Reviewed by: Hope Bolinger, a professional writing major at Taylor University.

Introduction

Title: Mere Science and Christian Faith: Bridging the Divide with Emerging Adults

Author: Greg Cootsona

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Publication Date: 2018

Format: Print book

Length: 184 pages

OVERVIEW

Emerging adults, those between the ages of 18 to 30, stand in a precarious position when it comes to the connection between faith and science. And, the emerging pluralistic ideals of tolerance and pick-and-choose-religions don’t help the equation. Cootsona addresses the forerunners that have widened the divide between science and faith: the four horsemen of atheism (such as Darwin), the false dichotomy of information presented in Scripture versus that discovered in science, and the church’s anti-science sentiments. From here, he presents some issues between the rifts: macroevolution, gender ethics, technology, and environmentalism.

The book gets off to a strong start when he presents the dilemmas facing emerging adults. His passages are often coupled with quotations from those in the age bracket who have wrestled with these issues. However, even though the author seeks to “bring (religion and science) into dialogue with one another” he never bridges the gap between the two for some of the issues. Furthermore, he appears to sidestep most of the topics. For example, during the gender ethics, he essentially says science cannot arbitrate an argument for either side of the debate, which makes the reader wonder why he put this section in the book in the first place if he could not provide an adequate case.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

3 stars

Suggested Audience

Youth leaders and those ages 18-30 who want to explore faith and science with find areas in thie book that can stimulate discussions.

Christian Impact

Science and faith have seemingly been in conflict since the days of Copernicus, and these problems have compounded upon themselves throughout the past centuries. The author attempts to harmonize the two, showing how both theology and science have their limits when it comes to an all-powerful God.

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