Do Science and the Bible Conflict? (Tough Questions) [Paperback]

Garry Poole (Author), Judson Poling (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tough Questions | Publication Date: September 1, 1998

The Tough Questions series faces head-on the difficult and challenging questions seekers ask about the Christian faith. This book addresses questions and provokes thoughts about the seemingly conflictual nature of science and the Bible.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

For Christians Who Care Enough to Give Honest Answers to the Questions Seekers Ask How can a merciful God send people to hell? Is Jesus really is the only way to God? Why should I trust the Bible when it's full of inconsistencies? Tough questions. Reasonable questions. The kinds of challenging questions skeptics and seekers are asking, that demand informed and satisfying answers from Christians. The Tough Questions series offers an organized approach to answering modern seekers' questions about Christianity. In the process, it gives an overview of key elements of the Christian faith. This honest, informative series is the result of Garry Poole and Judson Poling's extensive work with seekers at Willow Creek Community Church. In six sessions designed to get small groups thinking, discussing, and sharing, each book deals head-on with questions and objections commonly raised about the Christian faith. Tough Questions deals frankly with the challenging arguments of secularism. Quotes from non-Christian skeptics in various disciplines, together with responses from credible Christian apologists, fuel the discussions. A great resource for small groups, churches, and Sunday school classes, this series offers seekers and believers alike the kinds of reasonable, factual answers that inspire faith, conviction, and trust in the reality and claims of Christ. How did the universe begin? What caused the origin of life? Is evolution really true? Are miracles possible? Was there a worldwide flood? Why did conflict between science and faith arise?

From the Author

Gary Poole is director of evangelism at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. Judson Poling works with small-group ministries at Willow Creek. He is co-author with Don Cousins of the Walking with God series

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Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031022232X
• ISBN-13: 978-0310222323
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,614,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible Study for Seekers, June 4, 2003

By 

Dean C. Hess (Clear Lake, Iowa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Do Science and the Bible Conflict? (Tough Questions) (Paperback)

There are serious flaws with this study. It may be the single worst book to give a science-oriented seeker looking for God. It starts with the concept that it is important for people to discuss their beliefs to learn and develop their faith. After the first chapter, however, it goes decidedly downhill. If the seeker didn't have serious questions about cosmology to start with they will have a whole bunch of them when they are done.
Most of the "text" consists of quotations and explanations from an agnostic or atheist viewpoint. The authors contrast the two most radical positions on science, ie. radical agnostic or atheist vs. radical fundamentalist. There is no presentation of moderate or middle ground postions on either side. There are almost zero quotations or counter arguments offered from a moderate Christian perspective. The authors do not seem to allow that there can be Christian scientists with, say, a view of a guided evolution. The authors force the question to be a purely atheistic view against a purely fundamental view of creationism.
Their point about the lack of Christian scientists is something like this---only 0.2 % of scientists believe that the creation occured as a mass creation of all the species at the same time. I would agree that most Christian scientists don't believe in a fundamentalist "one-instant" creation view, but the book ignores any other possible understanding of God's hand in the making of the universe. Despite the fact that even the Genesis account is evolutionary, ie. it occured over time not in one instant. This study defines Christians on the basis of a narrow "one-instant" understanding of Creation - this very fact is extremely objectionable. We have world class scientists in our congregation who were totally offended by this study, and felt their point of view was neither acknowledged nor represented. The authors seem to want to develop controversy rather than support a God created world.
As a result this book is a collection of controversies without any real understanding of the broad spectrum of literature or arguements from various philosophers, scientists, and Christians in the past... It is inexplicably antithetical to the seeker sensitive values of Willow Creek. I cannot believe they allowed this book to be published under their name.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Book, August 25, 2007

By 

John D. Foubert (Stillwater, OK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Do Science and the Bible Conflict? (Paperback)

This series, and this book, are a terrific and helpful guide for people looking to lead seekers studies. If you are looking to lead such a group, this is a terrific resource.