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Random Designer: Created from Chaos to Connect with the Creator

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Colling writes in a clear and understandable manner to show how biology, and in particular evolution, is in accord with basic Christian theology. Frankly if you have studied biology a good deal, you'll find this work rather repetitive and simplistic. You want to read something like Perspectives on an Evolving Creation or God After Darwin: A Theology of Evolution. But this book is ideal for the biology layman, who had little training or forgot what they learned previously, and never understood the basics of evolution.

In a sense, Colling is the anti-Behe. Behe wants to show how there are some aspects of life that are inherently complex, and therefore couldn't have evolved. He therefore goes into great detail on the steps of different processes, to show how this is a complex process, and obviously, couldn't have happened "merely by chance". In doing so, he doesn't go into any greater detail than would be found in a myriad of other disciplines, in a higher-level text consulted by experts in the discipline. Behe thus gives an impression of false complexity. Colling instead shows how the basics of evolution are easily understandable, while recognizing that the theory is rather complex. Colling goes through evolution step by step, relating it to our understanding of God in the Bible, thus showing that the issue is more a matter of superior pedagogy and good heuristics, rather than objects which are "irreducibly complex".

The first half of the book shows what evolution is, and why it's believable. Colling explains in concise terms ideas like entropy, neatly side-stepping misconceptions commonly held by Literal Creationists like entropy forbidding the development of complex lifeforms. The second half delves into what the meaning of all this evolution can have for our understanding of Christ as Christians. Particularly of note is the title idea- that randomness exists, and God uses this randomness in his design. Indeed, it is within this idea that Colling actually introduces some novel thoughts, on how failure is necessary for God's success.

This is not a book to convince the unbeliever, nor is it groundbreaking for those who closely follow the Intelligent Design controversy, or the theology of evolution. It is however an excellent work for those new to the discussion, wishing to get their feet wet and understand the basics. In fact, for that purpose, I have never run across a finer book.

"Random Designer" is a laudable attempt at reconciling the apparent discrepancy between religion and science. Much of the current debate as it plays out in contemporary politics is based on rigid either-or thinking that is far too dogmatic. Science offers a description of the universe but not an explanation. However, when Christians deny science it recalls the era when Galileo was tried for proclaiming that the earth revolves around the sun. God is the who of creation and evolution is the how. Any perceived contradiction is an illusion.

Colling may be overstretching his case, e.g. in his criticism of intelligent-design theory. Even intelligent-design theory is not incompatible with science. Intelligent-design theory (a/k/a the teleological strand of Christian apologetics) holds that just as from observing a watch you conclude there must have been a watchmaker, the order of the universe suggests there was a Creator. True enough, but that still does not tell you much about the process by which the watchmaker actually produced the watch. In the case of the universe, think of science as the description of that process.

The title-word "random" may be confusing insofar as it connotes a lack of divine purpose. Just because we cannot always (or often) discern a purpose does not mean there is none. But it is clear that Colling does not deny this, making this only a minor point.

Overall I wholeheartedly recommend this slim, well-written volume. In the very least it will encourage you to think about critical issues that are normally treated with far too little nuance and understanding.

This book addresses science and faith. Colling starts out discussing thst the purpose of the book is to attempt to reconcile, explain, and exlore the views of science and faith. The fist part of the book involves bringing non-science people up to speed on basic biological principles and research. The second part addresses the much more elusive aspect of why we were created as we were created.
This book is like beef jerky. It is really tough to chew and the processing is slow at times, but when you get done, you have to have another piece. It is hard to reform ideas about creation from the Christian upbringing to accepting the scientific evidence. It would seem that God could have chosen evolution to create His most prized possession. The informationon the Second Law of Thermodynamics, radio isotope dating, the Big Bang theory, and the possible ways that the first life could have formed was extremely helpful and tactfully presented.
The foundation set in the first part stands firm for the much more subjective second part. Some main points were that we were created to know the Creator, humans are the first creation with the ability to discern the presence of God, life is mainly about intimate relationships , and we are made in the image of God, therefore having the mind of God.
No matter what veiws you hold on this issue, this would be a beneficial book for you to chew on.

