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I Love Jesus & I Accept Evolution
In this thought-provoking book, born-again Christian Denis O. Lamoureux argues that the God of the Bible created the universe and life through evolution--an ordained, sustained, and design-reflecting natural process. In other words, evolution is not the result of blind chance and our creation is not a mistake. Lamoureux challenges the popular assumption that God disclosed scientific facts in the opening chapters of Scripture thousands of years before their discovery by modern science. He contends that in the same way the Lord meets us wherever we happen to be in our lives, the Holy Spirit came down to the level of the inspired biblical writers and used their ancient understanding of origins in order to reveal inerrant, life-changing Messages of Faith. Lamoureux also shares his personal story and struggle in coming to terms with evolution and Christianity.
202 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 3, 2025
To continue my journey of the origins debate, I picked up this great book by Denis O. Lamoureux. Lots of scientific and theological insight, written by a professor uniquely trained in both fields (doctorates in Evangelical Theology and Evolutionary Biology - damn). I also found his personal story compelling as he shares about his time as an atheist, his later embrace of young earth creationism, and the gradual transformation of his views to the ones he holds today.
At the heart of his book, Lamoureux challenges Christians to let go of scientific concordism; aka the attempt to make the Bible align with modern science. He argues that Scripture uses ancient scientific concepts (such as a three-tiered universe) because of the Message-Incident Principle: the Holy Spirit employed the incidental cultural and scientific assumptions of the ancient world in order to communicate timless spiritual truths. This is the idea of biblical accomodation. God "comes down" to the level of ancient writers and authors so that they can grasp His message. In this way, Lamoureux reconciles biblical inerrancy with evolutionary science (of which he also presents evidence in the book). Importantly, he also makes the distinction between teleological and dysteleological evolution; the latter is commonly conflated as the sole meaning of evolution (and which creates a false dichotomy between our faith and accepting evolution)
This was a very interesting book for me personally, and what struck me was how many implications evolutionary creation has for Christian theology (that I had not considered before). For instance, Lamoureux (and other evolutionary creationists) argue that Adam and Eve were not historical individuals, and that there was no single cosmic Fall. Instead, the image of God and human sinfulness emerged gradually across many generations of evolving ancestors. Within different models of spiritual origins in human evolution, this view (gradual polygenism) is one of them, with others being evolutionary monogenism and punctiliar polygenism. I cannot lie but these are difficult ideas to grapple with, and yet, I find myself deeply encouraged! Across different positions, the central truths of the faith remain intact: that God created humanity, that we bear His image, that every person is sinful, and that Christ alone redeems. I am not yet satisfied with my reading, but this book has been immensely helpful in expanding my understanding of the evolutionary creation position. And the more perspectives I explore, the more I find my faith strengthened; because through every lens, I still see God.
"Evolutionary creationists conclude that the purpose of the Bible is to reveal God and inerrant spiritual truths,and not how He actually created the world and humanity."
At the heart of his book, Lamoureux challenges Christians to let go of scientific concordism; aka the attempt to make the Bible align with modern science. He argues that Scripture uses ancient scientific concepts (such as a three-tiered universe) because of the Message-Incident Principle: the Holy Spirit employed the incidental cultural and scientific assumptions of the ancient world in order to communicate timless spiritual truths. This is the idea of biblical accomodation. God "comes down" to the level of ancient writers and authors so that they can grasp His message. In this way, Lamoureux reconciles biblical inerrancy with evolutionary science (of which he also presents evidence in the book). Importantly, he also makes the distinction between teleological and dysteleological evolution; the latter is commonly conflated as the sole meaning of evolution (and which creates a false dichotomy between our faith and accepting evolution)
This was a very interesting book for me personally, and what struck me was how many implications evolutionary creation has for Christian theology (that I had not considered before). For instance, Lamoureux (and other evolutionary creationists) argue that Adam and Eve were not historical individuals, and that there was no single cosmic Fall. Instead, the image of God and human sinfulness emerged gradually across many generations of evolving ancestors. Within different models of spiritual origins in human evolution, this view (gradual polygenism) is one of them, with others being evolutionary monogenism and punctiliar polygenism. I cannot lie but these are difficult ideas to grapple with, and yet, I find myself deeply encouraged! Across different positions, the central truths of the faith remain intact: that God created humanity, that we bear His image, that every person is sinful, and that Christ alone redeems. I am not yet satisfied with my reading, but this book has been immensely helpful in expanding my understanding of the evolutionary creation position. And the more perspectives I explore, the more I find my faith strengthened; because through every lens, I still see God.
