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Title: Science Held Hostage: What's Wrong With Creation Science and Evolutionism by Howard J. Van Till, Davis A. Young, Clarence Menninga ISBN: 0-8308-1253-9 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: June, 1988 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $10.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Useful, Fair, But Ultimately Flawed
Comment: Science Held Hostage is indeed surprisingly fair in its treatment of those whom it criticizes. The discussion of the nature, methods, and values of science is quite appealing on the whole. Unfortunately, the book fails in its attempt to prevent science-theology controversies from arising by separating the two into non-interacting compartments. The authors tell us that the formational history of physical objects falls solely within the domain of science, so theology can appear to conflict only by transgressing its boundaries. This assertation amounts to claiming to know in advance what divinely-inspired books might choose to say.
But (as A. Plantinga) points out, one just doesn't know that in advance. God might tell us that on one occasion, really good wine was formed not from grapes over a long time, but from dirty water in a short time (John 2, the wedding at Cana). According to the domains described by Science Held Hostage, that claim is properly in science's territory, and science, which does not find dirty water turning rapidly into dirty water regularly, would reject the claim.
The result is that Van Till et al., if consistent, ought to deny that Jesus turned water into one. One can generate many such examples.
This book's attempt to separate science and theology to prevent conflict, therefore, either amounts simply to calling on theology to capitulate (which is a peculiar way to stop a war, and which ought to be identified as surrender, and acknowledged to be theologically liberal rather than evangelical), or simply fails to resolve the conflict after all. Given that resolving the conflict was to a large degree why the book was written, one must judge the effort to be a failure, though one worth reading.
Rating: 4
Summary: Surprisingly fair treatment of creation vs. evolution issues
Comment: As both a scientist and a Christian, I found this treatment of the much-heated debate on creation vs. evolution very fair-minded and enlightening. It is written for the layperson in mind and is very clear in defining the scope for both the realms of science and religion. As a person who has grown weary of the "mud slinging" from both sides of the controversy, I am glad to recommend this book to anyone who is honest with himself and open-minded (believers and non-believers alike!). One criticism, however, is their rather lengthy examples using geology. Since I am trained in molecular biology, this section did not hold my interests as greatly as the other sections. This book helped give me new insights to strengthen both my scientific stand on objective facts and my religious stand on a personal, loving God who created this wondrously complex universe.
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Title: The Triumph of Evolution : and the Failure of Creationism by Niles Eldredge ISBN: 0805071474 Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc. Pub. Date: 01 December, 2001 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: Bones of Contention: A Creationist Assessment of the Human Fossils by Marvin L. Lubenow ISBN: 0801056772 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: December, 1992 List Price(USD): $18.99 |
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