Comments on: “Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America’s Soul” by Kenneth R Miller

By: Victor

Victor — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:05:39 +0000

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

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:26:53 +0000

Sounds like a great book. I can definately see myself picking this up to read. Great review!

By: Hava

Hava — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:14:54 +0000

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

By: Michelle B.

Michelle B. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:25:08 +0000

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.

By: Abby Jerome

Abby Jerome — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:48:16 +0000

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.

By: Hava

Hava — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:54:06 +0000

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

By: Katie Price

Katie Price — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:11:46 +0000

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.

By: Jaclyn

Jaclyn — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:08:47 +0000

Cool beans, sounds pretty interesting actually.
Nice job adding this blog thing.

Jaclyn

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:42:04 +0000

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.