Evolution and Religious Creation Myths: How Scientists Respond

Polls show that 45% of the American public believes that humans were created about 10,000 years ago and that evolution is a fictitious myth. Another 25% believes that changes in the natural world are directed by a supernatural being with a particular goal in mind. This thinking clashes head on with scientific findings from the past 150 years, and there is a dearth of public critical thinking about the natural world within a scientific framework. Evolution and Religious Creation Myths seeks to educate and arm the public on the differences between myth and science, fiction and theory. The book begins with a whirlwind tour of creation stories from several religions. The authors then explore how certain forms of religious fundamentalism clash with the science of evolution. They review how creationists and intelligent design proponents misuse and misrepresent scientific terminology and conclusions to further their own agendas. How do scientists respond to this threat? Modern science, which includes a level of indeterminacy, or chance, cannot support the premise that a supernatural designer engineered nature for a particular purpose in a deterministic fashion. This holds true for the creation of the universe, the appearance of the first biological molecules, chemical evolution, and the evolution of life forms through mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift. Instead, human biological and cultural evolution is described within a genetic framework. Scientists use a barrage of genetic tests and DNA phylogenies to support the scientific basis for evolution. For anyone who has ever needed to argue why evolution and creationism are not both valid theories that deserve equal attention, this book clearly defines the difference between theory and myth. Scientists, teachers, and defenders of the truth should read this book in preparation for when they are called upon to respond.

Politics & Social Sciences

Stone, Linda

Lurquin, Paul F.

Social Sciences

Oxford University Press

Now revised and updated--John Lennox's acclaimed method of reading and interpreting the first chapters of Genesis without discounting either science or Scripture. What did the writer of Genesis mean by "the first day" Are the seven days in Genesis 1 a literal week or a series of time periods If I believe that the earth is 4.5 billion years old as cosmologists believe, am I denying the authority of Scripture With examples from history, a brief but thorough exploration of the major interpretations, and a look into the particular significance of the creation of human beings, Lennox suggests that Christians can heed modern scientific knowledge while staying faithful to the biblical narrative. He moves beyond a simple response to the controversy, insisting that Genesis teaches us far more about the God of Jesus Christ and about God's intention for creation than it does about the age of the earth. With this book, Lennox offers a careful and accessible introduction to a scientifically-savvy, theologically-astute, and Scripturally faithful interpretation of Genesis. Since its publication in 2011, this book has enabled many readers to see that the major controversy with which it engages can be resolved without compromising commitment to the authority of Scripture. In this newly revised and expanded edition, John clarifies his arguments, responds to comments and critiques of the past decade since its first publication. In particular, he describes some of the history up to modern times of Jewish scholarly interpretation of the Genesis creation narrative as well as spelling out in more detail the breadth of views in the Great Tradition of interpretation due to the early Church Fathers. He shows that, contrary to what many people think, much of the difficulty with understanding the biblical texts does not arise from modern science but from attempting to elucidate the texts in their own right.

Seven Days that Divide the World, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science

Religion & Spirituality

Lennox, John C.

Christian Books & Bibles

Zondervan

“My road to atheism was paved by science… but, ironically, so was my later journey to God.”
Former atheist Lee Strobel has discovered that science, far from being the enemy of faith, now provides a solid foundation for belief in God. New scientific discoveries point to the incredible complexity of our universe, a complexity best explained by the existence of a Creator.
This revised six-session study (DVD/digital video) invites participants to encounter this evidence delivered in a compelling conversational style. Join Strobel in reexamining the theories that once led him away from God. Pastors, small group leaders, and individuals seeking resources that answer tough questions about the existence of God will find compelling answers in the Case for a Creator study. 
Sessions include:
<ol>
<li>Science and God</li>
<li>Doubts about Darwinism</li>
<li>The Evidence of Cosmology</li>
<li>The Fine-tuning of the Universe</li>
<li>The Evidence of Biochemistry</li>
<li>The DNA and the Origin of Life</li>
</ol>
Designed for use with the Case for a Creator Revised Video Study 9780310699606 (sold separately).

The Case for a Creator Bible Study Guide Revised Edition: Investigating the Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God

STROBEL, LEE

Poole, Garry D.

