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Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach to Evolution
In this provocative book, evolutionist and evangelical Christian Denis O. Lamoureux proposes an approach to origins that moves beyond the "evolution-versus-creation" debate. Arguing for an intimate relationship between the Book of God's Words and the Book of God's Works, he presents evolutionary creation--a position that asserts that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created the universe and life through an ordained and sustained evolutionary process. This view of origins affirms intelligent design and the belief that beauty, complexity, and functionality in nature reflect the mind of God. Lamoureux also challenges the popular Christian assumption that the Holy Spirit revealed scientific and historical facts in the opening chapters of the Bible. He contends that Scripture features an ancient understanding of origins that functions as a vessel to deliver inerrant and infallible messages of faith. Lamoureux shares his personal story and his struggle in coming to terms with evolution and Christianity. Like many, he lost his boyhood faith at university in classes on evolutionary biology. After graduation, he experienced a born-again conversion and then embraced belief in a literal six-day creation. Graduate school training at the doctoral level in both theology and biology led him to the conclusion that God created the world through evolution. Lamoureux closes with the two most important issues in the origins controversy--the pastoral and pedagogical implications. How should churches approach this volatile topic? And what should Christians teach their children about origins?
514 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 9, 2016
I naively thought that this book was going to be an expansion of the author's paper "Evolutionary Creation" (available on the Internet), but it turned out to be much more than that.
Denis Lamoureux is Associate Professor of Science and Religion at St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta, has doctoral degrees in dentistry, theology and biology, and is an evangelical Christian.
He has written one of the best (and probably the most provocative) books yet on the compatibility of science and the Bible. He starts by clearly, completely and biblically demolishing scientific and historical concordism as a viable approach to interpreting Genesis 1-11 by making a very strong biblical case for God having accommodated His message to His chosen people in the science of the time (a flat, circular, immovable earth with ends, foundations, an underside, a solid firmament overhead with the sun, moon, and stars set in it, and a sea of water held up by the firmament) and in the approach to history of the time (stylistic). We now know from archaeology, etc. that this was the status of science and history in the Ancient Near East but is not an accurate description of the cosmos and human history as we currently understand it. Therefore, it is clear that the creation story in Genesis should not be taken literally. "In the same way that [God] took on fallible human flesh in the person of Jesus to reveal His love for us, the Creator employed imperfect human ideas about nature to disclose in Scripture that He ordained and sustains the world" (p. 175). Lamoureux summarizes the points he has made in two tables of the failures of scientific and historical concordism (pp. 150 & 242).
He then builds on this foundation to make the case that "most of the events in Genesis 1-11 never literally happened, but that this is not a problem whatsoever to the Christian faith if believers recognize that the attribution of divine and human action is accommodated through ancient categories in order to reveal, as effectively as possible, Holy Spirit messages of faith" (p. 312). "Just as sin was never literally taken away through animal sacrifice, one could argue that sin never literally entered into the world through the first man mentioned in Scripture" (p. 313). "The Church is built upon no one other than Jesus Christ. Adam never died for our sins, but the Lord did. Believers are Christ-ians and not Adam-ites. The Cross should never be conflated with the historicity of Adam, his sin, and judgment" (p. 331).
New Testament references to Adam and Noah are shown to be the same accommodation to the understanding of science and history of the time. In addition, Lamoureux points out that the New Testament references were making theological, not historical, points. Having said that, he clearly defends the historicity of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. No slippery slope for him!
Lamoureux's approach paves the way for acceptance of biological evolution by evangelical Christians by solving a lot of biblical interpretation problems, but it creates some theological problems. In order for his view of evolutionary creation to become accepted in the Christian churches, theologians and pastors are going to be very busy for a long time.
Throughout the book, Lamoureux compares and contrasts five basic positions on origins: Young Earth Creationism (Creation Science), Progressive (Old Earth, Day-Age) Creationism, Evolutionary Creationism (Theistic Evolution), Deistic Evolution, and Dysteleological (Atheistic) Evolution. He also discusses divine action, intelligent design, and the anthropic principle.
The penultimate chapter is the author's very detailed account of his personal struggle in coming to terms with evolution, from childhood Catholicism to atheism to Young Earth Creationism to Evolutionary Creationism, a struggle which formed the common thread throughout his professional career.
