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Evolution: Scripture and Nature Say Yes
Christians throughout history have believed that God reveals himself both through Scripture and nature. The metaphor of God’s Two Books is often used to represent these two divine revelations. The Book of God’s Words is the Bible. Scripture reveals inerrant spiritual truths. These include, the God of Christianity is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the creation is very good, and only humans are created in the Image of God (Gen. 1:1, 27, 31). The Book of God’s Works is the physical world. Nature declares God’s glory, eternal power, and divine nature (Ps. 19:1; Rom. 1:20). Through the gift of science, our Creator has blessed us with the ability to explore and understand the structure, operation, and origin of his creation. Together God’s Two Books offer us a complementary divine revelation of who created the world and how he created it. A majority of Americans view science and religion as being in conflict, according to the Pew Research Center. Christians and non-Christians alike share this view, yet if this perceived conflict misrepresents the relationship between modern science and Christian faith, then it is both unhelpful and unnecessary today. In Scripture and Nature Say Yes , theologian and scientist Denis O. Lamoureux reviews several options for embracing biblical Christianity and findings of science, including biological evolution. Holding to a high view of Scripture alongside an expert appreciation for scientific discovery, Lamoureux further outlines a way to understand passages referring to the natural world in the Bible and also demonstrates how modern science can point toward God. Lamoureux shares his own story along the way, recounting struggles many readers will relate to on his journey toward PhDs in both theology and biology and a fruitful relationship between the two. Topics in this book Believers wanting to honor God’s Two Books—Scripture and Nature—faithfully and without conflict will find an excellent introduction in Scripture and Nature Say Yes .
208 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 10 reviews
November 15, 2016
This is not just another creation versus evolution book. Denis Lamoureux has written a very clear, personal, and layman-level case for cosmological, geological and biological evolution being compatible with the Bible. It is the fruitful result of his own struggle with the issues and his many years of teaching an introductory science and religion course to college students. He asks and answers the question: “Is there a Godly way to read the account of creation in Genesis 1 that isn’t literal? In other words, is there an approach that honors the Bible as being truly the inspired Word of God and focuses on the truths that the Lord intended for us?” (p. 23)
There are several themes that run throughout the book, including false dichotomies, God’s two books, concordism vs. accommodationism, the ancient science in the Bible, intelligent design, and his belief in and love for a historical Jesus Christ.
Lamoureux begins by describing his own journey through the creation-evolution maze, from young earth creationist to atheist to young earth creationist to evolutionary creationist.
He then discusses God’s two books, the Book of God’s Words and the Book of God’s Works, which need to be accepted together. He draws a parallel between (1) God lowering himself to accommodating his message to the level of understanding of the people of the Old Testament and (2) God lowering himself to become human in the form of Jesus who taught in parables in the New Testament.
He describes the ancient science of the Bible (the three-tiered universe, the influence of Ancient Near Eastern views of creation, the fixed earth, etc.), all supported by continuous references to Scripture and summarized in an excellent table on p. 111 that clearly demonstrates the failure of scientific concordism.
One of the major themes throughout parts of the book is that the Intelligent Design Movement forces another either/or type of thinking: evolution or design instead if evolution and design. He points out that intelligent design is a religious BELIEF that the world’s beauty, complexity, and functionality point toward an Intelligent Designer, as opposed to the Intelligent Design Movement’s CLAIM that design in nature is scientifically detectable.
Lamoureux describes the five basic positions on the origin of the universe: young earth creation, progressive creation, evolutionary creation, deistic evolution, and dysteleological (atheistic) evolution. He summarizes their similarities and differences in a very helpful two-page table. He then makes a strong case for evolutionary creationism.
Lamoureux views the current controversy over biological evolution as the Galileo affair all over again. He suggests that the ‘central lesson we should learn from the Galileo affair is that every time the Bible is used as a book of science, the results will be disastrous for both modern science and our faith.” (p. 152)
This new book covers a lot of the same material as his previous books (“Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach to Evolution,” and “I Love Jesus & I Accept Evolution”) but presented in a fresh, new way that integrates his personal story and classroom experience to a greater extent. It also includes some really nice touches, including illustrating his case for evolution with an interesting analogy between God’s creation of the world and a game of billiards. (p. 50), recasting a paragraph in Galileo’s “Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina” from describing geocentrism vs. heliocentrism to describing sudden creation vs. evolution. (p. 148), and a chapter on the religious evolution of Charles Darwin, from Christian to deist to agnostic, but never to atheist.
