Deeper Than Darwin: The Prospect For Religion In The Age Of Evolution

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Deeper Than Darwin: The Prospect For Religion In The Age Of Evolution

by John F. Haught

3.33 · rating details · 6 ratings · 3 reviews

In his acclaimed book God After Darwin, John Haught argued that religious belief is wholly compatible with evolutionary biology. Now, in Deeper Than Darwin, he advances his argument further by saying that religious belief is even more revealing about life than Darwinism. Haught looks hard at the question of how, after Darwin, religions may plausibly claim to be bearers of ...more

Paperback, 232 pages

Published August 27th 2004 by Westview Press (first published August 26th 2004)

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Apr 17, 2009

David rated it

Shelves: science, theology, philosophy

John Haught argues that both scientists and theologians have a reading problem. Too many scientists take a materialistic approach (the physical universe is all that is) and thus do not go deep enough in understanding the world. Likewise, too many theologians take a creationist approach and do not realize the depth to which Darwinian evolution takes us. Haught argues that only science and theology working together give us a full view of the cosmos.

Haught's book is not for everyone....moreJohn Haught argues that both scientists and theologians have a reading problem. Too many scientists take a materialistic approach (the physical universe is all that is) and thus do not go deep enough in understanding the world. Likewise, too many theologians take a creationist approach and do not realize the depth to which Darwinian evolution takes us. Haught argues that only science and theology working together give us a full view of the cosmos.

Haught's book is not for everyone. He presupposes the explanatory power of evolutionary biology. For some Christians, this will immediately negate anything else he may say. But I think this book has value for those Christians who are studying the sciences, or for skeptics who are convinced of Darwinism, for a main thesis of the book is that Darwinian evolution does not negate religion, it actually enriches faith.

Haught convincingly shows that both creationists and materialists fail in looking at the world through a too-literal lens. Materialists take the findings of evolutionary biology and make the metaphysical argument that the physical universe is all there is. But this is not a scientific argument, as much as they may say it is. Biblical creationists are stuck in a certain reading of Genesis that does not fit the scientific evidence, but they stick with it because they agree with the materialists that evolution irreversibly means the physical universe is all there is. Haught argues that the validity of evolutionary biology takes us deep into the universe, but not all the way to the bottom.

Going deeper means we do not stop too soon and argue that something that appears to be designed has no natural explanation, for science continues to seek natural explanations. Going deeper also means we do not say evolutionary science explains everything (as Dennett, Dawkins and others do), for this is a philosophical statement. Yes, Darwin's theory has changed how we understand the world but Haught argues this can enrich theology, not invalidate it. To go deeper into the world of meaning and purpose is to go beyond science alone. For Haught, theology continues to play an important, essential role in the world.

Whether you agree with Haught's view of Darwinism or not (and I believe he has other books more about that theory itself), this book is a helpful contribution to the argument against those who assert Darwinism eliminates God. I highly recommend it for people pondering issues of science and religion, especially people educated in the sciences.

The place where I think Haught falls short is the lack of a solid place for Christ in his theology. Perhaps that is because this was not a theology book per se, but a book defending a place for theology as a whole in general in a post-Darwin world. Yet when he does get to speaking of theology, and saying some thought-provoking things about God as Omega, drawing us into the future as new beings, there should be a greater emphasis on Christ's role in this.

Overall, a great book.(less)

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May 05, 2010

Tim and Popie Stafford rated it

Some very stimulating thoughts about evolution, countering materialists and also intelligent design, emphasizing the widening view of reality that evolution has given us. Biggest contrib: we now know that reality is a story, a story in process.

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Nov 03, 2010

Jason rated it

Shelves: theology, science

One of the more in-depth looks at the possible intersections of faith and Darwinism. Takes both equally seriously and argues for multiple levels of explanation in the human quest for depth/truth.

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What is God?: How to Think about the Divine

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