During the last year of his life, Arthur Peacocke raced against time to formulate a final comprehensive overview of his "emergentist – naturalist – panentheist" perspective. A group of ten specialists in science-and-religion then composed commentaries and critiques of Peacocke's new "Essay in Interpretation." In the last weeks and months of his life, Peacocke drew together a final set of reflections on and replies to their chapters. Peacocke's "Nunc Dimittis," his final theological reflections in the days before his death, completes this volume.

Peacocke's brief sketch of how God and nature and humanity interrelate will prove a nascent classic in the field and a touchstone for further reflection. Led by editor Philip Clayton, respondents include: Nancey Murphy, Ann Pederson, Philip Hefner, John Polkinghorne, Karl E. Peters, Donald M. Braxton, Robert John Russell, Keith Ward, Christopher C. Knight, and Willem B. Drees.

Arthur Peacocke (d. 2006) was most recently a Warden Emeritus at the Society of Ordained Scientists. A biologist, he was also ordained in the Church of England and served as Chaplain and Honorary Canon at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. A pioneer in the religion/science field he was a recipient of the Templeton Prize in Religion.