I recommend this book for any theological and/or scientific layman interested in the topic. This is THE book to give to your Young Earth Creationist friends. Lamoureux’s writing style is very personal and he continually refers to the Bible to make his points.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
There are several themes that run throughout the book, including false dichotomies, God’s two books, concordism vs. accommodationism, the ancient science in the Bible, intelligent design, and his belief in and love for a historical Jesus Christ.
Lamoureux begins by describing his own journey through the creation-evolution maze, from young earth creationist to atheist to young earth creationist to evolutionary creationist.
He then discusses God’s two books, the Book of God’s Words and the Book of God’s Works, which need to be accepted together. He draws a parallel between (1) God lowering himself to accommodating his message to the level of understanding of the people of the Old Testament and (2) God lowering himself to become human in the form of Jesus who taught in parables in the New Testament.
He describes the ancient science of the Bible (the three-tiered universe, the influence of Ancient Near Eastern views of creation, the fixed earth, etc.), all supported by continuous references to Scripture and summarized in an excellent table on p. 111 that clearly demonstrates the failure of scientific concordism.
One of the major themes throughout parts of the book is that the Intelligent Design Movement forces another either/or type of thinking: evolution or design instead if evolution and design. He points out that intelligent design is a religious BELIEF that the world’s beauty, complexity, and functionality point toward an Intelligent Designer, as opposed to the Intelligent Design Movement’s CLAIM that design in nature is scientifically detectable.
Lamoureux describes the five basic positions on the origin of the universe: young earth creation, progressive creation, evolutionary creation, deistic evolution, and dysteleological (atheistic) evolution. He summarizes their similarities and differences in a very helpful two-page table. He then makes a strong case for evolutionary creationism.
Lamoureux views the current controversy over biological evolution as the Galileo affair all over again. He suggests that the ‘central lesson we should learn from the Galileo affair is that every time the Bible is used as a book of science, the results will be disastrous for both modern science and our faith.” (p. 152)
This new book covers a lot of the same material as his previous books (“Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach to Evolution,” and “I Love Jesus & I Accept Evolution”) but presented in a fresh, new way that integrates his personal story and classroom experience to a greater extent. It also includes some really nice touches, including illustrating his case for evolution with an interesting analogy between God’s creation of the world and a game of billiards. (p. 50), recasting a paragraph in Galileo’s “Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina” from describing geocentrism vs. heliocentrism to describing sudden creation vs. evolution. (p. 148), and a chapter on the religious evolution of Charles Darwin, from Christian to deist to agnostic, but never to atheist.
I recommend this book for any theological and/or scientific layman interested in the topic. This is THE book to give to your Young Earth Creationist friends. Lamoureux’s writing style is very personal and he continually refers to the Bible to make his points.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
December 21, 2016
Lamoureux has brought a very valuable addition to the creation evolution discussion. He calls for the end of the dichotomy of evolution or creation. We don't have to choose. We can have both.
He shares his own story of becoming an atheist after studying evolution. He later found that faith in a creator God is very possible while still maintaining belief in evolution. He has written this book to help students and others who struggle with their Christian faith when confronted with modern science.
He takes readers through the fossil evidence. “Every year there are thousands of new fossils found,” he writes, “and they always show up exactly where scientists expect them to be in the fossil record.” (455/2478) The evidence for evolution is overwhelming, he says.
Lamoureux is an evolutionary creationist. “God with only one creative act set up the laws of nature for everything in the entire world to self-assemble through evolution.” (571/2478) “Beginning with the Big Bang, God put in motion extremely well-designed natural processes which he used to self-assemble the entire world, including us.” (610/2478) “Evolutionary creationists believe the Creator ordains and sustains all natural processes in the world, including the evolutionary process.” (1465/2478)
He argues that the early chapters in Genesis are ones in which God accommodated humans “and allowed writers to use the science-of-the-day.” (706/2478) He proposes the Message-Incident Principle where Bible statements about nature are to be read through the understanding of ancients. Evolutionary creationists believe real historical events in Scripture begin roughly around Genesis 12 and Abraham. Jesus' statements, such as God creating male and female (Matt. 19:4) are also accommodations to the understanding of the day, Lamoureux claims.
Lamoureux is not a deist, however. He believes God miraculously works in the lives of men and women. It is possible to reject God intervening “in origins and operations of the world but then fully embrace personal miracles as well as the miracles of Jesus and his bodily resurrection from the grave.” (743/2478)
He points out that in light of Romans 1:21-23, it “is evident” that “human sinfulness leads to intellectual dysfunction.” (830/2478) “In other words, sin impacts our ability to think clearly and rationally.” (830/2478) Also, “...sinfulness twists our thought processes into believing falsehoods.” (837/2478) Unfortunately, he fails to explore how this might impair the work of scientists and the conclusions they draw.
