Coming to Peace with Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology

by Darrel R. Falk, Francis S. Collins (Foreword by)

Overview

Is a thoroughly Christian and biblically informed doctrine of creation compatible with widely held conclusions of modern science, especially biology? For Darrel R. Falk, this is not just an abstract question but one with which he has personally wrestled. A professor of biology, Falk brings together his biblically based understanding of creation and the most current research in biology. The result of his efforts to acknowledge the validity of science and the authority of Scripture is a new paradigm for relating the claims of science to the truths of Christianity. Written with the undergraduate student in mind, this book nonetheless will help anyone who is looking for a place to stand in the creation-evolution debate, fearful that they'll have to choose between intellectual integrity and the faith of the church. Calling for charitable discussions within the church, Falk shows how an original and ongoing interaction of God with creation is fully reconcilable with the kinds of development identified by current biological science.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830827428
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	04/06/2004
Pages:	235
Sales rank:	1,104,053
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Falk is professor of biology, associate provost, and dean of graduate studies and continuing education at Point Loma Nazarene University in Point Loma, California.

Francis S. Collins (M.D., Ph.D.) is a world-renowned physician-geneticist known for his discovery of the causes of many human genetic diseases.  He is also known for spearheading the Human Genome Project, which produced the first complete sequence of human DNA in 2003. In 2006, he published The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, which spent fourteen weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2007, he founded The BioLogos Foundation to respond to the many queries he receives about science and faith. Since August 2009, he has served as the director of the National Institutes of Health. His most recent books, all authored prior to his current government position, include The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine and Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Francis S. Collins
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Science and Religion: Trying to Live in Two Worlds at Once
2. The Creation and Fall: Exploring the Meaning of Scripture
3. Putting Creation into a Time Frame
4. The Fossil Record
5. Beyond the Fossil Record: Looking at the Geographical Distribution of Life's Diversity
6. Tracing Lineage by Tracking Genes
7. Coming to Peace with Biology
Index

What People are Saying About This

Philip Batterham

"Books on creation typically suggest that either God or the scientific community actively delude humankind. Falk's book offers a breath of fresh air to those who believe that the God of the Bible is the source of all truth. Passionate in his faith, certain that the Scriptures and science can stand careful scrutiny, Falk carefully integrates the evidence to build a picture of the loving creator-God. Needed for so long, this powerful book can intellectually and spiritually nourish the Christian community."
— Philip Batterham, Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne

Loren Haarsma

"Darrel Falk is a skilled educator and pastoral writer. Theologically sound, scientifically accurate, understandable at the high school and early college science level, this is a superb book for evangelicals and other Christians who want to learn about the history of life that God is revealing to us in the book of his creation."
— Loren Haarsma, Assistant Professor of Physics, Calvin College

Karl Giberson

"Professor Falk's Coming to Peace with Science is the most informed, thoughtful and spiritually sensitive look at 'creation through the eyes of a biologist' that I have ever read. Falk knows firsthand just how hard it can be for an evangelical raised on the Bible to make peace with the theory of evolution. As a respected biologist who takes the Bible very seriously he knows, however, that this peace must be found. Coming to Peace with Science will be an effective bridge between science and religion for years to come."
— Karl Giberson, Ph.D., Professor of Physics, Eastern Nazarene College, Editor in Chief, Science & Spirit, Editor, Research News & Opportunities in Science & Theology

From the foreword by Francis S. Collins

"There is much good news within these pages. Skeptics of science can be reassured that life makes sense and that the methods of science can be trusted. Those fearful that science requires a descent into atheism will be reassured by the vibrant Christian spirituality evidenced in Falk's narrative."

Keith B. Miller

"Coming to Peace with Science is a well-informed and very personal look at evolution by a biologist and committed evangelical Christian. It is written in an understandable and sensitive way that honors both the scientific vocation and the authority of scripture. The book is a refreshing contrast to much popular Christian writing on evolution. In it, Darrel Falk embraces and rejoices in both the biblical message and the history and processes of creation as revealed by scientific investigation. He also makes a strong and personal appeal for peace--not only between science and faith but also among committed believers who have come to different conclusions with regard to the creation's formational history."
— Keith B. Miller, research assistant professor of geology at Kansas State University, fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, and editor of Perspectives on an Evolving Creation

Editorial Reviews

"Professor Falk's Coming to Peace with Science is the most informed, thoughtful and spiritually sensitive look at 'creation through the eyes of a biologist' that I have ever read. Falk knows firsthand just how hard it can be for an evangelical raised on the Bible to make peace with the theory of evolution. As a respected biologist who takes the Bible very seriously he knows, however, that this peace must be found. Coming to Peace with Science will be an effective bridge between science and religion for years to come."

