If you're interested in following things up further from Sunday's beginning of the series on Genesis 1-3, here are a few books you might find interesting - I'll try and post a list each week in case there's a topic that particularly grabs your attention:
Can We Believe Genesis Today? by Ernest Lucas [IVP]
It's a little out of date (only by a few years) and therefore misses the "Intelligent Design" debate currently raging in the states, but it's still the best and most readable introduction to the subject of science/Genesis 1-3. A very readable (and not too long) paperback, it approaches issues of genre, scientific evidence and alternative Christian perspectives very fairly and clearly. Not available very easily from Amazon, but IVP seem to still have it available.
Climbing Mount Improbable by Richard Dawkins [Penguin]
A classic rebuttal of creationism, intelligent design and (in fact) any "God involvement" in creation. Well written and a very good unpacking of what natural selection is and is not. Written by an evangelising atheist - new edition (apparently) coming out in April this year. I've not read any of the rest of his books - and some of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk prefer his other works - a quick search through their catalogues, or the shelves of your bookstore will yield others worth trying. I think Christians have to engage with Dawkins if we're to be able to speak with integrity of a "creator creating creation" as we did on Sunday... it's therefore (apparently!) worth reading:
Dawkins' God by Alister McGrath
With PhD's (if I remember rightly) in both the biological sciences and theology - has a pretty good background to tackle Dawkins from a Christian standpoint. I've not read this myself yet (it's on my ever-growing Amazon wish list!), but have heard good reports about its approach to the links and differences between science and religious faith.
The Design Revolution by William Dembski [IVP]
One of the foremost proponents of the "Intelligent Design" perspective in the States writes here a collection of his answers to the main questions posed against his theory. I'm not convinced he sees off his critics any better than his atheist opponent Dawkins does his, but that's for you to decide. A good way in to this side of the debate.
These are all books at what one might describe as the "way in" level of being aimed at the interested reader coming without specialist knowledge to the subjects, though all of them require a bit of concentrated thought. Any further recommendations gratefully received!
If it's a subject you're interested in or would like to ask/discuss questions on, then post a comment here or email me so I can cover the right things in some blogs in the days to come.
As someone whose day job involves interactions with leading scientists across a wide range of fields in biology and medicine, this subject is one that really interests me. I'm really glad you are addressing it. How wise to point readers to books that offer a diversity of views. Watch out: there's a real risk we might have an informed debate here!
It's sad, though, that in some churches it has become a divisive subject. You'd likely get the sack if you were in the USA. Crucial to the discussion is a correct reading of the first few chapters of Genesis. What was the intention of the author? What did the text mean to those for whom it was written? How, therefore, can we read the text? As a scientific account? Not at all, in my book. Yet in some churches beleivers are set upon by those who are intent on standing up for 'the truth' when their 'truth' is something that the bible doesn't actually say. That is, the irony of their position is that in their desire to 'believe what the bible says' they could actually be promoting a lie, and be acting as enemies of the truth.
My view - I don't really care what you think about creation and evolution - it's enough for us to believe that God is the agent of creation - he's the big man and it's all his handiwork. We should be nice to each other and not beat each other up over issues about which the bible doesn't have anything to say (scientific mechanisms of creation). And if we are going to get into an argument, we should try to be at least semi-informed on the issues and not just sprout prejudice.
Have you read mcgrath and do you recommend him? His book looks interesting.
Posted by: Jamie | January 09, 2006 at 12:29 PM
As this is an area I take a great deal of interest in, I can remain a lurker no more! I listened to your talk on mp3 and fully agreed with it, although I thought you were too kind to Richard Dawkins. If you get a chance read “The Blind Watchmaker”, one of his earlier books, were he attempts to show how shapes resembling creatures can be formed from random mutations thus removing the necessity for intelligent design. The only flaw was he had to use a computer program he wrote (or designed) in order to demonstrate this, thus defeating the object somewhat.
An excellent book on the relationship between science and religion is “Rebuilding the Matrix” (nothing to do with the film) by Denis Alexander. It has a few good chapters on Genesis and creation in general. It comes highly recommended by John Polkinghorne and so is a bit heavy in places, but well worth the read. I am half way through McGrath and have found it very original. He challenges and roundly attacks the premise that a belief in some form of evolution leads logically to atheism, which is an assumption often made by both Christians and atheists alike.
Did anyone see Dawkins on Ch4 last night? – I thought it was a very poor piece of work, made up of old chestnuts and some very selective interviews. Part two is next week. Now stepping off soapbox….
Posted by: David | January 10, 2006 at 06:36 PM
David
I'm so glad you've uncloaked at last! I'm beginning to feel highly self-conscious of my over-participation here. I didn't see th Dawkins show, but I read accounts of it in the press and discussed it with scientific colleagues who'd seen it over lunch. Sounds like he used an American loon to set up a 'straw man'. He's got a severe agenda to attack religion - I guess he's what you'd call and evangelistic atheist.
Posted by: Jamie | January 11, 2006 at 10:11 PM