Difficulties for Christians believing in evolution include man being created in the image of God and man falling into sin. Lamoureux brushes off these issues by writing that understanding how the Image of God and sinfulness arose in humanity is “ultimately a mystery and beyond our comprehension.” (1478/2478) Not understanding how it came about “has no impact whatsoever” on his belief that we bear the Image of God and are sinners. (1478/2478) The evolutionary issue of how humans became conscious and spiritual beings is one Lamoureux does not tackle, even though I think it is a very important problem.
While this book is a good addition to the discussion on evolution and creation, there is much that yet needs to be covered. One is the area of miracles. Lamoureux says “it is perfectly reasonable” to reject God working in nature in the development of animals and humans yet accept “personal divine action.” (1996/2478) We already saw where Lamoureux accepts personal miracles. But personal miracles are God working in nature, healing, calming the storm, etc. Why should we reject God working in nature in one area (origins) but accept His working in nature in other areas?
Another topic needing further discussion is creation initially being good but then being tainted by sin. Paul says in Romans 5:12 that sin entered by one man and death through sin. How do Christian evolutionists explain that? Paul continues his argument by relating the sin of the one man (Adam) to God's saving grace through the one man, Jesus. (Rom. 5:15) If Paul was wrong about Adam how do we know he was right about Jesus?
And what about when Jesus mentioned the days of Noah and said it will be like that when He returns? (Matt. 24:7) Christian evolutionists do not accept the story of Noah as history so what do we do with Jesus' statement? And what about Peter when he writes about the world being deluged? (2 Peter 3:6) Peter relates that event to the future coming of the Lord and the earth being destroyed by fire. If we think Peter did not get the flood right, how can we trust he gets the coming of the Lord right? And John mentions Cain in I John 3:12. If John wrongly believed Cain was a real person how can we trust the rest he writes?
There are parts of this book I really appreciate. I appreciate Lamoureux's proposal of a fruitful relationship between the Bible and God's work revealed in science. I appreciate his discussion of metaphysics and physics and how one must take a leap from physics to metaphysics and belief in design and a Designer. I think he does an excellent job in discussing when evolution has an end in mind (determined by God) or is blind, as atheists claim. He presents very good arguments discounting atheism.
But there are also issues that still need to be discussed. This book is a good beginning to the topic but may not satisfy all readers, as it did not satisfy me. There still needs to be a great deal more work done on the views of Christian evolutionists and how they maintain the integrity of the Bible as revealing spiritual truths.
I recommend this book to those interested in the creation evolution discussion. Lamoureux clearly identifies how making people choose between science and faith has been detrimental. Many will find within these pages reasons to believe God created through the evolutionary process. I also recommend this book to those who are willing to work through the ideas of Christian evolutionary thought and clear up some of the remaining questions regarding the integrity of the Bible.
And just one more thought, this one regarding the title of the book. The title indicates that Scriptures in some way inform readers that evolution occurred. Lamoureux does not show that in this book. The best that can be said is that Scriptures do not say evolution did not happen – if you look at it through the eyes of Christian evolutionary thought. I personally think the title is misleading.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
He shares his own story of becoming an atheist after studying evolution. He later found that faith in a creator God is very possible while still maintaining belief in evolution. He has written this book to help students and others who struggle with their Christian faith when confronted with modern science.
He takes readers through the fossil evidence. “Every year there are thousands of new fossils found,” he writes, “and they always show up exactly where scientists expect them to be in the fossil record.” (455/2478) The evidence for evolution is overwhelming, he says.
Lamoureux is an evolutionary creationist. “God with only one creative act set up the laws of nature for everything in the entire world to self-assemble through evolution.” (571/2478) “Beginning with the Big Bang, God put in motion extremely well-designed natural processes which he used to self-assemble the entire world, including us.” (610/2478) “Evolutionary creationists believe the Creator ordains and sustains all natural processes in the world, including the evolutionary process.” (1465/2478)
He argues that the early chapters in Genesis are ones in which God accommodated humans “and allowed writers to use the science-of-the-day.” (706/2478) He proposes the Message-Incident Principle where Bible statements about nature are to be read through the understanding of ancients. Evolutionary creationists believe real historical events in Scripture begin roughly around Genesis 12 and Abraham. Jesus' statements, such as God creating male and female (Matt. 19:4) are also accommodations to the understanding of the day, Lamoureux claims.
