A good-faith, if not completely scientific, effort to reconcile the book of Genesis with the Big Bang theory.
A scientist compares the biblical account of Creation with mainstream scientific theories in this Christian work.
Strauss (Physics/Univ. of Oklahoma; co-editor: Dictionary of Christianity and Science, 2017) is both a Christian and a physicist, which many people find to be a surprising combination, he says. After all, aren’t the Big Bang and the biblical Creation narrative incompatible? The author used to think so, but he says that he has “come to realize that the big bang is one of the most powerful and convincing evidences for God’s existence.” The assumption among Christians that their faith and science are mutually exclusive is a troubling development, argues Strauss, who says that it can lead young Christians to either abandon their faith, once they get to college, or reject the important discoveries of science. In order to mitigate this rivalry, the author examines the ways in which the two worldviews overlap and inform each other. He looks at the reasons why scientists think what they think and why people should believe them; he then goes on to propose biblical theories that take scientific thought into account—questioning whether the word “day” in Genesis meant a literal 24-hour period, for instance, or whether there really was no death in the world before Adam’s sin. Throughout the book, Strauss’ tone is accessible and calming. At times, it even seems as though he’s afraid that he’ll scare readers away if he says the wrong thing: “Scientists like me are sometimes known for being stubborn and skeptical. My wife would most likely agree that this is true.” The book does fall short of fully accepting mainstream scientific consensus—the author doesn’t believe in natural evolution, for example—but there’s still much here that may give pause to science-skeptical Christians. Even if they’re not convinced by Strauss’ arguments, his effort to bridge this cultural chasm is an admirable one.
A good-faith, if not completely scientific, effort to reconcile the book of Genesis with the Big Bang theory.Pub Date: June 21, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-973629-95-5
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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