HarperChristian Resources

We are the sowers who sow the seeds, the Word of God, into the lives of those around us so that the Spirit can do His work in their hearts.  Jesus said the world is ready to be harvested.  Now we must do what God has called us to do: Go into all the world and tell them about Jesus.  With the Holy Spirit working with us, we can do it for Him-for the One who gave His life for us.  Allow this devotional to deposit those seeds into your heart each day...then go out and give them away.  There will be a fresh supply waiting...John4:34-35  "My food, said Jesus, 'is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.  Do you not say, "Four months more and then the harvest?"  I tell  you, open your eyes and look at the fields!  They are ripe for harvest!"

When I Am Weak - A Devotional

Arts & Photography

Mitchell, Doris Faye

Religious

Doris\Mitchell

How the Bible Destroyed My Religion

To whom it may concern,\nRaised Catholic, I questioned my indoctrination, especially an apparent Bible contradiction, which threatened to destroy the very foundation of Christianity. At thirteen, I saw myself drowning as my life flashed before my eyes, during a near-death experience.\nHigh school evolution studies further eroded my faith, leading to a downward spiral into the dark realm of the occult. Divine intervention later directed me to a Bible study where debate raged over Scripture interpretations. How? It was one book!\nWhy are we here? Where did we come from? What happens after death?\nWith an obsession for truth, I weighed the validity of all Christian doctrines against the Bible, as Darwin’s Theory of Evolution loomed menacingly in the background. My search culminated in a solo pilgrimage to the Holy Lands of Israel and Egypt.\nAll my life I’ve been searching for the truth.\nI found it.

How The Bible Destroyed My Religion

Biographies & Memoirs

Erbacher, Peter

Leaders & Notable People

Thorpe/Bowker

Raised Catholic, I questioned my indoctrination, especially an apparent Bible contradiction, which threatened to destroy the very foundation of Christianity. At thirteen, I saw myself drowning as my life flashed before my eyes, during a near-death experience.\nHigh school evolution studies further eroded my faith, leading to a downward spiral into the dark realm of the occult. Divine intervention later directed me to a Bible study where debate raged over Scripture interpretations. How? It was one book!\nWhy are we here? Where did we come from? What happens after death?\nWith an obsession for truth, I weighed the validity of all Christian doctrines against the Bible, as Darwin's Theory of Evolution loomed menacingly in the background. My search culminated in a solo pilgrimage to the Holy Lands of Israel and Egypt.\nAll my life I've been searching for the truth.\nI found it.

A Reckless God?: Currents and Challenges of the Christian Conversation with Science

Religious Studies

Acorn Press

God the Creator: Biblical Images of the Divine (Interpretation: Resources for the Use of Scripture in the Church)

Tuell, Steven S.

Westminster/John Knox Press

Where did we come from? Why is there pain and suffering? Who committed the first murder? Why are there so many languages in the world? The first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis have the answers to these questions and more—providing us with the history of the human race in its earliest years prior to the time of Abraham.
In this study, John MacArthur guides readers through an in-depth look at the creation story, the first murder, Noah and the Flood, the first covenant, the Tower of Babel, and the dispersion of the nations. This study includes close-up examinations of Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, and Noah, as well as careful considerations of doctrinal themes such as “The Fall of Man” and “Heritage and Family.”
The MacArthur Bible Studies provide intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture. Each guide incorporates extensive commentary, detailed observations on overriding themes, and probing questions to help you study the Word of God with guidance from John MacArthur.

Genesis 1 to 11: Creation, Sin, and the Nature of God (MacArthur Bible Studies)

MacArthur, John F.

Abraham is known as the “father of Israel” because God appeared to him and promised that his descendants would become a great nation. Yet Abraham is much more than the patriarch of a select group of ancient people. Through Abraham’s descendants, God’s own Son, Jesus, was born. Abraham is the father of all God’s people.
In this study, John MacArthur guides readers through an in-depth look at the historical period beginning with Abraham’s call from God, continuing through his relocation in the land of Canaan, and concluding with the story of his grandsons Jacob and Esau. This study includes close-up examinations of Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac, as well as careful considerations of doctrinal themes such as “Covenant and Obedience” and “Wrestling with God.”
The MacArthur Bible Studies provide intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture. Each guide incorporates extensive commentary, detailed observations on overriding themes, and probing questions to help you study the Word of God with guidance from John MacArthur.

Genesis 12 to 33: The Father of Israel (MacArthur Bible Studies)

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Creation Books