At Last! Balanced Discussion Of Religion and Evolution, May 25, 2011
By Jonathan Rowe
It's about time. Intelligent religious people offering rational perspectives on evolution and their beliefs is a welcome addition to the ongoing conversation about this issue. Enlightened discussions such as this, reconciling evolutionary theory with religious beliefs, seem like the best way forward. And if it's true that evolution favors a cooperative species, it would be nice if that turns out to be homo sapiens.
What a Timely Book, June 8, 2011
By Winston/Friedler
What an appropriate and timely book . In the U.S. where discourse over the division between religion and science has historically occurred and reoccurred we need a book such as this to be able to better "listen" to the arguments on behalf of reconciliation. Perhaps you own a car. You know it exists, but do you know who actually manufactured it? You accept that someone did. Is it possible that God could have created Evolution? This book asks that question and others: Does one have to choose between science and religion? Is there a way to accept both - or must one be rejected for the sake of the other? The editors have done an exceptional job of gathering the opinion of three scientists who raise extraordinary arguments on behalf of both their professions and their deeply held religious beliefs. Bravo to editors Charles M. Wynn, Sr. and Arthur W. Wiggins.
Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, June 2, 2011
By Dr. J. Harold Ellens
Art Wiggins is a truth-teller of the first water. He has published, to genuine acclaim, such volumes as 1)The Joy of Physics, 2)The Five Great Ideas in Science, 3)The Five Biggest Unsolved Problems in Science, 4)Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction: Where Real Science Ends ... and Pseudoscience Begins; and now he inspires us with this new work on evolution, the biblical story, and a critique of the various creationism ideas. This volume proves to be a highly readable, popularly crafted, and comprehensive address to the fact that the overwhelming accumulation of verifiable scientific evidence demonstrates the universe and life on this planet has evolved over the long reach of time from early, simple forms of energy and material into increasingly sophisticated forms including life as we can know or discover it. The genius of this volume lies in the fact that Wiggins and his co-editor, Charles M. Wynn posed the question, "Is it possible to reconcile the Theory of Evolution with the Scriptures?" and then engaged three religious believers who are also scholarly scientists to provide thoughtful answers. Rabbi David Kay, Professor Howard Van Till of Calvin College, and T. O. Shanavas, a Muslim Physician responded with scientific evidence and argument, making it clear that accepting evolution does not require abandoning one's faith. In simple scientific prose that is laced with evidence of the authors' spirituality and with the relevant data from sacred scripture, these scientists demonstrate how their faith illumines their science and their science illumines their faith. The upshot of the whole work is a gratifying demonstration that evolution is the method God used to grow the universes and our world here on earth. I call this Theistic Evolution and am convinced that it is the only theory that handles all the scriptural and scientific data honestly and makes utter good sense. I believe that any other perspective betrays and falsifies the wonder of God's nature and work. Every high school and college student should read this work, and every believer should master it. This work ought to be a run away best seller because everyone should know of it and know it well. Sell your bed and buy this book.
Evolution vs Creation: Writers explore a third position- July 24, 2011
Rabbi David Kay is a conservative rabbi from Florida and a believer in the truth of science. Howard Van Till is an astronomer and a physicist at Calvin College, a Christian college in Grand Rapids, Mich. Dr. T. O. Shanavas is a Muslim scholar and a practicing pediatrician in Adrian. The three of them are steeped in their own religious traditions and also in science. They delve deeply into their own sacred texts and conclude that those texts do not contradict the theory of evolution. Their arguments are persuasive and logical and to a great measure they succeed in achieving their stated objectives.
A detailed logical analysis of each day in the life of the creation of Earth tells us that different interpretations are not only feasible but necessary. To rely on the age-old idea that "God said it, I believe it. That settles it" is to refute the scientific evidence and ignore the deeper meaning of the Bible, they contend.
Shanavas calls the Qura'n and the physical universe twin manifestations of a divine act of self-revelation (by God). He quotes from the Qura'n to emphasize that the quest to study and understand the physical world is part of religion and thus sacred. He goes on to discuss the multifaceted meaning and subtle nuances of classic Quranic Arabic and points out the fallacy of literal one-dimensional translations.
He also points out that as early as the 8th century of the Common Era, Muslim scholars considered the concept of evolution to be consistent with the teachings of Islam. He quotes Ibn Khuldun (1332-1406 CE) who laid out the theory of evolution 400 years before the publication of The Origin of Species.
Faced with the difficulty of reconciling religion with science, a student of religion would have to look beyond the literal meaning and seek a deeper understanding of the scriptures. It would have been easier if God had provided explanatory footnotes to some of the dogmatic and enigmatic passages. But in His wisdom, He did not. Thus it is up to believers to read from the book of nature and also from the scripture to realize that the two are not contradictory.
Perhaps Van Till, the Christian contributor, captured the essence of the debate when he wrote, "Human intelligence, insight, understanding, and wisdom are divine gifts. To refuse to apply these, to deny the knowledge and deeper grasp of God's Creation that arise from these, would be at best ungrateful and at worst a rejection of God."
Dr. S. Amjad Hussain is a retired Toledo surgeon and columnist for The Toledo Blade.
A strong pick for any fan of both faith and logic, highly recommended, August 7, 2011
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - Who says faith and science needs to be mutually exclusive? "And God Said, 'Let There be Evolution!': Reconciling the Book of Genesis, the Qur'an, and the Theory of Evolution" is a meeting of science, faith, and more as Charles Wynn and Arthur Wiggins as they try meet the three Abrahamic with the commonly accepted theory of evolution. Presenting a picture which science and God are not enemies, they remind readers that they do not have to abandon their faith for science. "And God Said, 'Let There be Evolution!'" is a strong pick for any fan of both faith and logic, highly recommended.
