God and Evolution?
Science Meets Faith

this book received
a 2013 award in the Faith and Science category
from the Catholic Press Association

A New Book for All Reasons

Bolstered with insights from Cardinals, Popes, and major theologians, richly illustrated with helpful diagrams, and requiring no training in science, philosophy, or theology, this book is a much-needed resource for all faithful Catholics - including students at all levels whether high-school, college, or beyond - who want to learn more about the science behind evolution in a way that does not detract from their deeply held faith but actually strengthens it. And any readers with an interest in science may be surprised to learn how Catholicism, unlike many other religions, welcomes the discoveries of all scientific inquiry.

Isn't There a Conflict, Though?

Do We Need Science?

Being a human geneticist myself, I have no doubt we do need to teach our next generation about evolution. Science has given us so much in modern life that we don’t want to fall back to the time when the earth was yet considered flat and we had no scientific accomplishments such as television, phones, medication, or surgery to improve our lives. Still it’s a love-hate relationship: We want scientists to keep their “predictive” hands off our lives, yet we want our medical doctors to know “what determines what” so they can cure us. Perhaps we should teach science with a little more reservation, though. Science only deals with what can be counted and measured, and therefore has nothing to say about everything else in life that counts. Besides, science is and remains a fallible enterprise; many scientific statements have been and in time still need to be revised. But at least, science keeps learning from its mistakes.

Yet, I warn you, because reason also requires faith, this book is one long argument against the arrogance of some narrow-minded scientists.

Do We Need Religion?

Being a Catholic myself, I am very aware of the fact that there is more to life than science. Science may be everywhere, but science is certainly not all there is; science is actually a very limited undertaking. And that’s where religion, creation, Adam and Eve come in. Public schools (and even some Catholic schools) want to stay away from such issues, but ignoring them doesn’t make those issues go away. Should they become a new science, though – like creationism and the theory of “intelligent design” would like to have it? No, they shouldn’t – for the simple reason that science has earned its solid reputation the way it is, which still doesn’t take away from the fact that there is more to life than science.

Yet, I warn you, because faith also requires reason, this book is also one long argument against the tyranny of some fundamentalist believers.

The answer is: We Do Need BOTH!
We need to read the Book of Nature
as well as the Book of Scripture

"It is the divine page that you must listen to;
it is the book of the universe that you must observe."

Saint Augustine,
(Enarrationes in Psalmos, 45, 7).

Is There a Middle Road?

Yes, I believe there is. Science should never be silenced by religion, nor should religion ever be silenced by science. Let's teach science and preach religion - but not reversed, please. So let’s not turn science into a pseudo-religion, nor let religion become a semi-science. Allow science to read the Book of Nature and allow religion to read the Book of Scripture, for they both have the same Author... GOD.

So we should be able to read both "books" without any conflict.
Is such a thing possible? Find out!
Read this new book or invite its author as a speaker in your parish, for your parish mission or for evangelization!

“true science discovers God in an ever-increasing degree –
as though God were waiting behind every door opened by science."
Pope Pius XII (Pontifical Academy of Sciences, 11-22-1951).

"The magisterium of the Church does not forbid that [...] ,
in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions [...] take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution."
Pope Pius XII (Encyclical Humani Generis).

Can You Trust This Book?

Because it is written by a trained human geneticist and philosopher of science, the reader can trust that the science is rigorous and authentic.

The Bishop's foreword, the Imprimatur, the Nihil Obstat,
plus the many citations from Church authority demonstrate that the reader can trust the material to support, not undermine, the Catholic faith (Recommendations).

For Whom the Bell Tolls

The book was written for a wide audience of educated Catholics. But it is more specifically geared towards the following groups:

• college students
• teachers of biology
• home schoolers
• parents with children in high school or college
• pastors, deacons, religious, etc.
• teachers of religious education
• study groups in parishes
• and those who feel that science is pulling them away from their faith.

In short, the book is ideal for all those confused and troubled by the seeming contradiction between scientific knowledge and their religious faith.

Some Quotes From The Book

"Creation explains why evolution happens,
whereas evolution explains how creation happens."

"Creation is a pre-condition for evolution, but evolution is the way creation unfolds.
In other words, nothing in the animate world makes sense without evolution, but nothing in evolution makes sense except in the light of creation."

"Whereas evolution tells us that everything comes from something else, creation tells us that everything would be no-thing if it didn’t come from God."

"Our anatomy and physiology are based on DNA and natural selection.
But our rationality and morality derive from Above, beyond the reach of science."

"Evolutionism was born in the mind of arrogant scientists.
Creationism was born in the mind of narrow-minded fundamentalists."

Table of Contents for the Book

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION

1. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC POSITION
1.1. WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES

2. WHERE WE COME FROM – ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
2.1. TWO CREATION ACCOUNTS
2.2. WHAT THE BIBLE DOESN’T SAY
2.3. HOW TO READ CREATION ACCOUNTS

3. WHERE WE COME FROM – ACCORDING TO SCIENCE
3.1. IS EVOLUTION A FACT?
3.2. WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION
3.3. THE MECHANISM OF EVOLUTION
3.4. EVIDENCE FOR THE THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION
3.5. WHAT SCIENCE CANNOT CLAIM
3.6. SCIENCE AND RELIGION – A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

4. BEWARE OF WORLDVIEWS
4.1. THE CASE AGAINST EVOLUTIONISM	
4.2. THE CASE AGAINST CREATIONISM
4.3. THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM: INTELLIGENT DESIGN THEORY

5. A FAIR BALANCE: CREATION AND EVOLUTION
5.1. THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN SCIENCE
5.2. THE ROOTS OF RATIONALITY AND MORALITY
5.3. THE ELUSIVENESS OF THE HUMAN MIND
5.4. GOD’S PRESENCE IN HIS CREATION

6. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
7. INDEX