter.

Through close examination of the literature of the religions, he proposes three ideal types of how religions “could respond to the tremendous growth of power and prestige of science in late-twentieth century America”: religions which seek to guide science, those which seek to replace it, and those which seek to absorb it into their teachings.