God and Evolution?
Science Meets Faith

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Summary
 

Bolstered with insights from Cardinals, Popes, and major theologians, richly illustrated with helpful diagrams, and requiring no training in science, philosophy, or theology, this book is a much-needed resource for all faithful Catholics - including students at all levels whether high-school, college, or beyond - who want to learn more about the science behind evolution in a way that does not detract from their deeply held faith but actually strengthens it. And any readers with an interest in science may be surprised to learn how Catholicism, unlike many other religions, welcomes the discoveries of all scientific inquiry.

In this insightful book, the black and white attitude toward matters of religion and science is challenged. Through a religious, philosophical, and biological approach, it is shown that science and religion answer different dimensions to the same fundamental question, Where do we come fom?

Educated Catholics, college students, teachers, parents, parish study groups, and conflicted individuals will find this book a great resource for approaching the debate and achieving resolution. This book is a much-needed resource for all faithful Catholics who want to learn more about the science behind evolution in a way that does not detract from their deeply held faith but actually strengthens it.

 


Table of Contents
 


FOREWORD by Bishop Carlos Sevilla, S.J., Yakima, WA.

INTRODUCTION 

1. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC POSITION
	1.1. WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES

2. WHERE WE COME FROM – ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE
	2.1. TWO CREATION ACCOUNTS
	2.2. WHAT THE BIBLE DOESN’T SAY
	2.3. HOW TO READ CREATION ACCOUNTS

3. WHERE WE COME FROM – ACCORDING TO SCIENCE
	3.1. IS EVOLUTION A FACT?
	3.2. WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION
	3.3. THE MECHANISM OF EVOLUTION
	3.4. EVIDENCE FOR THE THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION
	3.5. WHAT SCIENCE CANNOT CLAIM
	3.6. SCIENCE AND RELIGION – A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

4. BEWARE OF WORLDVIEWS
	4.1. THE CASE AGAINST EVOLUTIONISM	
	4.2. THE CASE AGAINST CREATIONISM
	4.3. THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM: INTELLIGENT DESIGN THEORY

5. A FAIR BALANCE: CREATION AND EVOLUTION
	5.1. THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN SCIENCE
	5.2. THE ROOTS OF RATIONALITY AND MORALITY
	5.3. THE ELUSIVENESS OF THE HUMAN MIND
	5.4. GOD’S PRESENCE IN HIS CREATION

6. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
7. INDEX

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Reviews
 


this book received
a 2013 award in the Faith and Science category
from the Catholic Press Association

“I can promise you this book is going to enrich your mind and deepen your faith. It is a must read, clear and concise, filled with biblical and scientific truths. I enjoyed the book enormously. I even read it on a plane during one of my pastoral travels.”


Diocese of Yakima, WA
(taken from his foreword)

“This is a well-written work that discusses the position of the Catholic Church with regard to the theory of evolution. The scientific explanations are exceptionally clear. Dr. Verschuuren makes fine use of modern sources and has produced a book that is to be praised and hopefully extensively read.”


Diocese of Manchester, NH
(granted Nihil Obstat)

“Scientific knowledge on the cosmic and on the biological evolution has become highly strengthened in recent decades. Evolutionary progress results from quite slow dynamic processes that reveal natural laws for permanent creation.
Verschuuren's book can be expected to foster a harmonious integration of scientific facts together with religious beliefs into our orientational knowledge.”

Professor Werner Arber
Nobel Laureate in Medicine 1978
President of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences

"God and Evolution? is a thoughtful, well argued, and easy to read presentation of the conversation between science and faith. As Gerard Verschuuren argues, science and religion, or evolution and creation are two windows that see the world from different perspectives which are not contradictory but complementary. Dr. Verschuuren documents the religious perspective with pertinent citations from Scripture, theologians, and philosophers. As an expert biologist, he convincingly makes the case for science.”

Francisco J. Ayala
Former Professor of Evolutionary Biology
University of California, Irvine, CA

"... a solid guide for those who could be confused by the hastily written presentations in the media about the complex question of evolution versus creation.”

Fr. Marcel Chappin, S.J.
Professor at the Theology Department
Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome

"I found the book very interesting and unusually user-friendly. Whether the reader agrees or disagrees with the controversial thesis of this book, it is clearly and strongly argued and it is a delightful and enlightening read. I like the book very much."

Peter Kreeft
Professor of Philosophy
Boston College, MA

"An enlightening and delightful tour through the issues of faith and science that continue to swirl around Darwin's great idea. Verschuuren's ease with science, philosophy, and theology will surely help to defuse the tiresome rhetoric of God vs. science that is so common today."

Kenneth R. Miller
Professor of Biology
Brown University, RI

“Gerard M. Verschuuren has done us all a favor by giving us a clear, faithful, and lucid survey of the Catholic position on evolution, showing that real science and real Catholic faith not only have nothing to fear from each other, but also are vital to illuminating one another.”

Mark P. Shea
senior writer for catholicexchange.com
and columnist for the National Catholic Register

“Dr. Gerard M. Verschuuren is the latest and by far I think the most successful of an admittedly small group of scholars to tackle the topic. A geneticist and programmer by training, he not only gets the science of evolution right -- there is an obvious sense of joy that he takes in writing about the subject from his firsthand experience as well as from his reading of the research literature. [...] To sum up: Taken as a book intended for Catholics who want to know more about the science of evolution and the debate about its role in society and culture, "God and Evolution?" serves admirably.”

John Farrell
Huffington Post, November 16, 2012

“In this book, Dr. Verschuuren manages to deliver a lot of information, and keeps it easy enough for a layperson to follow. It is not intensely academic, but does invoke some deep thought. [...] Overall, it is a very interesting read, and a wonderful source of information. I wish I had read it sooner, as I have engaged in discussions of Church vs science several times in the past two months, and even the very day before I began to read the book!”

Catherine
Review in Homeschool Things, November 15, 2012

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