The book has ten appendices, including Sumarian King Lists, Jahwish and Priestly Sources of the Biblical Flood Account (Genesis 6-9), Fossil Pattern Predictions of the Christian Origins Positions, Age of Earth, Carbon-14 Dating and the Archaeological Record, and Human Evolution. It also includes extensive Notes, a brief Glossary, a Subject Index, and a Scripture Index.
I highly recommend this book to any Christian interested in the compatibility of modern science and the Bible, and to any agnostic or atheist interested in an approach to Christianity that does not conflict with modern science.
Denis Lamoureux is Associate Professor of Science and Religion at St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta, has doctoral degrees in dentistry, theology and biology, and is an evangelical Christian.
He has written one of the best (and probably the most provocative) books yet on the compatibility of science and the Bible. He starts by clearly, completely and biblically demolishing scientific and historical concordism as a viable approach to interpreting Genesis 1-11 by making a very strong biblical case for God having accommodated His message to His chosen people in the science of the time (a flat, circular, immovable earth with ends, foundations, an underside, a solid firmament overhead with the sun, moon, and stars set in it, and a sea of water held up by the firmament) and in the approach to history of the time (stylistic). We now know from archaeology, etc. that this was the status of science and history in the Ancient Near East but is not an accurate description of the cosmos and human history as we currently understand it. Therefore, it is clear that the creation story in Genesis should not be taken literally. "In the same way that [God] took on fallible human flesh in the person of Jesus to reveal His love for us, the Creator employed imperfect human ideas about nature to disclose in Scripture that He ordained and sustains the world" (p. 175). Lamoureux summarizes the points he has made in two tables of the failures of scientific and historical concordism (pp. 150 & 242).
He then builds on this foundation to make the case that "most of the events in Genesis 1-11 never literally happened, but that this is not a problem whatsoever to the Christian faith if believers recognize that the attribution of divine and human action is accommodated through ancient categories in order to reveal, as effectively as possible, Holy Spirit messages of faith" (p. 312). "Just as sin was never literally taken away through animal sacrifice, one could argue that sin never literally entered into the world through the first man mentioned in Scripture" (p. 313). "The Church is built upon no one other than Jesus Christ. Adam never died for our sins, but the Lord did. Believers are Christ-ians and not Adam-ites. The Cross should never be conflated with the historicity of Adam, his sin, and judgment" (p. 331).
New Testament references to Adam and Noah are shown to be the same accommodation to the understanding of science and history of the time. In addition, Lamoureux points out that the New Testament references were making theological, not historical, points. Having said that, he clearly defends the historicity of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. No slippery slope for him!
Lamoureux's approach paves the way for acceptance of biological evolution by evangelical Christians by solving a lot of biblical interpretation problems, but it creates some theological problems. In order for his view of evolutionary creation to become accepted in the Christian churches, theologians and pastors are going to be very busy for a long time.
Throughout the book, Lamoureux compares and contrasts five basic positions on origins: Young Earth Creationism (Creation Science), Progressive (Old Earth, Day-Age) Creationism, Evolutionary Creationism (Theistic Evolution), Deistic Evolution, and Dysteleological (Atheistic) Evolution. He also discusses divine action, intelligent design, and the anthropic principle.
The penultimate chapter is the author's very detailed account of his personal struggle in coming to terms with evolution, from childhood Catholicism to atheism to Young Earth Creationism to Evolutionary Creationism, a struggle which formed the common thread throughout his professional career.
The book has ten appendices, including Sumarian King Lists, Jahwish and Priestly Sources of the Biblical Flood Account (Genesis 6-9), Fossil Pattern Predictions of the Christian Origins Positions, Age of Earth, Carbon-14 Dating and the Archaeological Record, and Human Evolution. It also includes extensive Notes, a brief Glossary, a Subject Index, and a Scripture Index.
I highly recommend this book to any Christian interested in the compatibility of modern science and the Bible, and to any agnostic or atheist interested in an approach to Christianity that does not conflict with modern science.
May 21, 2011
Review forthcoming...
