The theology of sir isaac newton

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE

THE THEOLOGY OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON

A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRAUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

By VAN ALAN HERD Norman, Oklahoma 2008

UMI Number: 3304232

UMI Microform 3304232 Copyright 2008 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code.

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THE THEOLOGY OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON A DISSERTATION APPROVED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE

________________________________ Peter Barker, Chair ________________________________ Kathleen Crowther _______________________________ Harold E. Hatt _______________________________ Allen Hertzke _______________________________ Helga Madland _______________________________ Marilyn B. Ogilvie _______________________________ Stephen P. Weldon

© Copyright by VAN ALAN HERD 2008 All Rights Reserved.

AD MAJOREM GLORIAM DEI ET AD PARENTIBUS MEIS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To compose a foreword to one’s paltry contributions to scholarship is widely regarded to be a mundane, sedulous task. However, in the case of the present work, I feel keenly that it represents the coalescence of the efforts of many. Truly, as did the subject of this work, Sir Isaac Newton, I have stood upon the shoulders of giants, both intellectual and spiritual. Of course, the present work owes its very existence to the encouragement and support of my learned advisor and dean of scholars, Professor Peter Barker. Standing with him as recipients of my gratitude are the members of my committee whose support has manifested itself in a myriad of ways. Among these are Professor Marilyn Ogilvie, Curator of the History of Science Collections at the University of Oklahoma, and the Very Rev. Prof. Dr. Harold E. Hatt, Dean