Random Designer addresses the conflict between God and science though biological and chemical understandings and through the personal experiences of an educated, Christian biologist. The first section of the book pours a brief but solid foundation of biological concepts necessary to understand life's definition, origin, and existence. Colling begins with a concise explanation of the second law of thermodynamics and how it affects the real world. He continues with descriptions of the importance of carbon, especially in the macromolecular building blocks, namely proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. From there he addresses the cell and its components, and he eventually details the processes of genetics, mutation, and natural selection.
Part II of Random Designer builds on the foundation established by part I. Colling narrates personal stories of his family, correlating those stories to man's relationship with the Random Designer. He also uses scientific understandings to encourage people to see that God is the author of all, in, through, and by randomness. The concept of a random design appropriately pervades the book, and ultimately it is used to illustrate the undeniable creativity of God.
The perspectives presented in Random Designer demand thorough consideration. Evolution is established as the veritable method of creation, though directed and initiated by God. Many of the other concepts, the seemingly absurd waste of immune cells, for example, shows how cool God is, and how amazing His creation. These type of concepts don't have theological weight, and they are readily proven, and for these reasons, they are really neat to consider. Regardless of what I believe about creation, Random Designer has further assured me of the majesty of God.

Random Designer presents a unique vision of God's creation. Utilizing easy-to-read personal narratives, Colling explains that the random processes that play such fundamental roles in the physical universe are actually tools of creation. God, the "Random Designer", harnesses these chaotic physical processes to bring about a Divine plan.

The book is divided into three sections. Section I is devoted to describing and explaining the biological and chemical processes of life. Section II presents God as the powerful force behind the natural laws we observe. Colling suggests that instead of trying to stuff God into the traditional boxes of "Scientific Creationism" or "Intelligent Design," Christians should strive to understand scientific realities because the evidence will always be in God's favor. Section III concludes with the theme that mankind was "created for connection" with God. According to Colling, with this new understanding, humans are compelled to maximize our physical and spiritual potential. By doing so, we can hope to realize what it means to be made in God's image, to feel God's presence in our lives, and to experience an intimate, meaningful relationship with our Creator.

I highly recommend this book because it presents some very deep theological concepts in a simple and easy to grasp way. Colling has written something with the potential to reach a lot of thinking Christians who would like to see an end to the "science vs. religion" aspect of the Creation/Evolution debate. In the very least, this book will challenge the reader to reconsider some critical issues related to the idea of God as Creator of all things.

This book was really helpful to me. At first I was a little put off because at times he gets technical and I don't have a background in science. But it is well worth the time to read it through, not only to understand evolution and harmonize it with the Bible, but also to gain new insights of how God may choose to work. I love one quote in particular: "Words like randomness and failure genereally carry unfavorable connotations. But the Random Designer [God] appears to hold a different view. He seems quite comfortable creating complex living beings using mechanisms that require uniformly high failure rates...But to the Random Designer, real failure does not exist! A string of separate events that appears devastating from our perspective is not even a setback for Him." Throughout the book, but especially the latter half, much of the discussion is not only on the scientific evidence and process, but also on how that can affect our view of God. Instead of evolution being a stumbling block to our faith, Colling shows how it can help us appreciate more all our Creator has done and is doing. Truly His ways are not our ways.

You can also check out Collings on Youtube--some awesome presentations called Building Bridges between Science & Faith.
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Random designer covers topic after topic, tackling the key issues surrounding biological evolution while integrating the Christian faith, and most importantly, God as the Random Designer. The book is appropriately separated into two sections: the fundamental science and the articulation of how this science matches up with the Random Designer's plan to create the human race in his image.

