Evolution and the Fall

Author: Cavanaugh & Smith
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
ISBN: 0802873790
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 261

Book Description
What does it mean for the Christian doctrine of the Fall if there was no historical Adam? If humanity emerged from nonhuman primates--as genetic, biological, and archaeological evidence seems to suggest--then what are the implications for a Christian understanding of human origins, including the origin of sin? Evolution and the Fall gathers a multidisciplinary, ecumenical team of scholars to address these difficult questions and others like them from the perspectives of biology, theology, history, Scripture, philosophy, and politics CONTRIBUTORS: William T. Cavanaugh Celia Deane-Drummond Darrel R. Falk Joel B. Green Michael Gulker Peter Harrison J. Richard Middleton Aaron Riches James K. A. Smith Brent Waters Norman Wirzba

God, Evolution, and Animal Suffering

Author: Bethany N. Sollereder
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429881851
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 299

Book Description
After the publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859, theologians were faced with the dilemma of God creating through evolution. Suddenly, pain, suffering, untimely death and extinction appeared to be the very tools of creation, and not a result of the sin of humanity. Despite this paradigm shift, the question of non-human suffering has been largely overlooked within theodicy debates, overwhelmed by the extreme human suffering of the twentieth century. This book redresses this imbalance by offering a rigorous academic treatment of the questions surrounding God and the suffering of non-human animals. Combining theological, philosophical, and biblical perspectives, this book explores the relationship between God and Creation within Christian theology. First it dismantles the popular theological view that roots violence and suffering in the animal kingdom in the fall of humanity. Then, through an exploration of the nature of love, it affirms that there are multiple reasons to suggest that God and creation can both be "good", even with the presence of violence and suffering. This is an innovative exploration of an under-examined subject that encompasses issues of theology, science, morality and human-animal interactions. As such, it will be of keen interest to scholars and academics of religion and science, the philosophy of religion, theodicy, and biblical studies.

The Evolution of Adam

Author: Peter Enns
Publisher: Brazos Press
ISBN: 1493432702
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 272

Book Description
Can Christianity and evolution coexist? Traditional Christian teaching presents Jesus as reversing the effects of the fall of Adam. But an evolutionary view of human origins doesn't allow for a literal Adam, making evolution seemingly incompatible with what Genesis and the apostle Paul say about him. For Christians who both accept evolution and want to take the Bible seriously, this can present a faith-shaking tension. Popular Old Testament scholar Peter Enns offers a way forward by explaining how this tension is caused not by the discoveries of science but by false expectations about the biblical texts. In this 10th anniversary edition, Enns updates readers on developments in the historical Adam debate, helping them reconcile Genesis and Paul with current views on evolution and human origins. This edition includes an afterword that explains Enns's own theological evolution since the first edition released.

Useless Organs

Author: Jerry Bergman
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781944918194
Category : Human anatomy
Languages : en
Pages : 333

Book Description
If animals evolved through natural selection, then our bodies are undoubtedly home to numerous "evolutionary leftovers" known by the technical name "vestigial organs." While the existence of vestigial organs used to be a primary evidence used to support evolutionary theory, actual research into the design and function of the body show that these are not functionless leftovers, but are part of a coherent design. In this book, Jerry Bergman walks you through the anatomy of these "vestigial organs" and shows the important roles they play. Ignorance of how the body works can no longer be used as evidence that it was not designed.

The Evolution of Culture

Author: Leslie A White
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1315418568
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 401

Book Description
One of the major works of twentieth-century anthropological theory, written by one of the discipline’s most important, complex, and controversial figures, has not been in print for several years. Now Evolution of Culture is again available in paperback, allowing today’s generation of anthropologists new access to Leslie White’s crucial contribution to the theory of cultural evolution. A new, substantial introduction by Robert Carneiro and Burton J. Brown assess White’s historical importance and continuing influence in the discipline. White is credited with reintroducing evolution in a way that had a profound impact on our understanding of the relationship between technology, ecology, and culture in the development of civilizations. A materialist, he was particularly concerned with societies’ ability to harness energy as an indicator of progress, and his empirical analysis of this equation covers a vast historical span. Fearlessly tackling the most fundamental questions of culture and society during the cold war, White was frequently a lightning rod both inside and outside the academy. His book will provoke equally potent debates today, and is a key component of any course or reading list in anthropological or archaeological theory and cultural ecology.