Karl Giberson

"In this highly instructive book, Darrel Falk describes his intellectual and spiritual journey in reconciling Christian belief with biological evolution. It is important for the wider body of Christians, many of whom remain skeptical of biological evolution, to grapple with the arguments contained in this book. This book promises to start a real conversation about the role of evolution in relation to the Christian faith, a conversation in which all parties to the creation-evolution debate feel welcome to participate, speak their minds freely and can put forward their best efforts."

William A. Dembski

"Darrel Falk is a skilled educator and pastoral writer. Theologically sound, scientifically accurate, understandable at the high school and early college science level, this is a superb book for evangelicals and other Christians who want to learn about the history of life that God is revealing to us in the book of his creation."

Loren Haarsma

"Books on creation typically suggest that either God or the scientific community actively delude humankind. Falk's book offers a breath of fresh air to those who believe that the God of the Bible is the source of all truth. Passionate in his faith, certain that the Scriptures and science can stand careful scrutiny, Falk carefully integrates the evidence to build a picture of the loving creator-God. Needed for so long, this powerful book can intellectually and spiritually nourish the Christian community."

Philip Batterham

"Coming to Peace with Science is a well-informed and very personal look at evolution by a biologist and committed evangelical Christian. It is written in an understandable and sensitive way that honors both the scientific vocation and the authority of scripture. The book is a refreshing contrast to much popular Christian writing on evolution. In it, Darrel Falk embraces and rejoices in both the biblical message and the history and processes of creation as revealed by scientific investigation. He also makes a strong and personal appeal for peace—not only between science and faith but also among committed believers who have come to different conclusions with regard to the creation's formational history."

Keith B. Miller

"There is much good news within these pages. Skeptics of science can be reassured that life makes sense and that the methods of science can be trusted. Those fearful that science requires a descent into atheism will be reassured by the vibrant Christian spirituality evidenced in Falk's narrative."

From the foreword by Francis S. Collins

"Coming to Peace with Science is a well-informed and very personal look at evolution by a biologist and committed evangelical Christian. It is written in an understandable and sensitive way that honors both the scientific vocation and the authority of scripture. The book is a refreshing contrast to much popular Christian writing on evolution. In it, Darrel Falk embraces and rejoices in both the biblical message and the history and processes of creation as revealed by scientific investigation. He also makes a strong and personal appeal for peace--not only between science and faith but also among committed believers who have come to different conclusions with regard to the creation's formational history."

--Keith B. Miller, research assistant professor of geology at Kansas State University, fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, and editor of Perspectives on an Evolving Creation

"In this highly instructive book, Darrel Falk describes his intellectual and spiritual journey in reconciling Christian belief with biological evolution. It is important for the wider body of Christians, many of whom remain skeptical of biological evolution, to grapple with the arguments contained in this book. This book promises to start a real conversation about the role of evolution in relation to the Christian faith, a conversation in which all parties to the creation-evolution debate feel welcome to participate, speak their minds freely and can put forward their best efforts."

--William A. Dembski, author of The Design Revolution

"Professor Falk's Coming to Peace with Science is the most informed, thoughtful and spiritually sensitive look at 'creation through the eyes of a biologist' that I have ever read. Falk knows firsthand just how hard it can be for an evangelical raised on the Bible to make peace with the theory of evolution. As a respected biologist who takes the Bible very seriously he knows, however, that this peace must be found. Coming to Peace with Science will be an effective bridge between science and religion for years to come."

--Karl Giberson, Ph.D., Professor of Physics, Eastern Nazarene College, Editor in Chief, Science Spirit, Editor, Research News Opportunities in Science Theology

From the Publisher

"There is much good news within these pages. Skeptics of science can be reassured that life makes sense and that the methods of science can be trusted. Those fearful that science requires a descent into atheism will be reassured by the vibrant Christian spirituality evidenced in Falk's narrative."

Francis S. Collins