The Language of Science and Faith by Karl W Giberson and Francis S Collins Book Review

About the Book:

Christians affirm that everything exists because of God--from subatomic quarks to black holes. Science often claims to explain nature without including God at all. And thinking Christians often feel forced to choose between the two.

But the good news is that we don't have to make a choice. Science does not overthrow the Bible. Faith does not require rejecting science. World-renowned scientist Francis Collins, author of The Language of God, along with fellow scientist Karl Giberson show how we can embrace both. Their fascinating treatment explains how God cares for and interacts with his creation while science offers a reliable way to understand the world he made.

Together they clearly answer dozens of the most common questions people ask about Darwin, evolution, the age of the earth, the Bible, the existence of God and our finely tuned universe. They also consider how their views stack up against the new atheists as well as against creationists and adherents of intelligent design.

The authors disentangle the false conclusions of Christians and atheists alike about science and evolution from the actual results of research in astronomy, physics, geology, and genetics. In its place they find a story of the grandeur and beauty of a world made by a supremely creative God.

My Review:

I was taught as a child evolution was evil. Here the authors argue evolution is a done deal, scientifically proven and Christians must accept it. They write that God created all the many life forms using natural processes. ”God's creative activity is executed within the natural order, working through and respecting the laws of nature.” (loc 838/3130) Young earth claims are evaluated and different ways of interpreting Genesis are offered. Since evolution does not deal with the actual problem of life forming, it is not addressed here. They are clear in saying God is Creator (however that is meant).

The concept that nature has freedom, similar to the free will humans have, was new to me. This freedom was granted by God and allows nature to develop new beings and to develop deadly creatures, explaining evil and death in nature. This freedom in nature eliminate the concept of God's sovereignty, something this Reformed believer has trouble accepting, as the authors predicted I would. There is no need for Adam and Eve so I wonder what happens to passages like Romans 5 where the existence of Jesus is tied to the existence of Adam. Also, how humans became spiritual beings is not clarified although it is suggested God did enter into a special relationship with those who had developed the necessary characteristics. (loc 2593/3130)

This is certainly a thought provoking book. It introduced new possibilities to me in the reconciliation of scientific discovery and the claims in the Bible. It did leave me with unanswered questions too.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Authors:

Karl W. Giberson (Ph.D.) is an internationally known scholar who serves as professor of physics at Eastern Nazarene College, is the director of the Forum on Faith and Science at Gordon College, and is executive vice president of The BioLogos Foundation. Giberson has published over a hundred articles, reviews and essays and written seven books, including Saving Darwin.

Francis S. Collins (M.D., Ph.D.) is a world-renowned geneticist
known for spearheading the Human Genome Project, which finished sequencing human DNA in 2003. He is director of the National Institutes of Health, founder of The BioLogos Foundation and author of the New York Times bestseller The Language of God.

InterVarsity Press, 251 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)