The History of the Rise and Fall of the World's Religions and their Evolution

Author: Younus Samadzada
Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
ISBN: 1637101422
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 260

Book Description
This book chronologically documents the rise and fall of the major religions of the world and explores the role that various cultural factors such as dance, trance, music, song, and language have played in this evolution. The role that leaders play in the evolution of religion is also discussed. Starting from the primitive religions of hunter-gatherer societies in which religion was not part of any institution, the next stages of human life from the agricultural revolution to the modern religions of today are discussed. Among the modern religions discussed are Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Scientology, and numerous others. The reader is further provided with a unique perspective on the potential good and evil aspects of religion and the very reality of the existence of a God or gods, and the possible downfalls of the religious belief system.

Aquinas, Original Sin, and the Challenge of Evolution

Author: Daniel W. Houck
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108493696
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 295

Book Description
Drawing on Aquinas, Houck proposes a groundbreaking theory of original sin that is theologically robust and consonant with evolutionary theory.

Creation Or Evolution

Author: Denis Alexander
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780857215789
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Few issues engender so much heat between Christians as the topic of creation. Reasonable, calm, and supremely well informed, this is a book written by someone who is passionate about both science and the Bible. 'I hope,' says Denis Alexander, 'that reading it will encourage you to believe, as I do, that the 'Book of God's Word' and the 'Book of God's Works' can be held firmly together in harmony.' This substantial new edition updates the science, and extends the author's discussion of the theological implications.

Debunking Evolution

Author: Daniel a Biddle
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781533064387
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 354

Book Description
This book is essential for Christian students attending junior high to college-especially before taking biology and earth science classes. Virtually all public schools teach evolution as fact, and this takes a serious toll on the faith of many unprepared Christians. The straight-forward account in Genesis provides the true history of Creation, yet so many of today's youth fall prey to evolution teaching, losing their trust in the Bible and the Christian faith as a result. This book provides the foundation of a six-lesson program that will arm students before they enter college. The companion DVD includes 12 helpful videos (available online at www.debunkevolution.com or through Christian retailers) that help students understand the weak foundations of evolution teaching and the strong case for Biblical Creation. Student Guides are also available. The six lessons include: 1- Why is Creation / Evolution Training Important? 2- Bible History-Real or Fiction? Can we trust the Bible's account of history? 3- Did Humans Evolve from Ape-like Creatures? 4- Creation-Evolution 101: Adaptation & Natural Selection 5- Creation-Evolution 102: Common Ancestors/Branching & Homology 6- Creation-Evolution 201: Fossils, Whales, and Extinction

The Tangled Tree

Author: David Quammen
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 1476776636
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 480

Book Description
In this New York Times bestseller and longlist nominee for the National Book Award, “our greatest living chronicler of the natural world” (The New York Times), David Quammen explains how recent discoveries in molecular biology affect our understanding of evolution and life’s history. In the mid-1970s, scientists began using DNA sequences to reexamine the history of all life. Perhaps the most startling discovery to come out of this new field—the study of life’s diversity and relatedness at the molecular level—is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), or the movement of genes across species lines. It turns out that HGT has been widespread and important; we now know that roughly eight percent of the human genome arrived sideways by viral infection—a type of HGT. In The Tangled Tree, “the grandest tale in biology….David Quammen presents the science—and the scientists involved—with patience, candor, and flair” (Nature). We learn about the major players, such as Carl Woese, the most important little-known biologist of the twentieth century; Lynn Margulis, the notorious maverick whose wild ideas about “mosaic” creatures proved to be true; and Tsutomu Wantanabe, who discovered that the scourge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a direct result of horizontal gene transfer, bringing the deep study of genome histories to bear on a global crisis in public health. “David Quammen proves to be an immensely well-informed guide to a complex story” (The Wall Street Journal). In The Tangled Tree, he explains how molecular studies of evolution have brought startling recognitions about the tangled tree of life—including where we humans fit upon it. Thanks to new technologies, we now have the ability to alter even our genetic composition—through sideways insertions, as nature has long been doing. “The Tangled Tree is a source of wonder….Quammen has written a deep and daring intellectual adventure” (The Boston Globe).