November 24, 2022
I think the subtitle of this book should be something along the lines of "An interpretive hermeneutic for Genesis 1-11," but other than a bit of imprecision in that respect, this was a well-written introduction and apologetic for a Christian view of Evolution. Be warned that if you are more interested in the actual proofs of evolution, they are few and far between in this book simply because it's not the author's focus to prove Evolution. His focus is largely the dismantling of the scientific worldview that's restricted to the literal and rigid interpretation of Genesis 1-11 so that room can be made for the possibility (and what he'd say the likelihood of) Evolution.
The first 280 pages are difficult to get through simply because he's building his case outlined above. Very well done, but can get difficult to read since he comes from many angles to discredit the Young Earth hermeneutic, like the taffy from Willy Wonka folding back in on itself to create more flexibility that will allow for an Old Earth view.
After those 280 pages, he hits what I think is the highlight of the book: chapters 8-10, a clear presentation of the worldview compatibility of Evolution and Christianity, his own personal testimony, and some final thoughts on the Origins debate. The Appendices are worth their weight in gold.
Denis Lamoureux has three doctoral degrees: Dentistry, Biology, and Theology. This man is not a lightweight when it comes to this issue of Origins. Proceed with caution and wonder. The issue of Origins, though tertiary to the faith of Christians, is one that has proven perilous for those who buy the false dichotomy of faith vs. science, whether a danger to faith or to intellect. Hold both as precious. Proceed in the peace of the Lord.
The first 280 pages are difficult to get through simply because he's building his case outlined above. Very well done, but can get difficult to read since he comes from many angles to discredit the Young Earth hermeneutic, like the taffy from Willy Wonka folding back in on itself to create more flexibility that will allow for an Old Earth view.
After those 280 pages, he hits what I think is the highlight of the book: chapters 8-10, a clear presentation of the worldview compatibility of Evolution and Christianity, his own personal testimony, and some final thoughts on the Origins debate. The Appendices are worth their weight in gold.
Denis Lamoureux has three doctoral degrees: Dentistry, Biology, and Theology. This man is not a lightweight when it comes to this issue of Origins. Proceed with caution and wonder. The issue of Origins, though tertiary to the faith of Christians, is one that has proven perilous for those who buy the false dichotomy of faith vs. science, whether a danger to faith or to intellect. Hold both as precious. Proceed in the peace of the Lord.
January 10, 2011
I have long maintained that we cannot hope for a broad acceptance of evolution among evangelicals until the heavy theological questions are acknowledged and a plausible approach to the theological quandaries evolution creates are sketched out -- followed by rather than in reaction to an explanation of the science behind it. This is what Denis Lamoureux aspires to do in Evolutionary Creation.
This book bears the name of Lamoureux's recommended term for exclusively non-interventionist "theistic evolution". In discussing scientific strengths of evolutionary theory, I especially appreciated how Lamoureux supplements a respectable treatment of genetic evidence for common descent by lending his unique perspective as a dentist to present the considerable paleontological evidence from analysis of teeth and jawbones. His critique of special creationism and intelligent design was clinical and admirably civil, but fervent nonetheless.
Lamoureux spends considerable space presenting a view of the Bible's authority that doesn't take its scientific or even all of its historical claims as accurate. In his memorable terminology, he rejects scientific and historical concordism, the beliefs that an authoritative Bible demands full agreement between the authors' understanding and scientific/historical reality on those matters. This is a good and necessary start, and I found his candor about theological problems and uncertainties commendable. Yet ultimately I found rather weak his basic assumption that a "message of faith", a divinely guaranteed spiritual message, lay embedded within every passage; I found that he offered no compelling rationale for discarding scientific or historical concordism while retaining what appears to be merely nuanced theological concordism.
One more significant component of the book is its detailed account of Lamoureux's "evolution" of thought on these matters, beginning with creationism, leading to evolution acceptance and atheism, then back to creationism, and finally back to theism and acceptance of evolution. One should not underestimate the potential of testimony for creating empathy and so attracting outsiders.