Lamoureux is not a deist, however. He believes God miraculously works in the lives of men and women. It is possible to reject God intervening “in origins and operations of the world but then fully embrace personal miracles as well as the miracles of Jesus and his bodily resurrection from the grave.” (743/2478)
He points out that in light of Romans 1:21-23, it “is evident” that “human sinfulness leads to intellectual dysfunction.” (830/2478) “In other words, sin impacts our ability to think clearly and rationally.” (830/2478) Also, “...sinfulness twists our thought processes into believing falsehoods.” (837/2478) Unfortunately, he fails to explore how this might impair the work of scientists and the conclusions they draw.
Difficulties for Christians believing in evolution include man being created in the image of God and man falling into sin. Lamoureux brushes off these issues by writing that understanding how the Image of God and sinfulness arose in humanity is “ultimately a mystery and beyond our comprehension.” (1478/2478) Not understanding how it came about “has no impact whatsoever” on his belief that we bear the Image of God and are sinners. (1478/2478) The evolutionary issue of how humans became conscious and spiritual beings is one Lamoureux does not tackle, even though I think it is a very important problem.
While this book is a good addition to the discussion on evolution and creation, there is much that yet needs to be covered. One is the area of miracles. Lamoureux says “it is perfectly reasonable” to reject God working in nature in the development of animals and humans yet accept “personal divine action.” (1996/2478) We already saw where Lamoureux accepts personal miracles. But personal miracles are God working in nature, healing, calming the storm, etc. Why should we reject God working in nature in one area (origins) but accept His working in nature in other areas?
Another topic needing further discussion is creation initially being good but then being tainted by sin. Paul says in Romans 5:12 that sin entered by one man and death through sin. How do Christian evolutionists explain that? Paul continues his argument by relating the sin of the one man (Adam) to God's saving grace through the one man, Jesus. (Rom. 5:15) If Paul was wrong about Adam how do we know he was right about Jesus?
And what about when Jesus mentioned the days of Noah and said it will be like that when He returns? (Matt. 24:7) Christian evolutionists do not accept the story of Noah as history so what do we do with Jesus' statement? And what about Peter when he writes about the world being deluged? (2 Peter 3:6) Peter relates that event to the future coming of the Lord and the earth being destroyed by fire. If we think Peter did not get the flood right, how can we trust he gets the coming of the Lord right? And John mentions Cain in I John 3:12. If John wrongly believed Cain was a real person how can we trust the rest he writes?
There are parts of this book I really appreciate. I appreciate Lamoureux's proposal of a fruitful relationship between the Bible and God's work revealed in science. I appreciate his discussion of metaphysics and physics and how one must take a leap from physics to metaphysics and belief in design and a Designer. I think he does an excellent job in discussing when evolution has an end in mind (determined by God) or is blind, as atheists claim. He presents very good arguments discounting atheism.
But there are also issues that still need to be discussed. This book is a good beginning to the topic but may not satisfy all readers, as it did not satisfy me. There still needs to be a great deal more work done on the views of Christian evolutionists and how they maintain the integrity of the Bible as revealing spiritual truths.
I recommend this book to those interested in the creation evolution discussion. Lamoureux clearly identifies how making people choose between science and faith has been detrimental. Many will find within these pages reasons to believe God created through the evolutionary process. I also recommend this book to those who are willing to work through the ideas of Christian evolutionary thought and clear up some of the remaining questions regarding the integrity of the Bible.
And just one more thought, this one regarding the title of the book. The title indicates that Scriptures in some way inform readers that evolution occurred. Lamoureux does not show that in this book. The best that can be said is that Scriptures do not say evolution did not happen – if you look at it through the eyes of Christian evolutionary thought. I personally think the title is misleading.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
July 3, 2020
This was a phenomenal read! Two words: life changing!
The author explains in layman’s terms how it is possible to be an evolutionist, while at the same time be a sincere Christ follower! Yes! The debate between creationism and evolution needn’t be an “either/or” dichotomous choice. I wish I could have read this book many years ago. I will be recommending this to family members and friends.
Thanks, Denis O. Lamoureux for writing this! It will bless so many people.
The author explains in layman’s terms how it is possible to be an evolutionist, while at the same time be a sincere Christ follower! Yes! The debate between creationism and evolution needn’t be an “either/or” dichotomous choice. I wish I could have read this book many years ago. I will be recommending this to family members and friends.
Thanks, Denis O. Lamoureux for writing this! It will bless so many people.
