Abstract
Evolution and the Fall is the product of three years’ commitment, addressing the question ‘If humanity emerged from nonhuman primates (as genetic, biological, and archaeological evidence seems to suggest), then what are the implications for Christian theology’s traditional account of origins, including both the origin of humanity and the origin of sin?’ (p. viii). Evolution and the Fall invites the reader into a dialogue between some of the brightest and most informed minds of the Christian faith.
Following an introduction to the history and methodology of the project behind Evolution and the Fall, the book’s dialogue is organised into four sections. Darrel Falk, Celia Deane-Drummond, and James K. A. Smith contribute to the first section—telling readers what science can and cannot say about human origins, reimagining the Fall according to niche construction theory, and articulating the narrative constraints upon theological models of the Fall, respectively. In section two, J. Richard Middleton provides a close reading of Genesis 3 with respect to human evolution, Joel Green turns to the New Testament to discover what Paul and James say about sin’s etiology, and Aaron Riches defends the traditional account of Adam as the carnal and spiritual origin of human history considering the mystery of the Incarnation. Brent Waters and Norman Wirzba discuss posthumanism and a Christian way of interpreting the world, respectively, in section three. Finally, in section four, William Cavanaugh proposes that the decreasing influence of the Fall resulted from political theories rather than scientific ones and Peter Harrison encourages science and religion interlocutors to consider positive instances of conflicts between the two discourses as a way of moving beyond solely negative conflict models.
For those seeking to investigate the intersection of evolution and the Fall, this text is an excellent resource. Its dedication to intellectual rigour and its faithfulness to the Christian tradition, along with its ecumenical approach, provide the reader with rich content and satisfying—yet variable—paths with which to engage this often-tense topic. The authors, editors, and sponsors of the project behind Evolution and the Fall have provided readers with an example of how to engage in discussion with both intellect and faith fully intact.