Due to this book's impressive attempt at being a comprehensive volume giving at least an overview of all areas touched by "evolutionary creation", it is not for the casual reader. For someone who wants to delve deep into the theological and scientific issues swirling around the debate, it seems a great introduction, almost textbook-like (indeed, I can see it being used in Christian college environments). Evolutionary Creation will serve as a useful introduction for those wanting a thorough discussion of all these matters.
This book bears the name of Lamoureux's recommended term for exclusively non-interventionist "theistic evolution". In discussing scientific strengths of evolutionary theory, I especially appreciated how Lamoureux supplements a respectable treatment of genetic evidence for common descent by lending his unique perspective as a dentist to present the considerable paleontological evidence from analysis of teeth and jawbones. His critique of special creationism and intelligent design was clinical and admirably civil, but fervent nonetheless.
Lamoureux spends considerable space presenting a view of the Bible's authority that doesn't take its scientific or even all of its historical claims as accurate. In his memorable terminology, he rejects scientific and historical concordism, the beliefs that an authoritative Bible demands full agreement between the authors' understanding and scientific/historical reality on those matters. This is a good and necessary start, and I found his candor about theological problems and uncertainties commendable. Yet ultimately I found rather weak his basic assumption that a "message of faith", a divinely guaranteed spiritual message, lay embedded within every passage; I found that he offered no compelling rationale for discarding scientific or historical concordism while retaining what appears to be merely nuanced theological concordism.
One more significant component of the book is its detailed account of Lamoureux's "evolution" of thought on these matters, beginning with creationism, leading to evolution acceptance and atheism, then back to creationism, and finally back to theism and acceptance of evolution. One should not underestimate the potential of testimony for creating empathy and so attracting outsiders.
Due to this book's impressive attempt at being a comprehensive volume giving at least an overview of all areas touched by "evolutionary creation", it is not for the casual reader. For someone who wants to delve deep into the theological and scientific issues swirling around the debate, it seems a great introduction, almost textbook-like (indeed, I can see it being used in Christian college environments). Evolutionary Creation will serve as a useful introduction for those wanting a thorough discussion of all these matters.
November 22, 2015
Would we rather be proven right or find the truth?
Many Christians attack evolution--not because it goes against the Bible, but because it goes what THEY THINK the Bible says. In reality, scientific concordism fails every time (and, in many cases, so does historical concordism). A teleological evolutionary creationist view, when paired with a genre- and literarily-accurate reading of Genesis 1-11, best displays the work of God, and best explains the existence of a soul, the part that sets us apart from our animalistic kin.
Having been raised young-earth, then flirting with progressive creation in college before accepting evolutionary creation, I understand that this is a sensitive subject (accepting this view, some would claim that I am no longer evangelical--or even go so far as to say I am not a "true believer." But Lamoureux handles the subject beautifully and tactfully. Many Christians claim that the origins debate is inconsequential; while I agree that other theological points are more central to sound doctrine, I know people who have given up their faith because scientific concordism leave gaps for "biblical errors."
If you know anyone who questions their faith because of science or history, or who is willing to put aside their assumptions and study scripture IN CONTEXT, understanding what it's actually trying to accomplish, I'd recommend this book over any other.
Many Christians attack evolution--not because it goes against the Bible, but because it goes what THEY THINK the Bible says. In reality, scientific concordism fails every time (and, in many cases, so does historical concordism). A teleological evolutionary creationist view, when paired with a genre- and literarily-accurate reading of Genesis 1-11, best displays the work of God, and best explains the existence of a soul, the part that sets us apart from our animalistic kin.
Having been raised young-earth, then flirting with progressive creation in college before accepting evolutionary creation, I understand that this is a sensitive subject (accepting this view, some would claim that I am no longer evangelical--or even go so far as to say I am not a "true believer." But Lamoureux handles the subject beautifully and tactfully. Many Christians claim that the origins debate is inconsequential; while I agree that other theological points are more central to sound doctrine, I know people who have given up their faith because scientific concordism leave gaps for "biblical errors."
If you know anyone who questions their faith because of science or history, or who is willing to put aside their assumptions and study scripture IN CONTEXT, understanding what it's actually trying to accomplish, I'd recommend this book over any other.
August 24, 2014
The seminal work on the subject.
February 22, 2016
Bonne synthèse d'une approche théiste-évolutionniste
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews