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How do we reach young people when it comes to science and Christianity?
The link can be found here.
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What do I think of Greg Cootsona's book published by IVP? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
I am not a scientist, but I am always interested in books about the intersection between science and religion. When IVP sent me this one, it was one I was eager to read. Cootsona's book is different in some ways. It's not so much because of content, but because of the approach.
Cootsona writes his book largely with emerging adults in mind, the kind of people we would call millennials. These are young people who have a lot of questions about science and religion. What is the relationship between the two? Is there conflict or dialogue or what?
Cootsona answers these questions and often shows information on the side about conversations that he's had with young people and little statements that they say. People involved in youth ministry need to be reading something like this. These are the very issues that young people are dealing with and as Cootsona sadly shows at the end, many people walk away because they committed the great sin of asking questions.
Cootsona deals with questions not only about creation and evolution, but also about technology. What are the effects that it's having on society? There is some good of course, but there is also some bad. Are we having too much screen time? Could we actually bear to put the phones down?
He also spends some time with the new atheists. For the most part, the new atheists aren't really an issue any more, but the mind set is still there. Dawkins is still seen as being on the side of science and religion is seen as the opposite. This leaves many people wondering if they have to choose between science and religion. It doesn't help Christians out when we tell young people that they just need to have faith and not bother with their questions.
Some of you might be wondering if in all of this if Cootsona has a high view of Scripture. He does. Cootsona upholds orthodoxy and upholds inerrancy in the book. He presents viewpoints to help people understand the questions such as evolution and the age of the Earth. It's a snapshot in the book as it were, but in the back he provides resources for further study. Cootsona's book is meant to be an introduction to the questions. It is not an end-all.
There is also a section on climate change and sexuality. Now I am a skeptic of the idea of climate change. I haven't invested in the study, but I am skeptical. Still, there is good information to consider here even if I am not convinced. As for sexuality, our changing approach to sexual culture is going to need to be addressed. How do we answer questions about transgenderism and homosexuality? Is Christianity behind the times?
These questions about science and Christianity are entirely relevant today. I get many questions from Christians with doubt today. If there is any topic that seems to come up the most, it is questions about Genesis 1-11. It is amazing how many people contact me and say they're scared that Christianity might not be true and yet they have no questions about the resurrection. It's all about Genesis. We need better resources on this.
Youth ministers then should definitely read this book! If you're not a scientist, that's okay. It's written in a style laymen can understand. Parents concerned about teenagers and college-age students should read this book. Young people themselves searching should also read it.
Cootsona has given us a good gateway book to the issue of science and Christianity. He has also sounded a clarion call that we need to be listening to the emerging adults today to know how to better reach them. We can answer all the questions we want to, but if we don't answer the questions they're asking, we don't get them any closer to Jesus.
In Christ,
Nick Peters
The link can be found here.
-----
What do I think of Greg Cootsona's book published by IVP? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
I am not a scientist, but I am always interested in books about the intersection between science and religion. When IVP sent me this one, it was one I was eager to read. Cootsona's book is different in some ways. It's not so much because of content, but because of the approach.
Cootsona writes his book largely with emerging adults in mind, the kind of people we would call millennials. These are young people who have a lot of questions about science and religion. What is the relationship between the two? Is there conflict or dialogue or what?
Cootsona answers these questions and often shows information on the side about conversations that he's had with young people and little statements that they say. People involved in youth ministry need to be reading something like this. These are the very issues that young people are dealing with and as Cootsona sadly shows at the end, many people walk away because they committed the great sin of asking questions.
Cootsona deals with questions not only about creation and evolution, but also about technology. What are the effects that it's having on society? There is some good of course, but there is also some bad. Are we having too much screen time? Could we actually bear to put the phones down?
He also spends some time with the new atheists. For the most part, the new atheists aren't really an issue any more, but the mind set is still there. Dawkins is still seen as being on the side of science and religion is seen as the opposite. This leaves many people wondering if they have to choose between science and religion. It doesn't help Christians out when we tell young people that they just need to have faith and not bother with their questions.
Some of you might be wondering if in all of this if Cootsona has a high view of Scripture. He does. Cootsona upholds orthodoxy and upholds inerrancy in the book. He presents viewpoints to help people understand the questions such as evolution and the age of the Earth. It's a snapshot in the book as it were, but in the back he provides resources for further study. Cootsona's book is meant to be an introduction to the questions. It is not an end-all.
There is also a section on climate change and sexuality. Now I am a skeptic of the idea of climate change. I haven't invested in the study, but I am skeptical. Still, there is good information to consider here even if I am not convinced. As for sexuality, our changing approach to sexual culture is going to need to be addressed. How do we answer questions about transgenderism and homosexuality? Is Christianity behind the times?
These questions about science and Christianity are entirely relevant today. I get many questions from Christians with doubt today. If there is any topic that seems to come up the most, it is questions about Genesis 1-11. It is amazing how many people contact me and say they're scared that Christianity might not be true and yet they have no questions about the resurrection. It's all about Genesis. We need better resources on this.
Youth ministers then should definitely read this book! If you're not a scientist, that's okay. It's written in a style laymen can understand. Parents concerned about teenagers and college-age students should read this book. Young people themselves searching should also read it.
Cootsona has given us a good gateway book to the issue of science and Christianity. He has also sounded a clarion call that we need to be listening to the emerging adults today to know how to better reach them. We can answer all the questions we want to, but if we don't answer the questions they're asking, we don't get them any closer to Jesus.
In Christ,
Nick Peters
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