The Human Factor: Evolution, Culture, and Religion

by Philip Hefner

"This amazing book takes into account all of the leading premises of the modern concept of biocultural evolution and builds a bridge to religious theory. Its value lies in its ability to pose the major questions and sketch proposals for dealing with them. To my knowledge it is the first work to make such an attempt."
--Solomon H. Katz
University of Pennsylvania

"Hefner's book is a major breakthrough in doing constructive theology. His view of human beings as created co-creators is filled with balanced insight regarding how humans are united with the rest of creation, while having a special place because of their brains and culture."
--Karl E. Peters
Coeditor, Journal of Religion and Science

318 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2000

Reviews

[Joseph Sverker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a little bit repetitive since it is a collection of various lectures that have been edited and gathered into a book. But, having said that, many of the points are certainly worth repeating for Hefner presents a highly attractive account of how nature and culture can be viewed from the light of theology. His main starting point is firstly that human beings have developed according to evolution, secondly, that myths and faith is essential for living a flourishing human life (although our relation to myths need to be re-oriented in these days) and, thirdly, that nature and culture are simply 'two streams of information', both vital for human survival. In some ways it could be said that genes and culture are simply two different ways in which evolution has been able to store information.

Hefner's main point is that humans are created co-creators and as such have a unique responsibility for creation - the only species with the ability to change the whole earth (sloppily put, Hefner writes it better).