Long has mankind debated the origin of the universe. Was there a creator with a great design or did the universe create itself. In The Fabric of Eternity: A Scientist’s View of the Works of Providence, author Istvan Kolossvary examines the intricate issue. It is his explicit hope to simplify the subject. Can there be a connection between science and theology? Istvan Kolossvary believes there can be. The connection comes through love. The God of philosophers is utterly autonomous; this God needs nothing. The God of love “is beyond pure perfection.” God loves the universe and human beings. The link between science and theology comes through altruistic love. Altruistic love is a love that places the needs of others first. It is a selfless love. One of the terms the reader needs to understand is the definition of eternity. For Christians, eternity is “fullness of life…Eternity is the simultaneous possession in all its perfection of endless life.” There is also a need to understand Free Will and Providence. Author Istvan Kolossvary defines Providence as “God offers direct guidance for our decisions in order to help us follow his plan.”

The author dissects the topic, offering definitions of terms some may not be familiar with in the context of this area. One of the major concepts the reader will have to grasp is the concept of time. The Fabric of Eternity: A Scientist’s View of the Works of Providence is not an easy read. While the author has simplified the topic in this discussion, the concepts presented are still difficult to grasp. This book has only 108 pages and yet it is a profound look at the issue of eternity. Istvan Kolossvary has obviously spent time researching this controversial topic. The author leaves it up to the reader to draw his/her own conclusions.

The Fabric of Eternity: A Scientist's View of the Works of Providence by István Kolossváry is a book that attempts to answer the question of whether we go it alone or with God. Through his explanation of different views, István Kolossváry dissects this rather complex subject of whether the existence of the universe is due to God's will or if the universe exits on its own without any need for God's love, grace, and providence. The book looks at different concepts relating to providence, and the author explains them as seen by scientists and as seen by theology to arrive at well-elaborated opinions. It looks at contradicting views on the subject of freewill and providence to show if what we do is purely up to us or if it is all part of a predetermined course of events.

The Fabric of Eternity offers a deep view into the subject of eternity. I was particularly fascinated by the way in which the author explains and reconciles the concept of free will and providence. He meticulously builds up his argument by giving several views and examples on the subject of free will and fate, and, as complex as this may be, he breaks it down using relatable examples so you can see that divine providence always exists, no matter our actions. István Kolossváry does not attempt to say that we do not have the power to make decisions; instead he stresses the point that whatever decisions we make in life are guided by God and in the end fit within His predetermined plan for us. The book does not dismiss the concept of free will or the value of human efforts.