Did Darwin Get It Right?: Catholics and the Theory of Evolution

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Summary: Excellent summary of the problems with evolutionary theory
Review: I found out about Johnston from one of his pieces in the Wall St. Journal. I was looking for a good, readable critique of current evolutionary theory. Despite the Catholic subtitle, I found this little gem to be almost entirely free of any religious dogma. It was exactly what I was looking for. Johnston is obviously very smart, well-read, and writes marvelously. He first defines and then lays bare the weak scientific evidence for natural selection. All of our modern conception of human beings is based on Darwin's flawed premise. This book demonstates that you can question evolutionary theory without being a Bible-thumping fundamentalist.

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Summary: Short Remark
Review: I just want to make a short remark here, because the previous reviewer represents a common misunderstanding. The ancient Greeks (most of them anyway) did not practice "science" in the way we understand it. Ask yourself this question, what sorts of experiments did the ancient Greeks do? What they did practice, and should most assuredly be acredited for is a sort of "natural philosophy". Science properly understood had its roots in individuals like William of Ockham, who although later excommunicated was Catholic, and Francis Bacon.

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Summary: Written for Non-Scientists and Non-Dogmatic
Review: I read this book because someone I respect more or less foisted it on me. I am not a religious person, and I presumed this was some sort of creationist dogma. Were my eyes ever opened. This book does not say, "Darwin bad, Creationism good." (In fact, it points out that Creationism was primarily a construct of the American Southern Protestant movement of the nineteenth century. The Catholic Church does not promote it.) This book simply points out that Darinism is deeply flawed, and that it is open season to explain how we actually got here.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect for me was to see that those who cling hardest to Darwinsm are, in fact, guilty of the same thing that they accuse their opponents of; that is, blind faith in an idea with no supporting evidence.

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Summary: Awesome Book!
Review: Set the record straight once and for all! A must for all Catholics! I bought one for our Preist. You should too!

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Summary: Written for Non-Scientists and Non-Dogmatic
Review: The answer to the title question is "with modifications, maybe". The author, citing many writers, presents the arguments from both sides. Science shows that natural selection causes varieties but it has never discovered changes in species. Because useless appendages disappear as the species adapts, gradual transitions to forms differing by more than just a variation are contrary to reason. The currently popular modification of Darwin's theory is called punctuated evolution in which species change over short periods of time, then remain unchanged for long periods of time. The periods of change are supposedly so short that specimens are not caught in the fossil record. To date, the changes have not been duplicated in the laboratory, despite the many years of bombarding fruit flies with radiation. This theory, that something has occurred for which there is no evidence, is based on the fact that there are many species. It is unscientifically based on the having the ends justify the hypothesized means. Because the theory includes the hypothesis that there is no evidence, it is safe from disproof. Thus we are left with "maybe." Thus also does the hypothesis fail to meet Popper's falsification criterion to qualify as science. It is no more scientific than a statement that every species we observe appeared instantaneously. But we do know that our schoolchildren are being misled by the dioramas that appear in the museums of natural history, which show monkeys in transition to man and dogs in transition to horses. These transitions have been proven untrue. No wonder children are poor in science when we teach them such poor science.

Because the Bible is not a science book, we cannot appeal to the Bible to determine scientifically how the first instance of man appeared. Evolution, like all of objective science, is not contrary to religion. God can create gradually or instantaneously, by any sequence He chooses. Most Christians are taught how to interpret the Bible; only those limited to a literal interpretation find a conflict between science and the Bible. Genesis was written for the people of its time. It identifies the order of their universe, as designed by God. That this very order underpins all science is ironic.

Why, then, is evolution held by so many? Many scientists, perhaps in attempting to keep theology and science separate, start by hypothesizing that there is no God. Evolution is their only alternative. Their theory is, at its very foundation, a mixture of theology and science - just what they are trying to avoid. The rest of us are taught this theory as if it were scientific fact. Never once do we face the question, "Why is there something rather than nothing?" Never once do we ask, "What existed before the big bang?" Never once do we test the theory in light of the science of thermodynamics, which implies that nature is devolving rather than evolving?

This book should make us less gullible and more open-minded in our personal search for the meaning of man.

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Summary: Morality vs Darwin
Review: This book should be read along with a few others so as to validate the authors beliefs. I would read James Perloff's "The Case Against Darwin" and a short pro-Darwin book just to see what the author in this book is focusing on. This book is definately a good source for the individual who is exploring the anti-Christian (especially Catholic) sentiment which exists in laboratory's and classrooms throughout our country.

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Summary: Darwinism, Anti-Christian?
Review: This book should be read along with a few others so as to validate the authors scientific beliefs. I would read James Perloff's "The Case Against Darwin" and a short pro-Darwin book just to see what the author in this book is focusing on. This book is a good source for the individual who is exploring the anti-Christian (especially Catholic) sentiment which seems to exist in laboratory's and classrooms throughout our country. The author also explains why he believes Darwinism has become a religion of its own.

Rating:
Summary: Darwinism, Anti-Christian?
Review: This book should be read along with a few others so as to validate the authors scientific beliefs. I would read James Perloff's "The Case Against Darwin" and a short pro-Darwin book just to see what the author in this book is focusing on. This book is a good source for the individual who is exploring the anti-Christian (especially Catholic) sentiment which seems to exist in laboratory's and classrooms throughout our country. The author also explains why he believes Darwinism has become a religion of its own.

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Summary: Anther must have for yourcreationist library
Review: Unlike "Tornado in a Junkyard" and "Darwin's Black Box", "Did Darwin Get It Right?" takes a slightly more dogmatic Catholic/Christian take on the Creation/evolotion debate. Like "Tornado in a Junkyard" The arguments against Evolution are explained in a straight foward manner that does not require a degree in biology or chemistry to understand.

An excellent suggested reading list as well as a bibliography are included and are a nice touch. This book is an excellent book for people just beginig thier search for the truth about evolution as it is less technical than "Darwin's Black Box" and a quicker less in depth read than "Tornado in a Junkyard".

Rating:
Summary: Did Mr.Johnston get it right?
Review: Unlike "Tornado in a Junkyard" and "Darwin's Black Box", "Did Darwin Get It Right?" takes a slightly more dogmatic Catholic/Christian take on the Creation/evolotion debate. Like "Tornado in a Junkyard" The arguments against Evolution are explained in a straight foward manner that does not require a degree in biology or chemistry to understand.

An excellent suggested reading list as well as a bibliography are included and are a nice touch. This book is an excellent book for people just beginig thier search for the truth about evolution as it is less technical than "Darwin's Black Box" and a quicker less in depth read than "Tornado in a Junkyard".