Honest To Genesis: A Biblical and Scientific Challenge to Creationism
Honest to Genesis is a book by Dr. Margaret Gray Towne that integrates the biblical creation accounts with modern evolutionary theory. The book is written from a theistic evolution perspective, and it addresses and, as the title suggests, challenges Young Earth "Creationism" claims. It also touches on Intelligent Design. The book targets a broad audience, covering both the scientific as well as the theological dimensions of this subject, which continue to be highly volatile in court room, class room and living room.1
Origins & Inspiration
A college educator with a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan and an Ed.D. from Montana State University, Towne used her doctoral thesis as a starting point. Encouraged by friend and doctoral committee member, world-renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, she crafted what would ultimately become Honest To Genesis.2,4
A winner in the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences Worldwide Science and Religion Course Program (Berkeley, CA) in 1997, for the course “Science and Religion: A Critical Approach” taught at Montana State University,7 Towne was invited to serve as a judge for the program in 2002.1 Towne is active in the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) and has served, with David Fisher, as co-editor of their newsletter for the past six years.6
Raised in a conservative Christian denomination (Church of the Bretheren) and a Presbyterian pastor's wife, this book was a product of her own quest to reconcile her views as a Christian with her certainty as a scientist that the laws of nature and science also hold truth and cannot, by a thinking person, be denied.2
“It doesn’t seem consistent with God’s order and dependability that we should ignore the minds we were given and deny the scientific reality that is before us. To some, to do so is not only irrational and unscholarly, but dishonest. It dishonors the Lord who has blessed us with amazing, questioning minds and commanded us to ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7-8)." (p. 227)1
Content
Beginning upon foundations in critical thinking, it progresses to a historic overview of the dialogue between science and religion. Readers learn how to examine the Bible in light of its unique cultural and geographic settings, its ancient languages, various authors, and the thousand-year time span of its composition. In addition, the foundations of evolutionary theory are delineated, incorporating the data from fields including geology, paleontology, biochemistry, and biology. The position of this book is that conflict need not exist between these often seemingly opposing disciplines if the biblical and scientific records, both written by the same divine "author," are appropriately interpreted.1
Publisher & Audience
Published by PublishAmerica in 20043, this book has been used in college courses in science and religion as well as by church study groups and individuals with an interest in the Evolution/Creation debate.1
Reviews
Notable positive reviews of the book include paleontologist Jack Horner, who discovered and named Maiasaura and served as technical advisor for Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park films, esteemed Georgetown Theologian John Haught and founder and director of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences and Professor of Theology and Science at Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Robert John Russell.
“A very important book for Christians and great insights for scientists. Margaret Towne teaches us how to integrate modern science with a solid Christian faith.” Jack Horner, Regent’s Professor of Paleontology, Montana State University1
"A product of mature faith, biological learning, critical thinking and theological skill, this valuable work also has the merit of being eminently readable. Margaret Towne’s book demonstrates with great clarity, as well as abundant charity, how easily evolution and a robust Christian faith can get along. And it does so in a style accessible to a wide readership. I would recommend this book to parishioners, students, biology teachers, seminarians and anyone else who wants an accessible introduction to one of the most important issues of the day.” John F. Haught, Landegger Distinguished Professor of Theology, Georgetown University1
“In this unique and much-needed contribution to the creative and responsible discussion of evolution and Christian faith, Margaret Towne brings together her training in both biology and theology and her faith as a Christian to offer educators, pastors, scientists and seminarians a dependable, fair, comprehensive, and engaging resource for healing and deepening understanding. I am delighted to recommend Honest to Genesis to all fair-minded and serious readers in ‘science and religion’ and I will look forward to using it in my seminary courses.” Robert John Russell, Founder and Director, Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences & Professor of Theology and Science in Residence, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley1
Additional reviews, as expected given the volatility of the subject, range from praise to criticism as demonstrated in two reviews (excerpts below) from Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith (PSCF), the Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA). The full reviews can be accessed via the link under references.
Positive Review
"Towne affirms the biblical doctrine of creation and links this with the observations of science. She postulates that the inter-relatedness of the biota is explained by an evolving process. She shows how the discoveries of molecular biology, the ineradicable fossil record, paleontology, and even the geographical distribution of distinctive flora and fauna support this view.
In Chapter 7, Towne shows that there is no necessity to fear the truth. She says that some Christians are defending their beliefs and in doing so do a disservice to the churches which they are a part. Fundamentalism, once rhetorically moderate with intellectual depth is now seen as a militant, anti-intellectual, ecclesiastically separate branch of the churches. Subsequent chapters discuss origins and confront the dogmas based on a young earth “creationism” with carefully argued responses. This discussion is excellent because it answers each postulate of the “creationists.” Towne accepts the recent studies of the human genome confirming that humans are an evolved species.
The message of this book is that trained, disciplined critical thinkers are urgently needed in Christian communities. Honest to Genesis makes excellent reading, leaving the impression that intellectual bondage is not the hallmark of authentic Christianity. I highly recommend this book to all readers of this review, especially students and leaders in churches. Also for libraries. It is a suitable book for discussion in study groups."5
Negative Review
"In pursuing the worthy goal of convincing fellow believers that creationism and evolution are compatible and complementary and should be embraced by the thoughtful evangelical, Towne has proceeded from some debatable premises. She begins by espousing a discredited view of Old Testament (OT) Genesis (the JEDP Hypothesis); then enjoining a liberal view of Genesis 1–11 (calling it myth/legend and asserting its substantial dependence upon Mesopotamian epics); controverting the evangelical doctrine of biblical inerrancy; and concluding by introducing a culturally circumscribed Paul and a culturally limited Bible.
The last thing Christian evolutionary creationism should ask scientific creationists to embrace is a Jesus who did not know what he was doing or did not do what he should have done. Jesus Christ did not become a man to teach us or to clarify for us cosmology, botany, paleobiology, etc. We can do that ourselves with the minds he gave us. He came to die for sin. He did that quite efficaciously if we are to believe the brilliantly-educated Apostle Paul.
Further, the whole Bible is sufficient and necessary to inform Christian living and thinking without having to be demythologized. Jesus and Paul well knew what they were talking about. They did not intend to speak to OT misunderstandings, if any, but to speak to sin and redemption from it—and this they did very well. (A high view of Scripture does not preclude belief in evolution.)
This volume, Honest to Genesis, falls short of healing the breach between science and Christians; it creates a new breach among Christians."5
References
1. Honest To Genesis http://www.honesttogenesis.com/ Retrieved on 9/11/2008.
2. "Evolution Revolution" http://lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2005/02/24/cover_story/cover.txt%20target= Retrieved on 9/11/2008.
3. Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Honest-Genesis-Scientific-Challenge-Creationism/dp/159286497X Retrieved on 9/11/2008.
4. University of Michigan Alumni News http://www.lsa.umich.edu/eeb/alumni/alumnews.html Retrieved on 9/11/2008.
5. Book Reviews - Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith - Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation http://www.asa3.org/ASA/topics/Book%20Reviews2005-/6-05.html Retrieved on 9/13/2008.
6. American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) Newsletter http://www.asa3.org/ASA/newsletter/julaug08/julaug08_email.htm Retrieved on 9/13/2008.
7. Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences web site http://www.ctns.org/teaching_1997.html Retrieved on 9/18/2008.