Darwin and the Bible

For courses in evolution, creationism or as a supplemental item in biology and/or biological anthropology courses.
Darwin and the Bible helps readers to understand the nature, history and passions behind the debate over scientific and religious versions of creation and human origins.


Darwin and the Bible: The Cultural Confrontation is about the history and nature of the disputes over human origins that arose with the publication of Charles Darwin's book, Origin of Species in 1859. The readings in the text provide the, historical, theological, social and political backgrounds of the debate.


Rather than trying to demonstrate the truth of Darwinian evolution, this book seeks to help the reader understand why the debate over Darwin and the Bible remains as contentious as ever. The book seeks to examine why Darwin's theory of evolution appears threatening to some people, and, likewise, to help understand why some scientists often react with such emotion to challenges to their views. The contributors include biological scientists, social scientists, social historians, and proponents of the importance of God, faith, and religion in peoples lives.

Introduction: A Brief History and Rationale for the Debate By Richard H. Robbins             
Part 1: Resolving the Debate   
The Need for Science; the Need for Faith--Separately  by Mark Nathan Cohen                   
Creationism: A Distinctly American Violation of NOMA By Stephen Jay Gould
Creation Matters By Walter Hearn           
The Science of Evolution and the Theology of Creation By Martinez Hewlett and Ted Peters     
The Intelligent Design Controversy Summarized By Phillip E.   Johnson           
Part 2: Historical Markers and Impacts of the Debate
Intelligent Design and the Native's Point of View (Assuming the Native is an Educated 18th Century European) by Jonathan Marks
William Jennings Bryan and the Trial of John T. Scopes By Richard H. Robbins 4
Postmodern Developments in the Debate  by Edward J. Larson
Darwin's Influence on Modern Thought by Ernst Mayr
Creationism Goes Global by Ronald Numbers 
Part 3: Dealing with the Debate in the Classroom   
The Problems and Challenges of Teaching Biology in the 21st Century by Steve Randak                   
Turmoil by Laura Perras                 
Conclusions  by Mark Nathan Cohen   
References