The Faith of Biology and the Biology of Faith (Hardcover)

~ Robert E. Pollack (Author), (Author) "THE SEAL OF Columbia College - subsequently Columbia University - is almost a quarter of a millennium old..." (more)
Key Phrases: genetic medicine, founder population, placebo effect, Meaning Beyond Order, Ashkenazic Jewish

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Our species is not the creation of design but the result of accumulated errors." Robert Pollack is a molecular geneticist and a Jew, who realizes that his two belief systems have a certain conflict: "Evolution through natural selection explains certain facts of life that touch on matters of meaning and purpose," but he finds that "the vision of the natural world these explanations produce is simply too terrifying and depressing to me to be borne without the emotional buffer of my own religion."

Pollack is not exactly trying to reconcile religion and science, but he's trying to show how each can illuminate the other, protecting them from their greatest weakness, dogma--thinking you have all the answers. He argues that "current practices of my religion of Judaism would contribute to an improvement in medical care." In particular, doctors should make room for patients to feel and express free will, to make their own choices and not bow to an illusionary inevitable. He also feels we should forsake the idea of a mind-body split, and give the placebo effect the respect it deserves--not as a way to "fool" the patient's body into getting well, but as an acknowledgement that treating the mind is part of treating the body.

Pollack's hope is that science and religion can pull together, so that medicine is practiced "when the doctor keeps all tools of science at her fingertips, when the meaning of those tools is given by the mysterious capacity for free will, and the choice to use them to preserve another person's life and health, and when the person who uses these tools for that purpose knows herself to be no different in any important way from her patient." --Mary Ellen Curtin

From Publishers Weekly

This fresh and unassuming look at natural selection and genetics from a Jewish perspective successfully departs from the mainstream theology-and-science literature, ringing true in spite of some theoretical gaps. Molecular biologist Robert Pollack, a recognized researcher and science commentator, wrestles with the disharmony between the "purposeless" worldview of evolutionary biology and the human need, reflected in both religion and medicine, to interpret life as meaningful. Pollack's goal is not to reconcile these competing claims, but to make room for both by cultivating "acceptance" of both scientific naturalism and religious or ethical feelings that grope beyond the limits of rational knowledge. After describing and defending a sphere of the "unknowable" that includes concepts of God, free will and the meaning of life, Pollack addresses more specific concerns about his field of molecular genetics, where what is technologically possible often runs ahead of respect for diversity and free will. Pollack's insights are original and often engagingly personal, conveying the authentic flavor of his passionate engagements with both biology and his Jewish faith. With disarming honesty, he admits to past missteps and the limits of his perspective. His thoughtfulness and candor should be appreciated by readers whose commitments to science, religion or medicine involve them in similar conflicts, although many will be uncomfortable with the cognitive dissonance he is willing to embrace. (Nov.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (November 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231115067
• ISBN-13: 978-0231115063
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #649,620 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars student, February 13, 2001

By A Customer

I give this book two stars because it was a nice attempt at a difficult topic but it fails in my opinion.

The major falling of this book in this readers opinion: The absence of scientific explanation does not automatically prove that God exists.

The author is a molecular biologist, not an expert on behavior. Yet claims are made about behavior that are not supported by data, or ideas are suggested which have been solidly refuted by good data.

I went into this book very optimistically but left very disappointed. I did however enjoy some sharp insights the author made, such as a good education not only give one the facts but also teaches one how to argue against the facts.

The book offers too many radial ideas, which are not supported and are very unlikely to be supported by data in the future.

Overall read this book and decide for yourself. I thought it was in the bottom 25% of all books I have ever read.

3 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The biology of faith...far from simplicity, March 28, 2001

By	JD (NYU) - See all my reviews

Let me start by saying that although I have not read Dr. Pollack's book, I did attend one of his lectures discussing "The faith of biology, the biology of faith." Thus, this is more a comment on Dr. Pollack's explanations of his approach to this critical issue than a comment on his book. Dr. Pollack seems to take a rather interesting though confusing standpoint on humanity and its search for the meaning of existence through science and religion. He seems to argue that science and religion are somewhat linked in their striving for human nature, although their insights are different. However, Dr. Pollack was not clear on how this two insights are diferent (or the degree of extraneousness). Also, I got a little confused on his discussion of the "unknown" and the "unknowable." Obviously, this is not an easy reading, and anyone attempting to understand this book should first try to focus more on the human side of life rather than on the spiritual or purely scientific side, which Dr. Pollack seems to leave unclear.