You have been warned.
This book is a late addition to my Christmas wish list (along with the time and solitude to read it!)
I have been over the moon about the textbook Explore Evolution, by Stephen C. Meyer, et al. (All the poor homeschooling moms in my hui have had to listen to me go on and on about that book.) It is an excellent biology supplement that takes each issue in the arguments for neo-Darwinism point by point. It presents both sides of the arguments plainly and without bias. The glorious problem in that, though, is that the only reasonable conclusion to be drawn is that there is an intelligence of some sort behind the beginnings of life on earth. By making the argument about the facts and not beliefs, Meyer et al succeed in providing the one critical flaw in Darwinian theory. A flaw that Darwin himself pointed out in his well known On The Origin of Species:
"If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely breakdown. But I can find no such case,"
The text is beautiful and well organized. There are also a DVD and different powerpoint presentations geared to middle, high school, and college students. It is precisely the type of book a Christian needs to truly teach their students the controversy that surrounds our origins. This controversy must be taught to our children if we expect to have them prepared for life.
One of the most debilitating problems in Christianity today, in my humble opinion, is that Christians have all but left science. True, many who are Christian and scientists have been bullied out. However, the Christian response has been shameful...even sinful, if you ask me. Post Enlightenment Christians have taken the bullying and left the secularists and atheists to answer one of the most important questions of humanity: where did I come from? It is this compartmentalization of our lives that has contributed to sappy Christian music, bad curriculum, and an almost total lack of science curricula for those of faith.
Before I became a Christian, I was turned off--even nauseated--by so much of the feel good mindlessness that I thought was Evangelical Christianity. It seemed the prerequisite for faith was an absence of thought. What a blessing to stumble into a branch of Christianity that is rich in study--producing and intellectual faith. However, on the issues of Darwin's theories, there was still a deafening silence. What a refreshing blast of (good) music to read Explore Evolution! What could be more worshipful than hard evidence of a Creator?
Ok, I should end my rant here. As my poor children can testify, I can really go on FOREVER about this. Please do at least check out the websites linked in this post. And remember to pray for my kids, because next week we delve deep into DNA, molecular machines of incredible complexity, and some really great experiments. I can't wait!!
