Nov 10 2008
“Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul” by Kenneth R Miller
Note: I got most of the way through this post and realized that I had forgotten to give a definition for intelligent design, for those readers out there who are not into the latest fads of science. 
Basically, Intelligent Design (ID) is the belief that there are complex systems in this world (they use the eye as an example) that could never have evolved on its own. Ergo, there has to be an intelligent designer who has done all of the major changes in the life forms here on Earth - they believe that every time a new species either appeared or disappeared, it was done by the direct hand of a god (and they specifically say that it isn’t necessarily the Christian God - just a god.) Intelligent design is in direct competition with evolution as a way of explaining the history of life on Earth.
Okay, now we can proceed with my book review…
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This year in the honors program, we are studying evolution which has been fascinating for me. Perhaps I slept through evolution in my science classes in high school, or maybe it’s part of the knowledge that I’ve since forgotten that I even learned, but either way, I know pretty much nothing about evolution.
So when I saw Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul by Kenneth R Miller while doing check-in, I thought that it’d be a great book to check out and read, so I could get a better grounding on the subject.
The main thrust of the book is this: Evolution is a scientific theory that has been proven over and over again in the labs and in different disciplines of science. Intelligent design, on the other hand, has absolutely no scientific proof backing it up, despite the fact that its proponents claim that it is a scientific theory. Miller goes through and explains the intelligent design point of view in-depth, and then he very neatly rips it to shreds.
In the debate today on evolution vs intelligent design, the lines have been set: If you believe there is a God, then you must be against evolution and for intelligent design. And if you’re for evolution and against intelligent design, well then, you must be a soulless atheist.
Which is what makes this book stand out from the crowd: Kenneth Miller is a devout Christian. He believes in God. He also believes that a belief in God and a knowledge that evolution is a true scientific principle are not at odds with each other at all.
The really great part of the book is that this is not made a central point of the book. Instead, he discusses both evolution and intelligent design from a scientist’s viewpoint, and leaves religion pretty much out of the equation. About two-thirds of the way through the book, he does discuss his belief in God, and it runs about five pages. For any atheists or agnostics reading the book, they would not be offended by this section, and could easily skip it without feeling like they’re missing large chunks of the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style of the book - Miller is a professor of biology at Brown University, and has obviously spent a lot of time breaking down difficult concepts, because I was never lost once while reading this book, which says a lot for his ability to teach. I hate it when I read a book that is supposedly intended for a general audience, but it written so far above me, the only way to comprehend it is to read it with a dictionary in the other hand. You don’t have to worry about that with this book.
I have to give two giant thumbs up for this book. If you’ve heard about the debate, and you’re wanting to see what all the fuss is about, this is the book to read. If a non-scientific mind like mine can read it and understand it and enjoy it, I think pretty much anyone out there could too. And this is such an important debate in today’s world, you don’t want to go into it blind.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Hava
I thought your review was good. I would like to read this book because I belive in God and have several questions on how evoution works,if it really does.
Cool beans, sounds pretty interesting actually.
Nice job adding this blog thing.
Jaclyn
I don’t understand how someone who believes in a God can think that the universe is as old as evolutionsts state it is. The Bible states the earth is a whole lot younger than scientists say. For someone to be a devout Christian yet still believe in Evolution doesn’t make sense to me. For me, its one or the other.
Laura - I have looked at checking out Darwin’s books and reading straight from the man himself, but I have a low tolerance for boring books, so I haven’t done it yet.
And I’m not saying that his ideas are boring, but the fact that he lived so long ago, I’m sure that there is a lot of antiquated language in it. I’m really not very good with that kind of thing. One of the reasons that I don’t like Jane Austen.
I hope you read “Only a Theory” and enjoy it!
Lisa - I think this would be an excellent book to read, if you’re wondering about that kind of thing. Another good one to look at is “Finding Darwin’s God” by the same author. In that book, he tackles the idea of believing in evolution and God at the same time, head-on. This book, it’s more of an aside, not something he focuses on. “Finding Darwin’s God,” on the other hand, is completely focused on that question.
Katie Price - I had always felt that way too, but it’s amazing what a field is opening up there, of scientists who believe in God and evolution, and are writing a multitude of books on that subject. I really like that idea, because then Christians don’t have to feel as if evolution is attacking their beliefs. These scientists (and their books) are proof that you can in fact choose both, not just one or the other.
The thing you have to let go of is that the telling of Adam, Eve, and the creation is a literal story - exactly what God truly did. Most scientists who believe there is a Christian God come to the conclusion that Genesis is an explanation to a group of people who are not educated like we are today - this is a group of people who still believe the world is flat. They aren’t exactly going to understand modern science. So (the idea goes) that God explains the history of the world in a way that these people can understand.
In “Only a Theory” (and I wish I had quoted it in my review, but I didn’t) the author quotes one of the more recent popes, who basically said that the Bible is a religious document, and that it should not be taken in a scientific way - that it is not there to give answers to your scientific questions. I thought that was a great way of looking at it.
The world of science is rapidly changing, and there are quite a few scientists who believe in God, the Bible, and evolution. That, luckily, is no longer a choice that has to be made - they can have their cake and eat it too.
Havs
I really liked your review and I think I will look into reading Miller’s book as well. My highschool was not allowed to teach evolution so I too was thoroughly confused at the beginning, but it has really intrigued me to learn more. I am a christian and go to church and believe in all that so I like that there are educated people out there like Miller who is saying that it’s not one or the other.
Im interested to see whether or not evolution will be more excepted in public schooling in the future. I think its important to know at least what evolution is all about so that people can make an educated, informed decision and not just immediately assume that all scientists are trying to convince children that there is nothing behind religion.
So, thanks for writing your book review and encouraging us all to read more about evolution.
Wow, great review. How refreshing to hear that there is actually a book out there that isn’t bashing one side of this issue or the other. I find it interesting how Miller is a devout Christian, but also isn’t quick to dismiss the evidence of evolution. When I find the time, I will have to check this book out. Thanks for the info!
Michelle B.
Abby - That is interesting that your high school did not allow the teaching of evolution. Did you know that as a student? I honestly don’t remember if I was taught evolution or not in high school - if it was in there, I wasn’t paying much attention, apparently. Which isn’t that shocking - I wasn’t huge into science and took my last science class as a sophomore. I hope you read Only a Theory, or Darwin’s God, because I think both would be really helpful.
Michelle - Not only is he “not quick to dismiss” the evidence of evolution, he’s actually a HUGE proponent of it. He talks quite a bit about how America’s reluctance to teach it in our high schools will cause us to fall farther and farther behind in science, because so much of science hinges on this concept. He makes quite the case for evolution, and does it from the Christian point of view.
Havs
Sounds like a great book. I can definately see myself picking this up to read. Great review!
Reading your post really got me interested in reading this book because I am always fascinated with books like these which really get in depth with touchy subjects such as evolution. Overall, a good review and I like that it is easy to read and comprehend, not saying I don’t comprehend hard books or anything like that
- Vic