sylas
August 10th 2006, 10:29 AM
A new book has just been released by the AAAS -- the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It is called "The Evolution Dialogues", written by Catherine Baker. I have not seen it yet; just the press release, which can be read here: AAAS book explores evolution and Christianity's response (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-08/aaft-abe080906.php).
This sounds like an interesting and constructive initiative. I'd love to hear from anyone, of any perspective, who has got a copy.
Just a bit of background... the AAAS (http://www.aaas.org) is one of largest scientific societies in the world, and publishes the journal Science. This new book is specifically intended for use in adult Christian education classes. It is constructed around a fictional college student who is struggling to reconcile her traditional religious beliefs with her interest in biology.
The need for this kind of focus is very apparent; and especially here in TheologyWeb. Yet many people here will not like the book at all, because the nature of the dialogue will not be as if between two conflicting alternatives, such as Evolution or Intelligent Design. It appears to take the more traditional approach of Christians towards science: that science is not an alternative to religion, but simply a way of finding out aspects of the natural world that works just as well for Christians as anyone else. Here is an extract from the release:
As the book's prologue notes, "there are deep misunderstandings about what biological evolution is, what science itself is, and what views people of faith, especially Christians, have applied to their interpretations of the science. With this volume, AAAS seeks to correct some of those misunderstandings."
[…]
Jack Haught, a Georgetown University theologian, said the book "will prove to be very helpful to teachers and students of biology, especially where questions might arise about the scientific status of Darwin's theory and the religious implications of evolution." Haught said the book "exhibits not only prudence and judiciousness, but also an erudite understanding of the distinct modes of understanding characteristic of science and religion. A major benefit of this project is that it demonstrates how a religious understanding of the world need not be looked upon as an alternative to evolutionary science and vice-versa."
Professor Haught, by the way, was an expert witness at the Kitzmiller vs Dover trial late last year. I'd be very interested to hear any feedback from anyone who has seen the book. I'll try to get a copy myself as well.
Cheers -- Sylas
This sounds like an interesting and constructive initiative. I'd love to hear from anyone, of any perspective, who has got a copy.
Just a bit of background... the AAAS (http://www.aaas.org) is one of largest scientific societies in the world, and publishes the journal Science. This new book is specifically intended for use in adult Christian education classes. It is constructed around a fictional college student who is struggling to reconcile her traditional religious beliefs with her interest in biology.
The need for this kind of focus is very apparent; and especially here in TheologyWeb. Yet many people here will not like the book at all, because the nature of the dialogue will not be as if between two conflicting alternatives, such as Evolution or Intelligent Design. It appears to take the more traditional approach of Christians towards science: that science is not an alternative to religion, but simply a way of finding out aspects of the natural world that works just as well for Christians as anyone else. Here is an extract from the release:
As the book's prologue notes, "there are deep misunderstandings about what biological evolution is, what science itself is, and what views people of faith, especially Christians, have applied to their interpretations of the science. With this volume, AAAS seeks to correct some of those misunderstandings."
[…]
Jack Haught, a Georgetown University theologian, said the book "will prove to be very helpful to teachers and students of biology, especially where questions might arise about the scientific status of Darwin's theory and the religious implications of evolution." Haught said the book "exhibits not only prudence and judiciousness, but also an erudite understanding of the distinct modes of understanding characteristic of science and religion. A major benefit of this project is that it demonstrates how a religious understanding of the world need not be looked upon as an alternative to evolutionary science and vice-versa."
Professor Haught, by the way, was an expert witness at the Kitzmiller vs Dover trial late last year. I'd be very interested to hear any feedback from anyone who has seen the book. I'll try to get a copy myself as well.
Cheers -- Sylas