Reformed Theology and Evolutionary Theory
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
A theologically serious treatment of the challenges that evolutionary theory poses for traditionally orthodox Christian faith.
Many books aim to help beginners explore whether or not evolutionary science is compatible with Christian faith. This one probes more deeply to ask: What do we learn from modern evolutionary science about key issues that are of special theological concern? And what does Christian theology, especially in its Reformed expressions, say about those same key issues?
Noted theologian Gijsbert van den Brink begins by describing the layers of meaning in the phrase “evolutionary theory” and exploring the question of how to interpret the Bible with regard to science. He then works through five key areas of potential conflict between evolutionary theory and Christian faith, thus covering all relevant issues, spelling out scientific findings and analyzing Christian doctrinal concerns. His conclusion: although some traditional doctrinal interpretations must be adjusted, evolutionary science is no obstacle to classical Christian faith.
- Explores the question of how to interpret the Bible with regard to science
- Examines five key areas of potential conflict between evolutionary theory and Christian faith
- Describes the layers of meaning in the phrase “evolutionary theory”
- Reformed Theology: Distinctive Commitments and Concerns
- Evolutionary Theory: A Layered Concept
- Evolution and the Interpretation of Scriptu
- Animal Suffering and the Goodness of God
- Common Descent and Theological Anthropology
- Evolution and Covenantal Theology: Adam and the Fall, Original Sin and Salvation
- Natural Selection and Divine Providence
- Morality, the Cognitive Science of Religion, and Revelation
- Any Other Business?
Top Highlights
“More precisely, following Fowler and Kuebler, we may distinguish three different levels or layers within evolutionary theory: historical evolution, common descent, and what they call ‘strong Darwinian evolution.’” (Page 36)
“Let us provisionally define perspectivism as the hermeneutical view that when the Bible is interpreted, its theological content should be distinguished from the world picture within which this content is embedded.” (Page 81)
“Whereas the scientific perspective is focused on all sorts of ‘facts,’ the theological perspective focuses on the meaning of life.” (Page 81)
“Thus, according to Paul, we have been created with a body that won’t last forever and is vulnerable to weakness and decay.” (Page 202)
“First, there is not a direct relation between genes and bodily functions.” (Page 53)
- Title: Reformed Theology and Evolutionary Theory
- Author: Gijsbert Van Den Brink
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Publication Date: 2020
- Pages: 308
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Topic: Doctrine of Creation