By Jonathan Rowe
It's about time. Intelligent religious people offering rational perspectives on evolution and their beliefs is a welcome addition to the ongoing conversation about this issue. Enlightened discussions such as this, reconciling evolutionary theory with religious beliefs, seem like the best way forward. And if it's true that evolution favors a cooperative species, it would be nice if that turns out to be homo sapiens.
What a Timely Book, June 8, 2011
By Winston/Friedler
What an appropriate and timely book . In the U.S. where discourse over the division between religion and science has historically occurred and reoccurred we need a book such as this to be able to better "listen" to the arguments on behalf of reconciliation. Perhaps you own a car. You know it exists, but do you know who actually manufactured it? You accept that someone did. Is it possible that God could have created Evolution? This book asks that question and others: Does one have to choose between science and religion? Is there a way to accept both - or must one be rejected for the sake of the other? The editors have done an exceptional job of gathering the opinion of three scientists who raise extraordinary arguments on behalf of both their professions and their deeply held religious beliefs. Bravo to editors Charles M. Wynn, Sr. and Arthur W. Wiggins.
Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, June 2, 2011
By Dr. J. Harold Ellens
Art Wiggins is a truth-teller of the first water. He has published, to genuine acclaim, such volumes as 1)The Joy of Physics, 2)The Five Great Ideas in Science, 3)The Five Biggest Unsolved Problems in Science, 4)Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction: Where Real Science Ends ... and Pseudoscience Begins; and now he inspires us with this new work on evolution, the biblical story, and a critique of the various creationism ideas. This volume proves to be a highly readable, popularly crafted, and comprehensive address to the fact that the overwhelming accumulation of verifiable scientific evidence demonstrates the universe and life on this planet has evolved over the long reach of time from early, simple forms of energy and material into increasingly sophisticated forms including life as we can know or discover it. The genius of this volume lies in the fact that Wiggins and his co-editor, Charles M. Wynn posed the question, "Is it possible to reconcile the Theory of Evolution with the Scriptures?" and then engaged three religious believers who are also scholarly scientists to provide thoughtful answers. Rabbi David Kay, Professor Howard Van Till of Calvin College, and T. O. Shanavas, a Muslim Physician responded with scientific evidence and argument, making it clear that accepting evolution does not require abandoning one's faith. In simple scientific prose that is laced with evidence of the authors' spirituality and with the relevant data from sacred scripture, these scientists demonstrate how their faith illumines their science and their science illumines their faith. The upshot of the whole work is a gratifying demonstration that evolution is the method God used to grow the universes and our world here on earth. I call this Theistic Evolution and am convinced that it is the only theory that handles all the scriptural and scientific data honestly and makes utter good sense. I believe that any other perspective betrays and falsifies the wonder of God's nature and work. Every high school and college student should read this work, and every believer should master it. This work ought to be a run away best seller because everyone should know of it and know it well. Sell your bed and buy this book.
Evolution vs Creation: Writers explore a third position- July 24, 2011
Rabbi David Kay is a conservative rabbi from Florida and a believer in the truth of science. Howard Van Till is an astronomer and a physicist at Calvin College, a Christian college in Grand Rapids, Mich. Dr. T. O. Shanavas is a Muslim scholar and a practicing pediatrician in Adrian. The three of them are steeped in their own religious traditions and also in science. They delve deeply into their own sacred texts and conclude that those texts do not contradict the theory of evolution. Their arguments are persuasive and logical and to a great measure they succeed in achieving their stated objectives.
A detailed logical analysis of each day in the life of the creation of Earth tells us that different interpretations are not only feasible but necessary. To rely on the age-old idea that "God said it, I believe it. That settles it" is to refute the scientific evidence and ignore the deeper meaning of the Bible, they contend.
Shanavas calls the Qura'n and the physical universe twin manifestations of a divine act of self-revelation (by God). He quotes from the Qura'n to emphasize that the quest to study and understand the physical world is part of religion and thus sacred. He goes on to discuss the multifaceted meaning and subtle nuances of classic Quranic Arabic and points out the fallacy of literal one-dimensional translations.
He also points out that as early as the 8th century of the Common Era, Muslim scholars considered the concept of evolution to be consistent with the teachings of Islam. He quotes Ibn Khuldun (1332-1406 CE) who laid out the theory of evolution 400 years before the publication of The Origin of Species.
Faced with the difficulty of reconciling religion with science, a student of religion would have to look beyond the literal meaning and seek a deeper understanding of the scriptures. It would have been easier if God had provided explanatory footnotes to some of the dogmatic and enigmatic passages. But in His wisdom, He did not. Thus it is up to believers to read from the book of nature and also from the scripture to realize that the two are not contradictory.
Perhaps Van Till, the Christian contributor, captured the essence of the debate when he wrote, "Human intelligence, insight, understanding, and wisdom are divine gifts. To refuse to apply these, to deny the knowledge and deeper grasp of God's Creation that arise from these, would be at best ungrateful and at worst a rejection of God."
Dr. S. Amjad Hussain is a retired Toledo surgeon and columnist for The Toledo Blade.
A strong pick for any fan of both faith and logic, highly recommended, August 7, 2011
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - Who says faith and science needs to be mutually exclusive? "And God Said, 'Let There be Evolution!': Reconciling the Book of Genesis, the Qur'an, and the Theory of Evolution" is a meeting of science, faith, and more as Charles Wynn and Arthur Wiggins as they try meet the three Abrahamic with the commonly accepted theory of evolution. Presenting a picture which science and God are not enemies, they remind readers that they do not have to abandon their faith for science. "And God Said, 'Let There be Evolution!'" is a strong pick for any fan of both faith and logic, highly recommended.