The Prism and the Rainbow

A Christian Explains Why Evolution Is Not a Threat
Erscheinungsjahr 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8018-9478-7
Verlag: Johns Hopkins University Press

Buch, Englisch, 192 Seiten, Format (B × H): 149 mm x 221 mm, Gewicht: 349 g

God or Darwin? It is one of the most contentious conflicts of our time. It is also completely unnecessary, according to Joel W. Martin, an evolutionary biologist and ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA. In this slim but powerful book, Martin argues that it is not contradictory to be a practicing, faithful Christian who accepts the science of evolution.

Martin finds that much of the controversy in the United States over evolution is manufactured and predicated on a complete—and sometimes willful—misapprehension of basic science. Science and religion, he says, serve different purposes and each seeks to answer questions that the other need never address. He believes that many of the polarizing debates about evolution distract from the deeper lessons of Christianity and that literal, fundamentalist readings of the Bible require the faithful to reject not just evolution but many of science's greatest discoveries.

Just as the scientific explanation of rainbows is not meant to refute the biblical "rainbow" story of God’s promise, evolutionary theory is not a ploy to disavow the divine. Indeed, Martin shows that the majority of Christians worldwide accept the theory of evolution. He urges his fellow Christians to refuse to participate in the intellectually stifling debate over evolution and creationism/intelligent design.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Martin, Joel W

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biowissenschaften Evolutionsbiologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christentum/Christliche Theologie Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction
1. By the Numbers
2. The Prism and the Rainbow
3. The Flat Earth Society
4. Of Serpents and Certainty
5. The Nature of Science
6. What Does "Theory" Mean?
7. What Is Evolution?
8. What Is Creationism?
9. What Is Intelligent Design?
10. Is There Evidence Supporting Intelligent Design?
11. Human Arrogance
12. In the Beginning
13. The Unnecessary Choice
14. What Are We to Believe?
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Major Christian Denominations and Their Stance on Science, Evolution, and Creationism/ Intelligent Design
Notes
Glossary
Recommended Further Reading
Helpful Web Sites
Index

Über Autor(innen)

Martin, Joel W
Joel W. Martin is chief of the Division of Invertebrate Studies and curator of crustacea at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

An ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA, Joel W. Martin is the chief of the Division of Invertebrate Studies and curator of Crustacea at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. He is a youth advisor at a Presbyterian Church in Southern California and currently teaches Sunday school and confirmation classes.