"Evolutionary creationists conclude that the purpose of the Bible is to reveal God and inerrant spiritual truths,and not how He actually created the world and humanity."
April 16, 2018
I felt that Lamoureux did a good job of approaching this topic gently and thoughtfully. The author's credibility on this subject comes not only from his education but also having personally held many different positions on origins during different points in his life. He builds the entire book around a few easily understood ideas such as the "Message-Incident Principle" which gives a reasonable way for people to separate the important truths in the Bible from the incidental details that arise from the ancient beliefs/science-of-the-day such as the earth being flat, the universe consisting of 3 tiers (i.e. heaven at the top of a sea separated from earth by a firmament and an underworld below the surface of the earth), and each species of animals being unrelated. Christians holding to an anti-evolutionary perspective will likely appreciate not only the author's humble attitude but his approach to what many find to be major stumbling blocks to accepting evolution without rejecting the Bible: "What about Adam and Eve?", "What about original sin / sin entering the world through one man?", "How could a loving God choose to use such a ruthless creative process?", etc.
April 10, 2017
I am following Natasha Crain's suggested reading list to explore the origins debate. This is the third book on this topic I have read. This book really opened my eyes to another viewpoint within this debate, which I would never have considered had this author not presented it in such a gracious manner. I am still skeptical about the fossil record, but that is likely due to the fact that I just do not understand it enough. I am looking forward to continue this journey!
March 16, 2025
Very thought provoking read!
November 3, 2012
In this book, Denis Lamoureux presents a shorter version of his belief that evolution and evangelical Christianity are compatible. It is based on: (1) God's dual revelation of Himself in two divine books, the Book of God's Words (the Bible) and the Book of God's Works (the natural world), (2) the failure of scientific concordism (which states that the Bible's statements about science are always accurate), and (3) the hermeneutical principle of accommodation (God condescends to reveal Himself in ways that human beings can understand). This leads Denis Lamoureux to the conclusion that the events recorded in Genesis 1-3 never literally happened. The rest of his book makes a biblical case for this conclusion.
In his discussion of the term 'evolution,' he gives a very general definition, without even mentioning descent with modification by means of mutation and natural selection. He wants to apply the term evolution to cosmology and geology as well as to biology. This makes it easier to argue that biological evolution is just another natural process that God used to create the current universe. However, this increases the confusion over the term 'evolution.' On the other hand, his discussion of the term 'creation' is excellent.
He presents "three basic models for the manifestation of both the Image of God and human sin during the evolutionary process" and embraces gradual polygenism, which asserts that the Image of god and human sinfulness were gradually and mysteriously manifested across many generations of evolving ancestors. He then presents four arguments for moving beyond the sin-death problem with a new approach to Romans 5 & 8 and 1 Corinthians 15. He argues that "these passages in the Word of God do not reveal HOW sin entered the world, but THAT we are sinners in need of a Savior, whom God has graciously sent to die on the Cross for us."
This book is probably best suited for Old Earth/Progressive Creationists who are struggling with integrating biological evolution into their theological belief system. It would be quite a leap for Young Earth Creationists to take all at once. Let them get used to the idea of an old earth first. Then convince them that biological evolution happened. Then give them a copy of either one of Denis Lamoureux's books.
In his discussion of the term 'evolution,' he gives a very general definition, without even mentioning descent with modification by means of mutation and natural selection. He wants to apply the term evolution to cosmology and geology as well as to biology. This makes it easier to argue that biological evolution is just another natural process that God used to create the current universe. However, this increases the confusion over the term 'evolution.' On the other hand, his discussion of the term 'creation' is excellent.
