Please suggest reading material that particularly addresses the question of evolution, in particular human evolution. I am familiar with John Lennox’s book ‘Has science buried God’. Any other reading suggestions or video links that are helpful in understanding this in a balanced manner?
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I am not sure that this is what you are looking for? This book was published 4 or 5 years ago. Perhaps you will find it helpful. I am not sure that I will ever settle this question in my mind. Hoping that your journey will be more productive.
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Thanks @jimmy . I am aware that there are committed theists and Christians on both sides of the fence on this issue.
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Hello @tony ,
Thanks for spurring us to think about this important topic of reconciling evolution and creation.
@jimmy has suggested an excellent resource with different voices represented. Sometimes it helps listening to a talk as an introduction before delving deeper into the topic. I have found Dennis Venema’s talk covering the various theories as a good beginning. He goes through geocentrism, young earth, old earth and evolutionary creationism with their strengths and weaknesses. He doesn’t however go into the intelligent design theories of the discovery Institute. He also mentions John Walton’s book “Lost world of Genesis 1”, which engages the different Christian evolutionary perspectives and the Bible and provides alternatives to a literal understanding of Genesis 1.
Here is review from the gospel coalition on John Walton’s work.
Another book that may be a good start to different views is this one -
Origins: Christian Perspectives on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design https://www.amazon.com/dp/159255573X/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_MM01NGQGGWMT32E2QQXB
All theories seem to have some strengths and weaknesses and leave us with some questions. I have heard it said that bible and science when rightly interpreted will not contradict each other, and that’s the opinion I take too. It helps me stay confident in the faith I have experienced as the puzzles remain to be solved.
I look forward to hearing on what you might find as you look into this topic. Blessings!
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I am am big Walton fan. Changed my view of how I read the OT.
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Hi Jimmy,
What were some of the new conclusions you reached? What were the main arguments that persuaded you?
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Thanks a lot, @lakshmi for the links and suggestions. I was looking for any kind of material on this topic (not just books) and will certainly look into these. This request came when my 8-year-old son asked me a question on this subject and I felt it was important that I read up on this before discussing it with him. I am familiar with Francis Collins of the Human Genome Project who is a Christian who believes that evolution is the means God used in creation, while there are others who are committed young-earth creationists. However, personally, I am yet to have any kind of settled view on this topic.
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Hi @tony , You are welcome! I too haven’t settled on the topic. Elizabeth Urbanowicz has a worldview curriculum called ‘Foundations’ for young elementary aged kids. She has activities with each lesson so a child can make sense of it. At that age, we may just need broader clear statements to help reconcile science with the Bible. For example: Bible is more about the ‘why’ of our existence but science is about the ‘how’ of our existence Or Information in our DNA can be far more easily explained by intelligence than chance. I liked one statement John Walton made in his book, " If God were intent on making revelation according to science, we have to ask which science". We all know science that was known to the ancients is different from the science we know now because science is the best explanation of the facts at a given point in time. Science is dynamic not static. God’s truth however about Him creating us is for all time, no matter our understanding of the mechanisms. God is about not correcting our science but about our relationship with Him.
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A couple of points come to mind.
- The folks of the ANE had an entirely different view of the Cosmo. Here is a link to an Egyptian view and to contrast here is a link depicting the Genesis view as the writer of Genesis would likely have envisioned it. Compare them, and you will see that there is very little difference.
The Rabbis used to argue about the level of precision Yahweh used to part the waters (sea of chaos, today the void of space) in Genesis 1:6. - Genesis was not and is not a science lesson; it is the story of creation as understood in that culture and confirms for me that God was at work in his world long before the Torah was written. I believe that Joebean of Connect days reminded me that God was/is the greatest missionary.
These two points began my shift from a literal to a contextual reading of the OT, and I might add the NT also.
I hope this helps.
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