In the first section, a variety of topics are covered, including: evolutionary stances, entropy, basic biochemical structures, natural selection, DNA, mutation, and aspects of the human mind. By keeping the foundation of biological evolution, God is found to have incorporated the laws that govern our universe, specifically emphasizing entropy and energy use in the production of a biological system that progresses by means of genetic mutation and natural selection.

Throughout the last half, the connection between God and mankind is made through discussion subjects such as: God's image, selflessness, coming to know God, and the higher order random design. The possibility of "God's image" meaning "a mind of God" is suggested, leading the reader into the second section with the aspects of the human mind as a link to God and to his purpose. With this premise, the reader can recognize humanity's differentiation from all other species by means of self-awareness and God-awareness. This brings the conclusion that the human race is the desired product of God's creation scheme, in which he sets out to create a species that can acknowledge Him and live in his likeness by means of loose mental standardization.

Maintaining reality into faith issues is something that often accumulates distorted opinions and black and white rainbows. Random Designer walks science alongside life, and in doing so, reveals the God who laid the path for the journey.

In September of last year (2007), Olivet Nazarene University Professor Richard G. Colling found himself embroiled in a controversy over views expressed in this book. Random Designer (Browning Press, 2004) had been used as a textbook in some of his science courses, and recommended by other professors at the university. When certain church members and pastors learned of the content of Random Designer, they objected to Colling's views on evolution loudly and persuasively. Despite the support of faculty at Olivet, several of these denominational leaders wielded their influence to intervene and compel the removal of Colling from the biology department.

One unintended consequence of their action is that I picked up and read Colling's work. Hopefully, the controversy will spur many such new sales, because I believe that many will benefit from reading Random Designer. The book targets some of those very pastors that led the charge against Colling, as indicated on this slip cover blurb:

"Written in easy-flowing personal narrative for working professionals, pastors, religious leaders, public school teachers, college students, and people of all faiths, Random Designer is a story of a loving and caring Creator who miraculously harnesses the random and chaotic forces of nature to accomplish his ultimate purposes. And now, after faithfully laboring for billions of years to bring His creation to an awareness of Himself, He calls to us from the deepest recesses of our minds. Will we hear His voice?"

Random Designer is divided into two sections. Section I deals with the science of randomness. Randomness is the necessary consequence of the laws that govern our cosmos, particularly the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, or entropy. Colling shows how entropy works as a randomizer, and how this same law suffuses the earth with a constant flow of energy which in turn serves to being order to randomness. Hence, in Colling's view, the natural rise of life on earth through evolutionary processes. Randomness becomes the necessary fodder for natural selection, and it is apparently the Designer's tool of choice. If like me, you have contemplated the place of randomness in Creation, you will benefit from Colling's descriptions of these processes.

In Section II, Colling turns from science to the theological and practical considerations of randomness. I want to highlight two of the chapters. One seeks to answer questions that surround Adam. Is Adam an historical figure? Is he a metaphorical "stand-in" for the human race? Colling explores these and other possibilities. A chapter which fascinated me is entitled "The Ultimate Creation". Colling cites science which suggests that the human race may have arrived at the pinnacle of evolution. The same processes of randomness that increase complexity must also serve to maintain complexity. The complexity of the human genome may have reached a balancing point. Or to put it another way, the human genome may be nearing full capacity. If this is true, as genetics suggests it may be, then it is not unreasonable to conclude that we are the ultimate creation of the Random Designer!

Random Designer is written for undergraduates, and as such is an easy read. If you are seeking understandings which bring purpose and order to a world of apparent randomness, you may find Colling's book helpful.

I have read this book a couple of times. I have used Dr.Colling's book, among others, to reconcile my scientific understanding, specifically concerning evolution, and my faith. I have been able to develop a harmonious understanding between the two topics, that I was told could never coincide. I thank Dr.Colling for his hard work and encourage his continuing research.

I appreciate the different perspective. I would like to encourage the author to continue his work in this area.