The Revd Dr Rodney Holder
The Revd Dr Rodney Holder is Course Director of the Faraday Institute and was formerly Priest in Charge of the Parish of the Claydons, Diocese of Oxford. Dr Holder read mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge, and researched for a D.Phil. in astrophysics at Christ Church, Oxford. He remained at Oxford for a further two years as a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Astrophysics researching accretion of intergalactic gas by the galaxy. After 14 years working for UK Ministry of Defence clients as an operational research consultant with EDS (formerly Scicon), he returned to Oxford, and took a first class degree in theology in 1996. Completing his ministerial training the following year, Dr. Holder then worked for four years as a curate in South Warwickshire, followed by a seven month sabbatical period as chaplain of the English Church in Heidelberg, before appointment to the Claydons in 2002.
Dr Holder explored ways in which science and faith may complement each other in "Nothing But Atoms and Molecules?" (1993). In his latest book, "God, the Multiverse, and Everything", Dr Holder examines the fine-tunings of natural law that were necessary for life to evolve in our universe and uses Bayes' theorem, a classic tool for determining probability, to assess their metaphysical significance. His 1998 paper on miracles won a Templeton Foundation Prize as an exemplary paper in humility theology. Dr Holder is a member of the Society of Ordained Scientists, the Science and Religion Forum and Christians in Science.
Recent selected publications in science and religion
Holder, R. D. (2007), 'Can a Multiverse Theory Provide the Ultimate Explanation?', revised paper from Symposium 'Multiverses and String Theory' held at Stanford University 19-21 March 2005, http://beyond.asu.edu/papers/holder.pdf
Holder, R. D. (2006), 'Fine-tuning and the Multiverse', Think 12, 49-60.
Holder, R. D. (2005), 'God and Differing Interpretations of Quantum Theory-Response to Paul', Science and Christian Belief 17(2), 177-185.
Holder, R. D. (2004), God, the Multiverse, and Everything: Modern Cosmology and the Argument from Design (Aldershot, and Burlington, VT: Ashgate).
Holder, R. D. (2002), 'Fine-tuning, Multiple Universes and Theism', Noûs 36, 295-312.
Holder, R. D. (2001), 'The realization of infinitely many universes in cosmology', Religious Studies 37, 343-350.
Holder, R. D. (2001), 'Karl Barth and the Legitimacy of Natural Theology', Themelios 26, 22-37.
Holder, R. D. (2001), 'Fine-Tuning, Many Universes and Design', Science and Christian Belief 13, 5-24.
Holder, R. D. (1999), 'Multiple Universes as an Explanation for Fine-Tuning', Science and Christian Belief 11, 65-66.
Holder, R. D. (1998), 'Hume on Miracles: Bayesian Interpretation, Multiple Testimony, and the Existence of God', Brit. J. Phil. Sci. 49, 49-65.
Holder, R. D. (1993), Nothing But Atoms and Molecules? Probing the Limits of Science (Crowborough: Monarch Publications).
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Framework agreement signed for pioneering Infrastructure Tariff
A new agreement that is expected to raise more that £300 million to help pay for the growth of Milton Keynes has been signed.
Top government official visits Milton Keynes
Communities and Local Government Permanent Secretary, Peter Housden, recently visited Milton Keynes to see how growth is developing in the 'new city' and in particular those areas where MKP is responsible for project delivery.
Annual Review 2006
The MKPC Annual Review is designed to update you on our activities and to highlight some of the year’s major achievements.