November 25, 2020
This book is essentially 'Evolutionary Creationism for dummies', which is super helpful if you are (like me) someone who wants to learn about evolution after an entire life of ignoring all the evidence. Super appreciate this book and all I learnt from it, definitely a good start for learning the basics.
December 2, 2018
Book is about how evolution can be compatible with the Bible. It all depends on interpretation and how you understand key science and meta-science concepts. He does a good job though there is overlap with his other books.
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March 16, 2024Very Interesting
May 12, 2025
Super important book. I found the writing style tricky to follow at times but the content was incredible.
June 2, 2018
This is less of a review and more of an apologetic attempt to justify why I rated this book with four stars.
While the information, thoughts, and concepts are not new to me, I found them helpful in informing how to work with college students in a state/secular university setting. I myself did not “have my eyes opened” by this book. However, it is an incredibly helpful book for one who is beginning that search, and possible deconstruction of what they have been taught in school and Sunday school.
While I have already been engaged in this deconstruction, reconstruction, and education through my time in higher education, I think that young, college age/college students who are beginning to question the (for lack of a better phrase) religious and creationist indoctrination, will benefit from this book.
I am quite pleased with how Dr. Lamoureux handles this subject, and creates a positive, safe, and honest space for his readers to become informed, and begin bridging the false dichotomy between evolution and creation in an intelligent manner.
While the information, thoughts, and concepts are not new to me, I found them helpful in informing how to work with college students in a state/secular university setting. I myself did not “have my eyes opened” by this book. However, it is an incredibly helpful book for one who is beginning that search, and possible deconstruction of what they have been taught in school and Sunday school.
While I have already been engaged in this deconstruction, reconstruction, and education through my time in higher education, I think that young, college age/college students who are beginning to question the (for lack of a better phrase) religious and creationist indoctrination, will benefit from this book.
I am quite pleased with how Dr. Lamoureux handles this subject, and creates a positive, safe, and honest space for his readers to become informed, and begin bridging the false dichotomy between evolution and creation in an intelligent manner.
April 11, 2017
Probably the most important point to note about this book is its intended audience and purpose. Lamoureux writes for young adults – particularly those just starting college – with the intention of helping them escape standard dichotomies set up between the traditional church and contemporary science. These splits, he's discovered, often serve as stumbling blocks to young Christians. I'd think the book would read fine for high schoolers, too. While the book could be read by non-Christians (and would be useful in closing some conversational gaps), it reads best as an aid for Christians.
We also need to take the book for what it is: a relatively quick introduction to these topics. The book doesn't lack depth, but it's an overview, and functions best as such. For readers who have never encountered ideas like concordism and accomodation, there will be plenty to chew over, and hopefully to pursue further (Lamoureux argues against a strict concordism, but doesn't address more moderate positions).
He nicely balances ways of thinking about science with hermeneutic principles. He leaves plenty of questions unaddressed (most notably the existence or not of a historical Adam), but that's probably appropriate for a book of this type. It would have been nice to have fewer pages given to Darwin's biography and more to furthering his discussion, but I understand his choice of coverage.
The prose is a little wonky at times, as if presenting these ideas in basic terms was a struggle every now and then, but for the most part it isn't an issue.
The book's successful in helping to start fruitful conversation and in freeing (a key word in his students' responses to this material) readers from either/or thinking (and the pressures that can fall on Christians from certain backgrounds when stuck in that either/or trap). As a starting point, it's a readable, useful text.
[Review drawn from a NetGalley edition.]
We also need to take the book for what it is: a relatively quick introduction to these topics. The book doesn't lack depth, but it's an overview, and functions best as such. For readers who have never encountered ideas like concordism and accomodation, there will be plenty to chew over, and hopefully to pursue further (Lamoureux argues against a strict concordism, but doesn't address more moderate positions).
He nicely balances ways of thinking about science with hermeneutic principles. He leaves plenty of questions unaddressed (most notably the existence or not of a historical Adam), but that's probably appropriate for a book of this type. It would have been nice to have fewer pages given to Darwin's biography and more to furthering his discussion, but I understand his choice of coverage.
The prose is a little wonky at times, as if presenting these ideas in basic terms was a struggle every now and then, but for the most part it isn't an issue.
The book's successful in helping to start fruitful conversation and in freeing (a key word in his students' responses to this material) readers from either/or thinking (and the pressures that can fall on Christians from certain backgrounds when stuck in that either/or trap). As a starting point, it's a readable, useful text.
[Review drawn from a NetGalley edition.]
Displaying 1 - 9 of 10 reviews