Darwin's Proof: The Triumph of Religion over Science [Hardcover]

Cornelius G. Hunter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

Do similar features found among different animal species prove a common ancestry? Is evolution purely science, as evolutionists claim, or are there other factors involved? How can we account for the evil in the world? In Darwin's Proof Cornelius Hunter tackles these questions head on, revealing evolution's scientific, philosophical, and theological failures. Following the success of Darwin's God, Hunter delves more deeply into the issues raised in that book. He exposes the weaknesses in evolution's scientific "proof" and reveals its philosophical contradiction: despite claims that religion plays no role in their theory, they rely on assumptions of God's character in order to argue that he could not have made this world. Hunter shows how Western religious traditions of Darwin's time laid the foundation for evolution, and offers Christians a reason for hope-the world is magnificent yet flawed, and only the Bible can adequately explain why this is so. Critical thinkers who are looking for an intelligent response to evolution's overconfidence will welcome this bold statement, and it will have enormous appeal to Christians who want a scientific, philosophical, and theological response to the claims of evolution.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As a sequel to Hunter's previous effort (Darwin's God: Evolution and the Problem of Evil), this book comes up short. Hunter's original thesis-that Darwinist arguments (past and present) often rely on hidden theological assumptions-certainly deserves further elaboration. But where Darwin's God built a reasonably consistent case, Darwin's Proof offers an assortment of anti-evolution arguments of uneven quality, generally lacking a unifying structure. Two chapters (six and seven) best reflect Hunter's original argument, presenting suggestive historical evidence that the "Creator" rejected by Darwin and Darwinists owes more to Deism and 19th-century natural theology than to traditional Christian religious belief. Unfortunately, most of the text is bogged down in a welter of arguments, argument fragments and biological facts whose relevance to Hunter's overall message is too often unclear. Sporadic duplications and inconsistencies of tone (for example, switching between a posture of religious neutrality and outspoken conservative Christianity) contribute to the impression of hasty or unfinished composition. Readers who are already familiar with recent Darwinism/anti-Darwinism/Intelligent Design literature can find some worthwhile insights here. However, those who are new to the topic, or do not share Hunter's convictions, may lose patience before finishing the first chapter.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Cornelius G. Hunter, formerly senior vice president of Seagull Technology, Inc., in Silicon Valley, is engaged in molecular biophysics post-doctoral and engineering research in Cameron Park, California. He is the author of Darwin's God.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587430568
• ISBN-13: 978-1587430565
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 3.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #818,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent analysis of Darwinism, October 25, 2005

By 

Anders Nissen (Uppsala, Sweden, Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darwin's Proof: The Triumph of Religion over Science (Hardcover)

In the first chapters (ch.2-5) Cornilius Hunter discusses some arguments for and against Darwinian evolution. He shows that there are countless of examples of what appears to be design on the biochemical level, that Darwinism doesn't have any idea of how to explain. And when Hunter looks at the positive evidence that is often cited, for example comparative anatomy, he finds that a closer look reveals these evidences to be rather weak and often difficult to explain from the darwinian point of view.

So why is evolution accepted as a "fact"? What gives the evidences their strength as arguments? In chapter 6 Hunter looks at evidence for evolution again, and shows how they are used not as direct evidence for naturalistic evolution, but as indirect evidence: as arguments *against* creation. The argument is "God wouldn't have created this way". In the case of comparative anatomy, the argument is not that it's in accord with the Darwinian predictions (it's not), but that if God created the species separetely, He wouldn't have made them so similar. Hunter shows how evolutionists not only resort at times to this argument, but how it is an underlying assumption in their entire argumentation. And that makes the situation a bit paradoxical, since evolutionists on the one hand claim to be depending solely on the facts of nature and on the other have to assume a certain view of God to make their arguments work. In chapter 7 Hunter shows what kind of God is assumed, and how this concept was nourished in Darwin's times and before. The God of Darwinism is a God whose primary concern is the pleasure of his creation, and who is preferred to be distant rather than having anything to do with the unpleasentness of this world. Hunter goes on to show that the biblical concept of God is quite different in a chapter dealing with God, the nature of creation, and the fall in the Bible. The Bible portrays God as sovereign, creating at His own pleasure, and the things we cannot understand may be due to God as Creator being infinitely superior to us, or to the sin in the world that causes things to be bad. So Darwinists are not only depending on theology to make their arguments work, but on bad theology. (To the Darwinists defence it must be said - as Hunter also notes - that this same bad theology is often accepted in Churches. So Christians should pay special attention to the chapter on the biblical view of God and creation.)

The last two chapters deal with the Intelligent Design (ID) theory, and why it is so strongly opposed, and with design more generally. The problem with ID, says Hunter, is not that it assumes a religios basis for its arguments, but that it argues against the evolutionists religious commitments. Finding examples of design in nature is unacceptable for Darwinism, sonce it goes against their concept of God. In the chapter on design Hunter shows how the designs in nature often follow the same principles as human design (or, it's rather the latter mimicing the former...).