He presents "three basic models for the manifestation of both the Image of God and human sin during the evolutionary process" and embraces gradual polygenism, which asserts that the Image of god and human sinfulness were gradually and mysteriously manifested across many generations of evolving ancestors. He then presents four arguments for moving beyond the sin-death problem with a new approach to Romans 5 & 8 and 1 Corinthians 15. He argues that "these passages in the Word of God do not reveal HOW sin entered the world, but THAT we are sinners in need of a Savior, whom God has graciously sent to die on the Cross for us."
This book is probably best suited for Old Earth/Progressive Creationists who are struggling with integrating biological evolution into their theological belief system. It would be quite a leap for Young Earth Creationists to take all at once. Let them get used to the idea of an old earth first. Then convince them that biological evolution happened. Then give them a copy of either one of Denis Lamoureux's books.
November 27, 2009
very readable and gentle . . takes evolution seriously and then seriously tries to wrestle with what follows from that re: the bible . . . not an easy book, but important if the subject is to be taken seriously . . . deals with the main issues with theistic evolution: sin/death problem, how to interpret genesis, romans 5, problem of evil, etc. . . very helpful
March 30, 2023
There is no greater exegete better qualified to teach this than him. Honestly I could chose the next leader of Biologos it would be him. They way he unpacks the misconceptions that influence or worldview is communicated simply and in a way that can be applied. It's not just theory and academic like Francis Collins, who tends to bring things more to experience that the Bible. Denis Lamoureux like a great evangelical has learned to integrate both scripture and experience. This book is a great primer if you want to read his other books.
December 7, 2025
A very accessible book that has a great introduction into Christianity and science, highlighting evolution and Christianity. For me the argument started to fall apart a bit once he tries to break apart humanity sin and then original sin. Although the book does presents an idea of sin, it doesn't really answer the question of what and where sin comes from. (I'm more looking for the author to mention how God is not sin and therefore must be something else other than God)
June 25, 2019
I really like Lamoureux and this is a good book but I would not recommend as a first book on this topic.
November 18, 2016
I enjoyed it
Picked this up a while ago and just finished it. The better part of the book is giving evidence for evolution, so if you already understand how all that works, you may find yourself skipping pages a lot. Still has good information in those chapters but the last 1/4 of the book is tying faith in Jesus and believing in Evolution together.
It's time Christians get with the program and accept that it's possible God decided to create us through evolution, we are starting to look very stupid by denying the evidence of it. As the book here states "The Bible isn't a science book."
Picked this up a while ago and just finished it. The better part of the book is giving evidence for evolution, so if you already understand how all that works, you may find yourself skipping pages a lot. Still has good information in those chapters but the last 1/4 of the book is tying faith in Jesus and believing in Evolution together.
It's time Christians get with the program and accept that it's possible God decided to create us through evolution, we are starting to look very stupid by denying the evidence of it. As the book here states "The Bible isn't a science book."
August 23, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. A very accessible view of what evolution is and how God could well have used it. He also tackles the fallout of grappling with how we understand sin & death in this view. This book is a condensed view of his much more in depth book on this topic.
Also he has a online set of audio & slides giving a summary of the book. Not easy to access but check out the links here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/peterenn...
Also he has a online set of audio & slides giving a summary of the book. Not easy to access but check out the links here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/peterenn...
March 16, 2012
This was a really good overview about the origins debate, but even more useful was how it explained the use of ancient science in the Bible as a mechanism God used to reveal divine truths to the writers. It clarified my thinking on several issues, and I also enjoyed Lamoureux's personal testimony throughout the book.
November 11, 2013
Excellent book for atheists, evolutionary creationists, and six-day-young-earth creationists alike. Here Lamoureux writes for a popular audience, framing the issue superbly without dumbing down or watering down his convictions, and all this is done with a pastoral context in mind. Even if you disagree, he is worth a read and serious engagement.
February 22, 2016
Version vulgarisé du livre evolutionary Creation.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews