Jeremy Thompson Catholic PhD in Biblical Languages, Programmer, Runner

The whole recent uproar about evolution has gotten me thinking about the subject once again as it has been a while since I’ve thought much about it.  It dawned on me that many Christians would like to learn more about evolutionary theory, even if they don’t accept it.  The only books they may be aware of are apologetic type texts on the topic.  So, I thought I’d give a recommendation and open up the comments section here for others to do so as well.

My favorite book on evolution has to be without question Jonathan Weiner’s The Beak of the Finch.  The reason that I like it so much is that it is in a narrative format (though I think it strays from this a little) and free from a lot of jargon.  So, it’s great for people who may not enjoy reading science texts.  It chronicles a team of scientists and their research in the Galapagos Islands.  It makes for interesting reading regardless of one’s predilections.

Do any of you have other recommendations?

I agree with Darrel Falk here (of course I accept an evolutionary understanding of the origins of human beings, so I guess I would agree).  Kudos to Bruce Waltke for being open and honest.  I particularly like the final assessment (though I’m no longer an evangelical, I was one), also cited in the Inside Higher Ed piece about Waltke’s resignation:

Decades from now, when the Evangelical Church has come to terms with the reality of evolution, we hope she will look back at those who were the pioneers on its journey toward a fuller understanding of the manner by which God has created. I could list other pioneers, a number of whom are good friends and colleagues. Right there alongside them will be Dr. Bruce Waltke who, in the latter phase of an extremely distinguished career, had the courage to tell the Church what it needed to hear. The fact that he did so with a remarkably gentle spirit of love will be a reminder to all that the real battles are won when we simply live the reality of the Gospel. To do this—in the face of adversity—is the ultimate in courage.

How many of us compromise in this type of situation and try to squeeze our beliefs into a confessional statement rationalizing the whole time: “I believe what that statement says, I just use different words.”