Book recommendations

[dies-l]

I do not have any firm beliefs on the question of human origins. I am willing to accept or reject currently evolutionary theory, but at this point I lack the knowledge to form a decently well-educated belief. I would like book recommendations from Christians from all of the varying beliefs regarding origins, specfically books that address the science in a way that is well-researched, yet reasonably accessible to a non-scientist like myself.

I have already read Finding Darwin's God by Kenneth Miller, and I found it to be very helpful in explaining various ID theories and why they do not stack up against the weight of scientific evidence. To gain insight into an opposing perspective, I tried to read Faith, Form, and Time by Kurt Wise, for a variety of reasons, I found his conclusions quite unconvincing.

I am specifically interested in books written by scientists who have significant education in biology, organic chemistry, and such, and I am willing to take the time to read any reasonably well-written book on the topic, provided that I can understand it.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Mallon]

If it's evidence for evolution you're looking for, written for the layman, check out Don Prothero's Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters.
If you want a good discussion of the theological ramifications of science and evolution, check out Denis Lamoureux's Evolutionary Creation or the edited volume Perspectives on an Evolving Creation.

 

[dies-l]

If it's evidence for evolution you're looking for, written for the layman, check out Don Prothero's Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters.
If you want a good discussion of the theological ramifications of science and evolution, check out Denis Lamoureux's Evolutionary Creation or the edited volume Perspectives on an Evolving Creation.

I am interested in well-written books dealing with both topics. More specifically, I am interested in books that are common enough that I am likely to find either in my local library or in the state library network of which the local library is a member.

 

[The Barbarian]

There's a very basic and readable, but detailed and accurate series on science from Time/Life called "Get a Grip on.."

"Get a Grip on Evolution" is pretty good. And it's written so a high schools student could understand it.

A pretty good textbook is Charlotte Avers' Process and Pattern in Evolution

A very readable, albeit somewhat dated work is George Gaylord Simpson's The Meaning of Evolution.

Want something heavier? Try Stephen Gould's The Structure of Evolutionary Theory. But only if you want to spend a lot of money for something so detailed and dry that you have to struggle to get through it. And it's big. I'm still working on it.

 

[Mallon]

Want something heavier? Try Stephen Gould's The Structure of Evolutionary Theory. But only if you want to spend a lot of money for something so detailed and dry that you have to struggle to get through it. And it's big. I'm still working on it.

Ugh! I had to read the second half of that tome for a course I took last year. No regrets, though.

 

[sfs]

If it's evidence for evolution you're looking for, written for the layman, check out Don Prothero's Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters.
If you want a good discussion of the theological ramifications of science and evolution, check out Denis Lamoureux's Evolutionary Creation or the edited volume Perspectives on an Evolving Creation.

I can second the recommendation for the Perspectives book. Another good book on the science is Darrel Falk's Coming to Peace with Science. It's very much written for the layman, from an evangelical perspective, but it covers a wide range of evidence.

 

[shernren]

Vern Poythress' Redeeming Science is extremely even-handed (so even-handed that I find myself disagreeing with him at points ).

 

[BeforeTheFoundation]

Anything by Allister McGrath is excellent.

 

[philadiddle]

I liked The Language of God by Francis Collins. I've also read Ever Since Darwin by Stephen J. Gould, it was quite interesting.

 

[dies-l]

Any good book recommendations from that anti-evolution side?

 

[Mallon]

Any good book recommendations from that anti-evolution side?

Probably the most oft-cited anti-evolution text is Henry Morris' Scientific Creationism.

 

[The Barbarian]

A good anti-evolution book might be "Doubts about Darwin", which although often wrong in my opinion, is written by fine gentleman and devout Christian, Tom Woodward.

He is, in my opinion, one of the most honest and straightforward of creationist writers. I have enjoyed debating him; we were quite blunt with each other, but retained a mutual respect, even friendship.

If you read no other anti-evolution book, read his.

 

[dies-l]

A good anti-evolution book might be "Doubts about Darwin", which although often wrong in my opinion, is written by fine gentleman and devout Christian, Tom Woodward.

He is, in my opinion, one of the most honest and straightforward of creationist writers. I have enjoyed debating him; we were quite blunt with each other, but retained a mutual respect, even friendship.

If you read no other anti-evolution book, read his.

Thanks. I want to understand the debate from both sides. So far much of what I have seen from the anti-evolution side has been based on poorly researched science or weak logical arguments. I am sure that there has to be some well researched and well-articulated book on that side of the debate. I will certainly check that out, along with some of the other recommendations if I am able to get a hold of them.

 

[The Barbarian]

You might also refer to Kurt Wise. Although a YE Creationist, he has a doctorate in paleontology, and is painfully honest about his beliefs. He has been known to take other creationists to task for questionable arguments, but firmly remains convinced of YE.

He even earned the grudging respect of Richard Dawkins, who nevertheless found his combination of learning and religious faith incomprehensible.

I haven't read any of his books, but reading some of his statements, I'd have to say he would be one that I should read.
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Kurt P. Wise&page=1

 

[dies-l]

You might also refer to Kurt Wise. Although a YE Creationist, he has a doctorate in paleontology, and is painfully honest about his beliefs. He has been known to take other creationists to task for questionable arguments, but firmly remains convinced of YE.

He even earned the grudging respect of Richard Dawkins, who nevertheless found his combination of learning and religious faith incomprehensible.

I haven't read any of his books, but reading some of his statements, I'd have to say he would be one that I should read.
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Kurt P. Wise&page=1

I had a hard time reading one of Wise's books. I can't debate his take on paleontology, because I lack the education to do so, but I found that he contradicted his own theological arguments. Since his scientific argument seems to presuppose a theological necessity to disprove evolution, I saw little point in reading much beyond his theological argument. I still have the book, though, so maybe it is worth checking it out again.

 

[Mallon]

So far much of what I have seen from the anti-evolution side has been based on poorly researched science or weak logical arguments.

In that case, you might not want to read the Morris text I recommended.

 

[vossler]

Any good book recommendations from that anti-evolution side?

I'd say the Bible but somehow I don't think that's what you're looking for.

 

[Mick116]

Physicist David Snoke has written a decent book from an old-earth special creationist's perspective entitled "A Biblical Case for an Old Earth".

From a theistic evolutionist's perspective, I enjoyed "God & the Biologist" by R. J. Berry, "The Language of God" by Francis Collins, "Evolution and Christian Faith" by Joan Roughgarden, "Creation or Evolution: Do We Have to Choose?" by Denis Alexander and "Worlds Apart: The Unholy War Between Religion and Science" by Karl Giberson.

 

[dies-l]

I'd say the Bible but somehow I don't think that's what you're looking for.

Only because I have read the Bible several times now, and I have never encountered any arguments therein for or against evolution. I am operating under the assumption that, if evolution is in fact based on faulty science, there exists a body of scientific evidence for an alternative explanation. This is what I am looking for.

 

[vossler]

Only because I have read the Bible several times now, and I have never encountered any arguments therein for or against evolution. I am operating under the assumption that, if evolution is in fact based on faulty science, there exists a body of scientific evidence for an alternative explanation. This is what I am looking for.

That's interesting because for me that is my primary source for the argument against evolution. If the Bible didn't exist I'd probably be the ignorant fool I was when in high school believing all the so called 'scientific' facts. Since you don't see the Bible as a contrary source then all I would ask you to do is truly look at the hard facts and eliminate everything based on speculation and conjecture. Only with God's help you will come to the truth, that is if it is the truth that you truly seek.