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The Works of His Hands: A Scientist’s Journey from Atheism to Faith Paperback – November 19, 2019

by Sy Garte (Author), Alister McGrath (Foreword)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 214 ratings
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Raised in a militant atheist family, Sy Garte fell in love with the factual world of science. He became a respected research biochemist with an anti-theistic worldview to bolster his work--and he had no intention of seeking a God he didn't believe in. That is, until the very science he loved led him to question the validity of an atheistic worldview.

His journey to answer the questions that confronted him drew him into becoming a fully committed Christian, determined to show others the truth: modern science doesn't contradict God at all but instead supports Christianity.

In the first half of the book, Sy begins with how his experiences and quest for knowledge as a student and early in his career brought him to question his materialist assumptions. He goes on to reveal how lessons from physics, biology, and human nature--all presented for lay readers to easily understand--actually argue for belief in God. In the second half of the book, Sy looks at the arguments often presented against God in academic and scientific settings and explains the false foundations on which they rest.

For those who have been told that the realities of science call for a rejection of God--but can't quite get rid of the feeling that this shouldn't be true--The Works of His Hands is an ideal reminder that the two don't have to be bitter enemies. Instead, this transformative book shares the beauty of the marriage between science and faith--and how, together, they can bring even the most unlikely to salvation.

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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Kregel Publications
  4. Publication date
    November 19, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0825446074
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0825446078
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

religion, science, faith, atheist

faith, atheist, christian, religion, science

chrisitan, world, science, faith, convert

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What could top the joy of scientific exploration he conveys so well? Sy has an answer for this question too--discovering the God who created these wonders. As the book unfolds, he does not just show us that science and faith are compatible. He offers the story of his life to illustrate how the two together offer a new and much heightened view of life's purpose."--Paul Wason, Vice President of life sciences and genetics at the John Templeton Foundation

"His insights, offered in narrative and creative storytelling, provide a road map for reconciling science and faith, both for spiritual seekers peeking over the fence from the yard of agnosticism and for worried believers gazing out the chapel window at the so-called challenges of modern science. Thoughtful, provocative, playful, and intimate."--Stephen O. Moshier, Professor of geology at Wheaton College

"Garte spent much of his academic career as a fervent atheist. Yet an intuitive inkling that something was missing in his life--and in his science--opened the way for him to discover the grace of God in his Son, Jesus Christ. This book deals with many intellectually challenging issues Garte faced in his journey, including a renewed understanding of evolution as God's method of creation. Garte is a brilliant example of a Christian following Jesus's command to love God with our minds (Matt. 22:37)."
--Denis O. Lamoureux, Professor of science and religion at St.Joseph's College, University of Alberta

"Sy Garte may be compared to C. S. Lewis in Surprised by Joy. His conversion was stimulated by his thoughtful inquiries as a scientist but completed by an encounter with the risen Christ. Sy found God only to realize that our gracious God had been wooing him with love and glimpses of joy for decades. A book worth reading by anyone who struggles with the intersection of science and faith."--Reverend Martha Meredith, Pastor of Rockville United Methodist Church

"a fast-moving personal story that's quite funny at points and heart-wrenching in others."--Perry Marshall, author of Evolution 2.0

About the Author

Dr. Sy Garte is a biochemist and has been a professor at New York University, University of Pittsburgh, and Rutgers University. He has authored over two hundred scientific publications and four previous books, and has served as division director at the National Institutes of Health. Sy is also the editor in chief of God and Nature magazine and vice president of the Washington, DC, chapter of the American Scientific Affiliation. He is a lay leader in the United Methodist Church.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kregel Publications (November 19, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0825446074
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0825446078
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.34 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 214 ratings

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Sy Garte

Sy Garte

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Dr. Sy Garte is a biochemist and has been a professor at New York University, University of Pittsburgh, and Rutgers University. He has authored over two hundred scientific publications and four previous books, and has served as division director at the National Institutes of Health and Vice President for Research (acting) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He served on the Board of Advisors for the John Templeton Foundation.

