Coming to Peace With Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology

This book, written by a veteran biology professor, is an excellent contribution to the discussion of faith, especially Christian faith and biological evolution issues. It would be especially valuable for their understanding for evangelical Christians, who would like to better understand the evidences and rational for the currently dominant biological evolution theories embraced by most life scientists, and for secular scientists who sincerely would like to understand the experiences and viewpoints of religious people, especially devout Christians.

Coming to Peace With Science is an oddly successful book. Odd, because it satisfies neither the esthetic tastes of a hardcore science reader, nor the sensibilities of a confirmed reader of evangelical Christian literature, and yet it accomplishes its goal: opening doors to thought. Proof? First, I'll simply point to the reviews of the book already published on Amazon: multiple accounts of palpable relief as the committed believer in the Bible is able to finally reconcile their religious heart and soul with the more fact driven brain.

Secondly, a personal story. I'm a formerly devout Catholic, now in a state usually described as agnostic: I don't see any evidence that there is a God that personally intervenes in our lives, and I don't believe in an afterlife. Nevertheless, I'm awed constantly by the universe in which I live, and it has been a deep source of pain to me that many evangelical Christians reject the astounding beauty of the natural world, brought to marvelous fruition by natural selection (evolution). I have a sister that is an evangelical Christian, and for years, we sparred (at times bitterly) on the subject of evolution. Both now in our fifties, we attempted to beat our ideological swords into ploughshares by seeking a book to read together, and discuss afterwards. Coming to Peace was that book. When I read the book, I was forcefully reminded of the peace and comfort that a deep-seated belief in God brings to some people (I remain not a member of that tribe). It left me more respectful of the believer. When my sister, who lives near Washington, D.C., read the book, she responded this way: "Dan, this book has changed my life. I can't go outside without seeing the world in an entirely different, and much more beautiful way. It's incredible!!! I went down to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History last week. Wow!! I was fascinated and amazed as I walked through the halls thinking how amazing evolution is, and how great is the God that could come up with such an amazing way of bringing us this beautiful world that we live in!!!" Yes. My sister likes exclamation points.

How did Falk facilitate my sister's tectonic shift regarding science? By being respectful. By being gentle. By describing his own emotions, both high and low, as he took his own journey towards recognition that a) natural selection/evolution is undeniably true and b) not contradictory to his evangelical faith in Christ. By repeatedly affirming his belief in a Creator that watches over us, and simultaneously uses natural law (including natural selection/evolution) to build His marvelous universe.

Falk's skills as a writer are modest, and some of his observations will certainly make a reader whose only religion is scientific data, well interpreted, squirm. Falk's gift, however, is as a bridge builder, a bridge that spans a chasm that never needed to be there in the first place. I will never convince my sister that God is not compulsively monitoring the well being of every sparrow in the field, nor will she ever convince me of that heaven or hell for eternity may be in my future. Thanks to Falk, however, when my sister and I hike together, we see the wonderful adaptation of the flower to its climate, the adaptation of the insect to the flower (and vice-versa!), and the astounding, awe-inspiring beauty of a world set in motion by a few simple natural laws, natural selection being one of them. My sister and I celebrate this together, and for that, I celebrate Coming to Peace With Science!

This book among others afforded me the opportunity to get a grasp on the issue of science, more specifically evolution, and religion. I have been able to develop a greater love for my God and creator, and incorporate my belief of evolution into a harmonious understanding.

About 6 months prior to reading Dr. Falk's book I had come to reject young earth creationism. At that point I accepted old earth creationism as my default view, seeing that evolution was contrary to the Scriptures and to science (at least that's what I thought). After seeing the description for "Coming to Peace with Science" I decided to study the merits of evolution. After reading Falk's book I finally realized that the evidence was so overwhelming that I could no longer reject it. I am now thoroughly convinced that God used evolution as His method of creation.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you are a young-earth or old-earth creationist, I suggest reading Falk's book with an open mind, seriously considering the arguments given.

This book is highly praised in Francis Collins' foreword, and I found Collins' own book The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief to be a wonderful and inspiring book. But "Coming to Peace with Science" was a big disappointment for me. I suspect it would be entertaining reading for a Dawkins fan because it fills most of its pages with material debunking any literal view of the Bible. I say "the Bible" rather than just "Genesis" because literal interpretations of other portions of scripture are also critiqued, such as Revelations' "four corners of the earth."

For the believer who is indeed seeking to make some intellectual peace with the massive evidence against overly literal readings of the bible regarding origins and certain natural phenomena, Falk doesn't provide much of value. Believers already know scripture, and those that pick up this book are likely looking for something more rigorous than quotes from scripture and appeals to faith. Collins' book, in contrast, comes from the perspective of a believer and a profound respect for scripture, but also shows the way toward consonance between faith and science from a scientific, rather than solely spiritual perspective.