Evolution and Christian Faith: Reflections of an Evolutionary BiologistIsland Press, 2006 M08 1 - 168 pages "I'm an evolutionary biologist and a Christian," states Stanford professor Joan Roughgarden at the outset of her groundbreaking new book, Evolution and Christian Faith: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist. From that perspective, she offers an elegant, deeply satisfying reconciliation of the theory of evolution and the wisdom of the Bible. Perhaps only someone with Roughgarden's unique academic standing could examine so well controversial issues such as the teaching of intelligent design in public schools, or the potential flaws in Darwin's theory of evolution. Certainly Roughgarden is uniquely suited to reference both the minutiae of scientific processes and the implication of Biblical verses. Whether the topic is mutation rates and lizards or the hidden meanings behind St. Paul's letters, Evolution and Christian Faith distils complex arguments into everyday understanding. Roughgarden has scoured the Bible and scanned the natural world, finding examples time and again, not of conflict, but of harmony. The result is an accessible and intelligent context for seeing a Christian vision of the world that embraces science. In the ongoing debates over creationism and evolution, Evolution and Christian Faith will be seen as a work of major significance, written for contemporary readers who wonder how-or if-they can embrace scientific advances while maintaining their traditional values. |
Contents
3 | |
13 | |
Ch 3 Species Change | 24 |
Ch 4 Taking the Bible Literally | 30 |
Ch 5 How Change Happens | 36 |
Ch 6 Random Mutation | 42 |
Ch 7 Evolutions Direction | 49 |
Ch 8 Roman Catholic Position | 53 |
Ch 9 To Do List for Theorists | 66 |
Ch 10 Intelligent Design | 80 |
Ch 11 Gender and Sexuality | 102 |
Ch 12 Future Directions | 125 |
Index | 147 |
Common terms and phrases
algae bacterial flagellum believe Bible biologists biotechnology birds body called Cardinal Schönborn cattle chickens Christian faith Church cloning color conflict cooperation coral cell created cytoplasm Darwin Dawkins discuss Duane Gish earth eggs embryo eunuchs evolutionary biology evolutionary biology today evolutionary change evolutionary process evolutionary theory evolved facts family tree flagella gender genes Genesis genetic genome God’s Here’s homosexuality homosexuality in animals human individual intelligent design advocates intelligent design movement irreducibly complex Jesus John Paul kind lizards male-female mate miracles moths narrative natural breeding natural selection neo-Darwinian neo-Darwinism nucleus Paul's teaching penguins percent philosophy plants and animals position problem random mutation relationship religion religious Roman Catholic Roy and Silo scientific scientists seed selfish-gene selfishness sex roles sexual selection social Sodom soul species change sperm spiritual teaching evolution theistic evolution things tion traits unto What’s yellow yolk
Popular passages
Page 19 - For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
Page 96 - And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Page 21 - And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden; and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Page 45 - Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth : And when the sun was up, they were scorched : and because they had no root, they withered away.
Page 35 - And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions ? if the LORD be God, follow him : but if Baal, then follow him.