Sy is the Editor-in-Chief of "God and Nature" magazine and vice president of the Washington, DC, chapter of the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA). He is a Fellow of the ASA and a lay leader and certified Lay Servant in the United Methodist Church.

Although retired from active employment, Sy keeps busy writing and evangelizing online and in the church. He also contributes to science and faith journals such as Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith, and keeps a blog "The Book of Works". His book "The Works of His Hands: A Scientist's Journey from Atheism to Faith" (Kregel Publications) is his first book on science and Christian faith, but probably not his last.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
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214 global ratings
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Such a gift of intellect and wisdom! Highly recommend. I should have purchased the hardback as it's a must have in any library.
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Top reviews from the United States

Frank W.
5.0 out of 5 stars great book for our science culture
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
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Sy Garte is a research scientist who details his journey from militant atheism to faith in Christ. This book appealed to me as it was able to relate his emotional faith experience but remained grounded in scientific reason. He answers many common questions held by both atheists and those of faith. A great read.
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R. Valerius
5.0 out of 5 stars A Re-enchanting Conversion Story
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2019
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As someone trained in the field of biochemistry, I was eager to read this book by Dr. Garte. Regardless of one's views on creation/evolution, every Christian can appreciate Sy’s personal account of he came to know and love our Lord Jesus.

Psalm 138 tells us that “though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.” Other verses speak to the same truth – namely, that God resists the proud. I kept thinking of these verses as I read this book, as both gratitude and humility were key components of every step in Sy’s journey towards Jesus. It takes humility to admit the limits of one’s own knowledge and it takes a humble heart not to presume one should be given more in life. When we can muster that kind of humble gratitude, the God in whom we live and move and have our being is not far from us. And he was not far from Sy.

What strikes me the most is that apart from the evidences from science, Dr. Garte’s conversion hinged on his humble wonder at the world and deep gratitude for the goodness that surrounded him. He struggled as much with the problem of good as some struggle with the problem of evil. When he looked at the world, the tremendous good confounded him as much as the evil. He discusses how one’s “default position” is crucial when it comes to our ability to draw near to God. “Those with a humbler default position,” he writes, “often find great joy in the happiness they find.” Like the Psalmist, they can more readily see that God has hemmed them in, behind and before. Such an incredibly wise insight that even as Christians we are too prone to forget. I was so thankful for the reminder. This book is full of these.

In this, he reminds me so much of one of my favorite thinkers and hearts, G.K. Chesterton. Gratitude and wonder were for Chesterton the highest forms of thought – but these are impossible without humility. God resists the proud.

Garte’s conversion account offers up a wonderfully integrated mix of scientific evidences, classic apologetics (stated in new and unique ways – I love his computer analogy to illustrate the Argument from Reason – one of my favorites), and deeply personal testimony. I particularly like his use of stories as illustrations. These enchanting, imaginative excursions offer the reader some fun ways of understanding the deeper points that he is making. Again, very Chestertonian!

I think that to see the extraordinary in the everyday is actually a discipline – it takes practice and determination. It doesn’t come easy for us for, as Chesterton once said, fallen creatures such as ourselves have sinned and grown old – repetition in life (and nature) wears us out. In a passage titled “An Ordinary Human Takes an Ordinary Trip”, Garte offers the reader an excellent example of how to practice this discipline of wonder.

In the end, the greatest benefit of reading Dr. Garte’s conversion story is that it will renew your wonder at the world our Lord created, helping you see, once again, the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary. Our modern world is in desperate need of re-enchantment. This book goes far in doing just that. Enjoy!
24 people found this helpful
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Dana O.
5.0 out of 5 stars A tale weaved together showing harmony in science and faith
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2020
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I fully appreciated reading this book. Sy Garte expertly draws the reader into the story, both as a personal journey of coming to faith and with respect to how science in no way renders God irrelevant. In a time when just such a narrative is popular, from both atheists and Christian sources known as Young-Earth Creationism, it is uplifting to witness an accomplished scientist proclaim - hold on - God gave us science, it can be fully trusted, and as we learn using the tenets of science, we can see miracles of His wonderful making thereby strengthening faith.

