Finding Darwin's God

Kenneth R Miller

ISBN 10: 0060930497 / ISBN 13: 9780060930493

Published by HarperCollins Publishers Inc, 2000

About this Item

Much contemporary thought has centered on the mistaken assumption that evolution requires a strictly materialist view of the origins of all organisms, including human beings. However, in Finding Darwin's God, biology professor Kenneth R. Miller persuasively shows that the difficulties evolution presents for Western religions are more apparent than real. Miller offers a surprising resolution to the evolutionism vs. creationism debate, demonstrating how, properly understood, evolution adds depth and meaning not only to a strictly scientific view of the world, but also to a spiritual one. Miller is a religious person, but he is also certain that we evolved. Finding Darwin's God argues that the two credos are not mutually exclusive; in fact, one enriches the other. This incisive, exciting and thoughtful work shows that the real world is less certain and far more interesting than either the scientific mainstream or creationists assume. Kenneth R. Miller, a recipient of numerous awards for outstanding teaching, is a cell biologist, a professor of biology at Brown University, and the coauthor of widely used high school and college biology textbooks. In addition, he has written articles that have appeared in numerous scientific journals and magazines, including Nature, Scientific American, Cell, and Discover. He lives in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Miller is both an outstanding scientist and a gifted teacher. In this scholarly book, he uses his unusual abilities to explain the overwhelming evidence for evolution in a lucid and very entertaining way.--Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences.

Seller Inventory # 00098270903

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Finding Darwin's God
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060930497
• ISBN 13: 9780060930493
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

Question: Who made us?
Answer #1: God made us.
Answer #2: Evolution made us.

Which is it? What is the true answer to the age-old question of where we came from? Is it even possible to know for sure?

In Finding Darwin's God, Kenneth R. Miller offers a surprising resolution to the evolutionism vs. creationism debate.A distinguished professor of biology at Brown University, Miller argues that the genuine world of science is far more interesting than either the scientific mainstream or its creationist critics have assumed. He begins by systematically demolishing the claims of evolution's most vocal critics, showing that Darwin's great insights continue to be valid, even in the rarefied worlds of biochemistry and molecular biology. As he puts it, evolution "is the real thing, and so are we."

Does this mean that evolution invalidates all worldviews that depend upon the spiritual? Does it demand logical agnosticism as the price of scientific consistency? And does it rigorously exclude belief in God?

His answer, in each and every case, is a resounding No. Not, as he argues, because evolution is wrong. Far from it. The reason, as Miller shows, is that evolution is right.

In this lively, fast-paced book, Miller offers a thoughtful, cutting-edge analysis of the key issues that seem to divide science and religion. As his narrative shows, the difficulties that evolution presents for Western religions are more apparent than real. Properly understood, evolution adds depth and meaning not only to a strictly scientific view of the world, but also to a spiritual one. Miller's resolution of the issues that seem to divide God from evolution will serve as a guide to anyone interested in the classic questions of ultimate meaning and human origins.

About the Author

Kenneth R. Miller, a recipient of numerous awards for outstanding teaching, is a cell biologist, a professor of biology at Brown University, and the coauthor of widely used high school and college biology textbooks. In addition, he has written articles that have appeared in numerous scientific journals and magazines, including Nature, Scientific American, Cell, and Discover. He lives in Rehoboth, Massachussetts.