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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 27, 2005
Kenneth Miller has done an excellent job of debunking, deflating and generally thrashing the various species of creationism prevalent in America. His attempted synthesis of evolution and Christianity, however, will leave much to be desired.
The major portion of the book deals with creationism as Miller, chapter by chapter, examines the claims of the creationists both as science and as theology. His step-by-step, patient exposition of science rarely descends into sarcastic rejoinders to the babbling creationists, preferring instead to let the evidence speak for itself - and speak it does! His destruction of biochemist Michael Behe's confused 'black box' has rightly become famous. Except for his rebuttal to Behe, I don't think that Miller really says anything new about the evidence for evolution - but he says it well, with a pleasant flowing style that is very easy to read.
His understanding of Christian theology is also displayed as, in each chapter examining creationism, he takes the creationist's beliefs and critically examines them in light of what it does to their conception of God. I found these segments to be absolutely wonderful as Miller clearly shows that not only have the creationists done great violence to science - they have done, and are still doing, great violence to theology!
The later portion of the book, however, lags somewhat as Miller attempts to argue in Christianity's favour using the facts of evolution. The argument amounts to a modified Deism that does nothing to argue for Christianity over any other sytem of theology. Miller, in fact, comes close to making the same mistake that the creationists do - assuming that, in the absence of opposition, Christianity is the natural fall back position.
I would say that Miller suceeds in demonstrating that acceptance of evolution and belief in Christianity can be held together. However, he does not make a convincing case for why anyone should bother trying to.
The science, however, is brilliantly summarised and this book will provide a great one-stop reference for anyone beset by creationist idiocy.
The major portion of the book deals with creationism as Miller, chapter by chapter, examines the claims of the creationists both as science and as theology. His step-by-step, patient exposition of science rarely descends into sarcastic rejoinders to the babbling creationists, preferring instead to let the evidence speak for itself - and speak it does! His destruction of biochemist Michael Behe's confused 'black box' has rightly become famous. Except for his rebuttal to Behe, I don't think that Miller really says anything new about the evidence for evolution - but he says it well, with a pleasant flowing style that is very easy to read.
His understanding of Christian theology is also displayed as, in each chapter examining creationism, he takes the creationist's beliefs and critically examines them in light of what it does to their conception of God. I found these segments to be absolutely wonderful as Miller clearly shows that not only have the creationists done great violence to science - they have done, and are still doing, great violence to theology!
The later portion of the book, however, lags somewhat as Miller attempts to argue in Christianity's favour using the facts of evolution. The argument amounts to a modified Deism that does nothing to argue for Christianity over any other sytem of theology. Miller, in fact, comes close to making the same mistake that the creationists do - assuming that, in the absence of opposition, Christianity is the natural fall back position.
I would say that Miller suceeds in demonstrating that acceptance of evolution and belief in Christianity can be held together. However, he does not make a convincing case for why anyone should bother trying to.
The science, however, is brilliantly summarised and this book will provide a great one-stop reference for anyone beset by creationist idiocy.
