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Finding Ourselves after Darwin

Conversations on the Image of God, Original Sin, and the Problem of Evil

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About

A multinational team of scholars focuses on the interface between Christian doctrine and evolutionary scientific research, exploring the theological consequences for the doctrines of original sin, the image of God, and the problem of evil. Moving past the misperception that science and faith are irreconcilable, the book compares alternative models to those that have generated faith-science conflict and equips students, pastors, and anyone interested in origins to develop a critical and scientifically informed orthodox faith.

Contents

Introductory Essays
1. Making Space in a Post-Darwinian World: Theology and Science in Apposition Stanley P. Rosenberg
2. Distinguishing Doctrine and Theological Theory: Creating Space at the Interface of Modern Science and the Christian Tradition Benno van den Toren
Part 1: The Image of God and Evolution Michael Burdett, editor
3. Questions, Challenges, and Concerns for the Image of God J. Wentzel van Huyssteen
4. The Biblical Text and a Functional Account of the Imago Dei Mark Harris
5. Will the Structural Theory of the Image of God Survive Evolution? Aku Visala
6. The Imago Dei as Relational Love Thomas Jay Oord
7. The Imago Dei as the End of Evolution Ted Peters
Conclusion to Part 1 Michael Burdett
Part 2: Original Sin and Evolution Benno van den Toren, editor
8. Questions, Challenges, and Concerns for Original Sin Gijsbert van den Brink
9. Augustine, Original Sin, and the Naked Ape Andrew Pinsent
10. Adam as Federal Head of Humankind C. John Collins
11. The Irenaean Approach to Original Sin through Christ's Redemption Andrew M. McCoy
12. Original Sin and the Coevolution of Nature and Culture Benno van den Toren
13. A Nonhistorical Approach: The Universality of Sin without the Originating Sin Christopher M. Hays
Conclusion to Part 2 Benno van den Toren
Part 3: Evil and Evolution Michael Lloyd, editor
14. Questions, Challenges, and Concerns for the Problem of Evil C. Ben Mitchell
15. Can Nature Be "Red in Tooth and Claw" in the Thought of Augustine? Stanley P. Rosenberg
16. Theodicy, Fall, and Adam Michael Lloyd
17. The Fallenness of Nature: Three Nonhuman Suspects Michael Lloyd
18. An Irenaean Approach to Evil Richard Swinburne
19. "Free-Process" and "Only Way" Arguments Christopher Southgate
20. Non-Identity Theodicy Vince Vitale
Conclusion to Part 3 Michael Lloyd
Index


Endorsements

"In this wide-ranging collection of essays, the authors engage in an important conversation on post-Darwinian challenges to Christian theology. Sometimes the authors disagree, but more often they provide complementary perspectives to questions concerning original sin, evil, theodicy, and the image of God. This book will challenge the reader to think about--and perhaps to rethink--these key aspects of the Christian faith."

Denis R. Alexander, emeritus director, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge; author of Genes, Determinism, and God

"This is not just another book on theology and evolution but a serious attempt by well-established and emerging scholars to grapple with the most pressing theological issues that result from that engagement. By confining the discussion to key debates on the image of God, original sin, and the problem of evil from a range of different perspectives, the editors have achieved that rare combination of theological depth with philosophical sophistication in engagement with historical and contemporary perspectives on evolutionary theory. This is not only a book for serious scholars in this field, but--given that it encourages open and honest debate--it is also one that will be extremely useful for teaching and deserves to be fully embedded in theology courses as well as those in theology and science."

Celia Deane-Drummond, professor of theology and director of the Center for Theology, Science, and Human Flourishing, University of Notre Dame

"Too often reading books on science and religion by multiple authors feels like walking into a cramped room where everyone is shouting. This book feels more like entering a big open hall where there is room to breathe and room to think. It is not that anything goes--Christian theology has boundaries, what the contributors to this volume call "doctrines." Doctrines such as the image of God, the universality of sin among humans, and the goodness of God have not been overturned by the science of evolution. But evolution has called into question certain ways of explaining those doctrines. The contributors to the book show that the Christian tradition has the resources to explore different ways of explaining these doctrines without leaving the building. They are to be commended for drawing us further into that space."

Jim Stump, senior editor, BioLogos


The Author

  1. Stanley P. Rosenberg

    Stanley P. Rosenberg

    Stanley P. Rosenberg (PhD, Catholic University of America) founded and directs Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford (SCIO) and teaches at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

    Continue reading about Stanley P. Rosenberg


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