I especially appreciated the discussion questions in Appendix A. They can be used to open a dialog, as this resource would be useful as an introduction or in-depth study of the science/faith intersection in churches, Christian schools, or Bible study groups. There is also a listing of additional reading material for anyone who becomes inspired to explore further.

As someone frustrated with the constant distortion of both theology and science, I found this book extremely helpful in illuminating God's truth where neither faith or science needs to be compromised in worship of our Lord.
3 people found this helpful
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Buddy Spaulding
5.0 out of 5 stars A Thoughtful and Humble Account of a Scientist Coming to Faith
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2019
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An accomplished and respected biochemist, Sy Garte takes us step-by-step through his journey from atheism to a vibrant Christian faith. This book successfully bridges the gap from expert to novice. What will be surprising for many evangelical readers conditioned to think of science as dangerous, perhaps even the road to atheism, is the role that Dr. Garte's scientific training and career played in his coming to faith. No matter how much he learned, he found that he had more questions than answers, and that science itself had discovered that some questions are simply unanswerable. He explains the uncertainty principle in a manner understandable for the layman, and does a great job explaining the irrationality of quantum mechanics while also explaining that quantum mechanics still works and is valid.
Realizing that the supposedly rational world of the natural sciences is in many ways irrational and unknowable, he was driven to consider whether of not belief in God was as absurd as he had been led to believe. He points out that some propose a multiverse as an explanation for the unexplainable; since the idea of a multiverse is speculative, it is no more unscientific to attribute ultimate reality to God.
Dr. Garte is emphatic that the scientific method is not the only way we can know truth. He describes himself arriving at a point where he realized the scientific method could take him not farther and that he must use a different means to find answers to his questions. He likens this to driving a jeep along a primitive road, then encountering a sign telling him that he must stop and proceed no farther using the jeep.
The reader will find Dr. Garte's style clear and engaging. He skillfully uses wit and humor, includes several "fables" as explanations for why God may have inspired the writers of the Bible as He did, why God might have made the universe as He did, and why people act as they do. The book is full of thanksgiving and praise, is pleasingly self-deprecatory, and perhaps best of all, Dr. Garte is not afraid to say, "I don't know", "this remains a mystery", and "I could be wrong." In a day when evangelical Christianity may be a bit too quick to assume it has all the answers, Sy Garte gives information in a humble fashion, with the needed reminder that questions are actually more valuable sometimes than answers.

The book is a badly needed breath of fresh air for any evangelical reader fidgeting and squirming in a culture when science is seen as dangerous, or even an enemy. Although many evangelical readers will find the discussion of evolution uncomfortable, it is the opinion of this reviewer that Sy approaches the subject with tact as well as expertise, and I believe he lays out the evidence in a way that compels the reader to at least consider what he has to say.

Highly recommended for pastor and layman. The book includes discussion questions and is suitable for use in small groups or evangelical Bible classes.
12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Gardiner from Airdrie
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2024
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Very well written and full of excellent information.
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Jan Osgood
1.0 out of 5 stars Did not arrive
Reviewed in Australia on August 16, 2023
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The book, which I know to be excellent, was meant as a birthday gift for a relative.

It didn’t arrive!
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Aaron Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars The Work Of His Hands
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2020
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Reminds me very much of Language Of God by Francis Collins but I would say better.
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James L. Dymond
2.0 out of 5 stars Delusional!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2022
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This writer describes his acceptance of a supreme being after practising as an accomplished scientist. His highly Socratic description explains how against most of the trend of the scientific community, he became a committed Christian.
He explains his fascination with Saint Matthew's description of Jesus's disappearance from his tomb. He doesn't mention the saint's report that graves in the vicinity opened up and their zomby occupants danced on the streets! That would have caused derision - or laughter - from his scientific colleagues, I am sure!
He then attempts to minimise and deny the misery and death caused by religious forces over the centuries. He reminds us that God is omnipotent, omniscient and good. Note that he doesn't dare claim that God is omnibenevolent in common with many theists. That would cause us all to laugh!
2 people found this helpful
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