Title: Perspectives on an Evolving Creation
Author: edited by Keith B. Miller
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ISBN: 0802805124
Pro:
• Offers evidence and arguments for evolution from Christian perspective
• Effectively counters the idea that orthodox Christianity requires a denial of evolution
Con:
• No index
• Rarely addresses key theological objections to evolution
Description:
• Collection of essays from orthodox Christians on the nature of evolutionary science
• Demonstrates that believing Christians can accept evolution and participate in science
• Provides evidence and arguments in support of evolutionary theory
Book Review
Although the existence of Christians who accept the truth of evolution should make it clear that evolution and Christianity are not mutually incompatible, opponents of evolution will quickly argue that only “unorthodox Christians” accept evolution — that these Christians do not accept orthodox Christian doctrines and therefore aren’t even “real” Christians in the first place.
What’s needed are arguments from Christian scientists about how evolution is not only consistent with fact, but also with orthodox Christianity.
To that end, Keith B. Miller brought together Christians in the fields of astronomy, biochemistry, biology, palentology, geology, and more to contribute essays to Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. The contributors to this book all profess traditional, orthodox Christian beliefs while also fully accepting the truth of evolution and the explanatory power of evolutionary theory. They deny that Christians must accept creationism and reject the idea that creationism is scientific.
Miller, himself a geologist and paleoecologist, explains:
- “I am convinced that science is not only a profession but also a Christian vocation, and part of that vocation is using scientific knowledge to deepen our understanding of God and of our calling as Creation’s stewards.”
’s curious, though, that while Miller argues against “a view of complete separation between theological and scientific perspectives concerning the natural world,” he also argues that it is a mistake to use science to promote an atheistic philosophy because the success of science is due in part to it being “religiously neutral.”
So which is it? Should science be neutral in religious matters or should it be used by Christians to deepen their understanding of their god? If Christians can use science for their religious philosophy, why can’t atheists use science for their atheistic philosophies? There’s a serious contradiction here and I’m not sure that Miller is aware of it. It’s understandable, given that his audience is likely made up of Christians who don’t like the idea of science being used to support atheism and need to hear that science can be complimentary to their own beliefs, but it’s a contradiction nonetheless.
Much of the book involves explanations of how evolution (and associated sciences, like geology) works and why there is so much evidence supporting them. This will be useful for Christians accustomed to hearing from creationists that evolution is bunk, but it won’t mean a great deal to others. Unfortunately, Christian opposition to evolution is not predicated on the belief that it isn’t supported by the evidence — that’s what they argue, but that’s not the reason for rejecting it.
Instead, opposition to evolution is predicated on the idea that evolution leads to contradictions of basic Christians beliefs about morality, the status of humans, and doctrines like Original Sin.
On this, the collection is relatively weak. Out of 21 chapters, there are 2 which focus on such issues: “Evolution and Original Sin” by Robin Collins and “Evolution, Cognitive Neuroscience, and the Soul” by Warren S. Brown. Collins tries to explain how Christians can retain belief in Original Sin in the absence of a literal Adam & Eve. It’s an interesting attempt, but I’m not sure that it can’t be dismissed as too unorthodox. I’m also not sure if it preserves the need for a literal death and resurrection of Jesus for our salvation. Brown’s attempt to salvage the existence of a soul in the face of scientific understandings of the brain falls even further short, I think.
Despite these and other failings, Miller’s book is still one of the most expansive sources of arguments in defense of evolution from Christian perspectives. It’s a long book with many technical arguments, so it definitely not for the casual reader. Those particularly interested in the relationship between religion and science should, however, consider getting it.