A very clear and insightful book. I recommend it to anyone interested in Darwinism's strengths and weaknesses. And of an alternative view that is both theologically and scientifically superior. As Hunter puts it in the end of the last chapter:
"In Darwinism, religion triumphed over science to the detriment of both. We need to recognize and remedy this situation. Let us now fix our religion and our science." Begin by reading this book, and learn what the situation is!

32 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poof, July 30, 2003

By 

Dan Schobert (Plover, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darwin's Proof: The Triumph of Religion over Science (Hardcover)

PROOF

The campaign against the nonsense of evolutionary thinking continues with a new book. Darwin's Proof by Cornelius G. Hunter has recently been released by Brazos Press, a division of Baker Book House of Grand Rapids. This work is subtitled: "The Triumph of Religion over Science." Hunter is the author of Darwin's God which came out several years ago.

Hunter points out that the evidence so often cited in support of
evolution is not evidence at all. In a way, perhaps the book should be Darwin's Poof! It isn't that evidence isn't presented but when viewed closely, these evidences don't stand up.

The main thrust of this work is to review the historical context into which Charles Darwin appeared. Hunter helps his readers appreciate the various popular ideas of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, ideas which made the thoughts of Darwin acceptable. One of these ides is what Hunter calls the paradigm of perfection. It is the thought that God created all things "very good." Since we can see less than perfect things in nature,
it follows that God must not have created. What this amounts to is to create God in our own image and when that image doesn't fit what is thought to exist in nature, this god can be rejected.

The problem here is that those who hold to this view neglect to
understand the effects of the Fall. This failure tends to blame God for imperfections and since God would not do anything less than perfect, He must not be much of a God.

It is an interesting thing, says Hunter, to realize that the idea of evolution, though said to be non religious, actually rests on religion. "Darwinists claim religion plays no role in their theory," he says, "but religion lies at its very foundation. It is the constant thread running
throughout Darwinism. Evolutionists reject a particular religious explanation, but in doing so they proclaim their own religion. Declaring what or how God may not create is just as religious as declaring what or how he does create."

This concept of creating their own God is nothing new among those who would reject the Gospel's message. Hunter takes his readers back to a cross outside Jerusalem. There men taunted Jesus by demanding that `if He is really the savior, He should get down from the cross.' These men had made up their own minds as to what a saviour would look like. They hadn't taken the time to read the scriptures and to understand that the saviour would not be one to rescue them from Roman rule but one who would
lead the way back to God. They could not envision themselves in need of such a savior so they missed the point of what was taking place on that hill.

Much the same thing can be seen occurring in the evolutionary camp. Instead of reading what God has said about things, people have used their tainted imaginations to make up stories about the past and stories about God. In general these have pushed God farther and farther away from any involvement in creation. "Darwinism is really all about God," says
Hunter. "God wouldn't have created this world, say the evolutionists. But Darwinists have a false god in mind."

Hunter concludes this short book, of some 150 pages, by reminding his readers that evolution is a religious idea. "Darwin's theory of evolution," he says, "has had a profound impact on society. Its claim that God is not needed to explain the origin of species has influenced many, and it certainly seems reasonable to say that evolution is
antireligious or atheistic. For example, evolution always opts for naturalistic explanations, no matter how unlikely, rather than admit any possibility of God. ....The problem with this argument is that it misses the historical roots and underlying motivation of Darwinism. The motivation behind Darwinsim is religious, not antireligious, and this makes a tremendous difference in how one understands the theory. Darwinism is the product of a long tradition of religious doctrine.
Though not biblical, this doctrine has always been popular in the church.

This non-Christian thought can be found in many influential figures leading up to Darwin and it remains popular today. It involves a nonbiblical version of God, who is distanced from the world. The divine attributes of wisdom and goodness are emphasized over those of providence, immanence and judgment."

When this is understood, a reader can appreciate how the religion of Darwin has been such a powerful tool to lead men and women away from science into a dark world of myth and imaginations.

The book has several pages of end notes which is a good source for those wishing to do additional study. This work should be read by anyone involved in the Origins issue.

July 2003

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well thought out critique of Evotheism, November 28, 2004

By 

D. McCarthy "wrassler" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darwin's Proof: The Triumph of Religion over Science (Hardcover)

Cornelius Hunter does a very good job of describing how Darwinism is truly a naturalistic religion. In debates with Darwinists, I always use the term evotheism and it is extremely effective. Hunter has given me more tools as an apologist.

The strongest part of the book is his discussion of evil and the impact of sin. He forcefully points out that Evotheists use the problem of pain and evil to further their doctrine that no God would have created species that would die out or be subjected to imperfections. Most readers should find his point of view extremely compelling.

My complaint about the book is that it is too short and I felt as if I were always waiting for just a little more information. He really should build a textbook citing examples of how evotheists use specious materials to promote their religion.