Exploding Stars, Dead Dinosaurs, and Zombies: Youth Ministry in the Age of Science

by Andrew Root

Science may be the biggest threat to teenage faith today, but Andrew Root demonstrates that, in fact, the two are not incompatible.

Root, a renowned expert on adolescent spirituality, shows how science overstates its claims on truth, while faith often understates its own claims. Both faith and science frame the experience and reality of teenagers, and both have something valuable to offer as adolescents develop.

Drawing on a fictional account of a youth pastor and the various students he encounters, Root paints a compelling picture of how faith can flourish, even in our scientific age.

Genres: Theology, Science, Faith, Nonfiction, Religion

292 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Andrew Root joined Luther Seminary in 2005 as assistant professor of youth and family ministry. Previously he was an adjunct professor at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington D.C., and Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.

Root received his bachelor of arts degree from Bethel College, St. Paul, Minn., in 1997. He earned his master of divinity (2000) and his master of theology (2001) degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif. He completed his doctoral degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2005.

Root's ministry experience includes being a gang prevention counselor in Los Angeles, youth outreach directed in a congregation, staff member of Young Life, and a confirmation teacher. He has also been a research fellow for Princeton Theological Seminary's Faith Practices Project.

Root has published articles in the Journal of Youth and Theology, The International Journal of Practical Theology, and Word and World.

He is a member of the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry and the International Bonhoeffer Society.

Reviews

[Jake Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book probably could have made the same point just as strongly in half as many pages, but that's the only real criticism I have. Root challenges us to envision a world where we redeem our broken relationship with intelligence and education and put things in their proper order. Objective science is not the enemy; like all things, it can and should serve God, but that will require us to lay down our presuppositions and listen. Excellent book, read this now before your parents committee or elders start clamoring at you to buy the TrueU videos or go see a God's Not Dead movie!

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is close to a five-star book for me. Root does a nice job of reframing the way we think about the science vs. religion debate. He also does a great job of putting it into the context of ministry, and youth ministry in particular. The story frame works surprisingly well (I expected it to be cheesier than it is) and gives him a good setting to think through why these sorts of questions come up, and what sort of answers we're actually looking for.

[Jen Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not always an easy read, my brain had to work hard but that is a good thing. I am deeply grateful to Andy Root for putting these thoughts together and within a pastoral youth context. An essential read.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

I liked how he placed the topic in a story form. Using the story characters to act out the the knowledge we were learning. Made it more understandable.
I learned a lot that I didn’t know on how Faith and science can work together. I especially liked learning about some important people in the development of science. Learning about them as fellow humans, like Darwin. He really wasn’t some evil enemy, but a person learning like all of us.

[Roger Leonhardt · Rating 1 out of 5]

More of an apologetic for Darwin than the Bible. Very disappointing.