Darwin's Forgotten Defenders: The Encounter Between Evangelical Theology and Evolutionary Thought

Rating:
Summary: Enlightening
Review: Brilliant survey of early views of specifically Darwinian evolution by 19th century scientists and evangelical clerics, showing that originally there was not great conflict and shows why there need not be today. A must read for those who feel modern evangelicalism is a bit too strident (or perhaps just wrong) in its denunciation of evolution.

Rating:
Summary: Retelling a Forgotten Legacy
Review: Evangelicals don't know their history. That's why they fight for the dubious notion of a renaissance of our American Christian roots. It's why they get suckered into prophecy hysteria every 15 years. It's also why they don't discuss the important and complex facets of the evolution-creation debate. Unbeknownst to many, the history of evangelical reaction to evolution is not a one-sided testament to antievolutionism. Not at all.

David Livingstone has written an important work because it teaches 3 important lessons relevant to the origins debate: 1. Evangelicals often misunderstand what is and what is not at stake in the evolution debate. 2. The issue of reconciling science and Christianity is far more complex than the either/or categories evangelicals often use. 3. History is full of valuable arguments and insights that remain relevant to the issue today. Evangelicals must look to the past as more than ammo to "disprove" evolution.

The title of this book is a little deceptive. Evangelicals have always (and rightfully) been uncomfortable about evolution. Livingstone does not tell a one-sided history. Instead, he delves into the lively intellectual response to Darwin. Especially intriguing is the reaction to evolution in Princeton. There we discover "the Fundamentals" contributor B.B. Warfield held to both a theistic evolutionary scheme of creation AND inerrancy!

Livinstone is masterful in telling the historical evangelical reaction to Charles Darwin and evolutionary thought. A must-read for anyone who is frustrated by the nonsensical rantings of modern antievolutionism.