Perspectives on
|
REVIEWS and ENDORSEMENTS
Terry
Morrison (former director of Faculty Ministry for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship): "Here
is a book that I would call 'state of the art' in this controversy." full-length
review (begins on page 2)
Edward Larson (lawyer, historian,
and author, winner of Pulitzer Prize): "An ambitious
book with an impressive list of able contributors, Perspectives on an Evolving Creation should
be read by everyone interested in the question
of biological origins from a biblical perspective."
Nancey Murphy (professor of Christian
philosophy,
Fuller Theological Seminary): "This book is superb: of
much interest to the scholar, it provides absolutely essential classroom resources
not available anywhere else. I
am so grateful
to Keith Miller for putting this collection together."
Kevin Padian
(professor and curator, Dept of Integrative Biology & Museum of Paleontology,
U of California at Berkeley): "All
Christians should read this book for instruction and perspectives on science
that they can trust and think about. So should
all scientists, Christian or not, who are interested in the practical rapprochement
that is possible between science and religion."
Davis Young
(professor of geology, Calvin College): "Perspectives
on an Evolving Creation will immeasurably benefit young Christian
scholars about
to embark on careers that will entail
a great deal of strenuous thinking on their part about the interrelationships
between science and theology; ... it is essential reading for those interested
in these relationships."
{the reviews
by Padian and Young have been condensed for this page; here are their
full
reviews}
Steve Martin wrote a review (in the blog, An Evangelical Dialogue on Evolution) that concludes, "There are very, very few books published that cover the intellectual ground like Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. When you have a very limited choice, its fortunate when one of those choices is so good. I heartily recommend it."
and reviews
from customers
at Amazon.
CHAPTER 1 (written by the editor, Keith
Miller) is "An
Evolving Creation: Oxymoron or Fruitful Insight?" and is available
for you to read: first
3 paragraphs
(HTML) and whole
chapter (PDF).
Excerpts, including some full chapters, are in Google Books.
BOOK DESCRIPTION (from the editor)
The common prevailing view of conflict
between evolutionary theory and Christian faith is a false caricature. In
reality, many evangelical Christian scientists and theologians have responded
positively to evolutionary ideas since the time
of Darwin. This volume brings this Christian reflection up to date and
takes a relatively comprehensive look at the current science of evolutionary
theory from a clearly articulated orthodox Christian perspective. It
includes scientific evidence as well as informed theological discussion. Contributors
represent a wide variety of disciplines — biology, genetics, geology, paleontology,
astronomy, cosmology, philosophy, theology, and the history of science.
The volume is divided into three sections. The first part provides the
needed Biblical, historical and scientific context for the discussions which
follow. The second part of the book lays out the scientific evidence for
an evolving creation. Specialists in a variety of fields summarize how
the current evolutionary view of cosmic, Earth and biological history was constructed. The
last part focuses on philosophical and theological issues commonly raised in
connection with evolution. Issues such as the nature of God's creative
activity, the meaning of the miraculous, the uniqueness of humankind, the basis
for creation care, and the origin of sin, are addressed with both seriousness
and sensitivity. Woven throughout the volume are short meditations designed
to direct thereader toward worshipping the God of
providence.
0TABLE OF CONTENTS
0I. PROVIDING A CONTEXT
01. An Evolving Creation: Oxymoron or Fruitful
Insight? (Keith B. Miller) 3
00. Worshipping
the God of Providence [Deborah Haarsma]
02. Comparing Biblical and Scientific Maps of
Origins (Conrad Hyers) 19
03. The Word and the Works: Concordism and American
Evangelicals (Edward B. Davis) 34
00. Worshipping
the God of Wisdom and Mystery [Edward B. Davis]
04. Charles Hodge and B. B. Warfield on Science,
the Bible, Evolution, and Darwinism (Mark
A. Noll & David Livingstone) 61
05. Does Science Exclude God? Natural
Law, Chance, Miracles, and Scientific Practice (Loren
Haarsma) 72
0II. SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND THEORY
06. An Evolving Cosmos (Deborah
Haarsma & Jennifer Wiseman) 97
00. Worshipping
the Creator of the Cosmos [Deborah
Haarsma]
07. Geological Framework of an Evolving Creation (Jeffrey
Greenberg) 123
08. Common Descent, Transitional Forms, and
the Fossil Record (Keith B. Miller) 152
09. The "Cambrian Explosion": A Challenge
to Evolutionary Theory? (David Campbell & Keith
B. Miller) 182
00. Worshipping
the Creator of the History of Life [Keith
B. Miller]
10. Hominids in the Garden? (James P. Hurd) 208
11. Finding Adam: The Genetics of Human Origins (David
Wilcox) 234
00. God's
Power and Faithfulness: A Lesson from Nature [Loren
Haarsma]
12. Biochemistry and Evolution (Terry M. Gray) 256
13. Complexity, Self-Organization, and Design (Loren
Haarsma & Terry M. Gray) 288
III. THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS AND INSIGHTS
14. Is the Universe Capable of Evolving? (Howard
J. Van Till) 313
15. Special Providence and Genetic Mutation: A New Defense of Theistic Evolution (Robert
John Russell) 335
16. Christology, Evolution, and the Cross (George
L. Murphy) 370
00. The
Peaceable Kingdom [Laurie
J. Braaten]
17. An Evolving Creation and Environmental Issues (Jeffrey
Greenberg) 393
00. Being
Stewards of the Creator God [Jeffrey
Greenberg]
18. May the Glory of the Lord Endure Forever! Biblical Reflections on
Creation Care (Laurie J. Braaten) 414
19. Animal Pain: Beyond the Threshold? (John
C. Munday, Jr.) 435
20. Evolution and Original Sin (Robin Collins) 469
21. Evolution, Cognitive Neuroscience, and the Soul (Warren
S. Brown) 502
17. Remembering
God's People [George L. Murphy]
Most information in this page comes from the publisher, Eerdmans.
Most authors of Perspectives on An Evolving Creation, including
its editor,
are members of the American
Scientific
Affiliation which is a fellowship of
Christian scientists who hold a variety of perspectives about the methods
used by God to create,
as you can see by
exploring CREATION
QUESTIONS.