A thrilling reconsideration of the tug of war between science and creationism.
A radically new approach to evolution seeks to harmonize reason and revelation.
Charles Darwin’s On the Origins of the Species was a groundbreaking work in 1859—all the more impressive given the limitations imposed by his time. He relied heavily on fossils, but they provide no direct evidence of ancestry and are only really helpful given some prior understanding of genetics, which was not yet an existing science. In fact, all of Darwin’s theories were proposed prior to the discovery of DNA, with the prescience of his contributions a triumph of the scientific method, or inductive reasoning. But in the last 130 years, debut author Jeanson argues, new leaps in the understanding of the mechanisms of evolution have given scientists the vision to correct Darwin’s missteps and inch closer to an account of the origins of human life. The author is particularly interested in the boost given by the development of genetics as a field of scientific inquiry. If the mystery of the origins of the species is essentially one about the origins of traits, and they are governed by DNA, then the science of genetics holds the key to an eventual solution to the mystery. Provocatively, Jeanson suggests that the current bank of evidence available today is consistent with a view that includes a designing God; in one of the more gripping discussions, the author shows how the rate of human mutation actually corresponds to a creationist time scale of 6,000 years. The author is a scientist with peer-reviewed publications and a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from Harvard University. His knowledge of the material—historical and contemporary—and the rigor of his analysis are unimpeachable. In addition, while the subject matter is likely to be intellectually challenging for even the highly educated layperson, it won’t be because of Jeanson’s prose, which is beautifully limpid. Furthermore, he clearly grasps the gravity of the matter at hand and rises to the occasion: “The reason that the origins debate provokes such emotional responses is because it inexorably converges on philosophical and religious themes. The science of origins reaches to our deepest viscera.”
A thrilling reconsideration of the tug of war between science and creationism.Pub Date: Oct. 9, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-68344-075-8
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Master Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 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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