Re: [asa] Recommendation for a book on evolution?

Thank you for your answer, Paul. It is both as I expected and hoped. Yes, it helps.
   
  I agree with you; theology is "closer [to] anthropology or psychology or sociology or philosophy than to biology or geology or physics." If there are others on this list who believe as you and I do, would they be willing to say so? I still wonder why people continue to beat the drum of theology and biology interacting than of theology interacting with other fields. Why continue to be so biology-centric?

  Do you hear anything at all when this is written/said, TEs??? Why argue, argue, debate, rationalize about biology, chemistry, physics and geology, when the evolution that theology should be more concerned with is in the realms of social-humanitarian thought?! This is where the puzzle and 'the controversy' will be unravelled, not in the natural sciences.
   
  Paul writes: "I am currently interested only in its biological aspects"
   
  The problem most Americans have with 'evolution' is not with the biology, it is with the philosophy, sociology, anthropology and psychology of evolution(ism)! Yet natural scientists, not generally knowledgeable about these fields, make no serious connection and continue to beat the drum of biology being right to speak hegemonically about 'evolution.' I agree with the right of biologists to speak evolutionarily, yet chastise them for inadvertantly closing the door on other aspects of evolutionary discourse. By speaking biology-only (or even natural science-only), they unknowingly block out the more important discussions about evolution, which are actually the most problematic for the average citizen. After all, how many Americans are actually biologists who can have an intelligent conversation about biological evolution?
   
  Since Paul has admitted that theology is (by deduction) further away from biology than it is from social-humanitarian fields, it is puzzling why he would insist on studying 'only' the biological aspect, in order to 'understand' the theological implications of evolution.
   
  Paul writes: "I am very interested in the theological implications of evolution, but between my personal library, PSCF, ASA ListServ and various websites, I already have more than enough material. What I am looking for is recommendations from the ListServ for a book(s) that present an up-to-date scientific case for evolution."
   
  The material you have enough of is, I assume, mainly of the variety dealing with the theological implications of naturalistic or biological (sometimes biologistic) evolution(ism) and not with the wider topic of evolution(ism). Comprehensiveness in one field is one thing; gaining an accurate picture of the holistic problem ordinary people have with evolutionary theories is another. Would you be open to considering the social-humanitarian implications of evolution, Paul, which you have acknowledged are closer to theology than the natural sciences are?
   
  Sincerely,
  Gregory
   
  p.s. Paul, I do not wish to treat you as 'just' a chemical engineer, but as someone honestly curious and openly questioning what evolution is from potentially multiple perspectives. The number of Nobel prizes by economists influenced by the 'evolutionary economics' fold should, if nothing else, convince some of the naturel and applied science folks to take seriously the importance of social-humanitarian evolutionism.
   
   
  
Moutainwoman <hrc54@alltel.net> wrote:
          Gregory,
   
  Re: "Here is my main question to you: Do you consider theology to be a field or discipline (or a way of life) close to anthropology or psychology or sociology? Or do you consider theology to be closer to biology or geology or physics? Or perhaps there are other fields, like cognitive studies or genetics, law or cosmology that are theology’s closest neighbours?"
   
  Keeping in mind that I am just a chemical engineer with much interest but no formal training in theology, I guess I consider theology to be closer anthropology or psychology or sociology or philosophy than to biology or geology or physics.
   
  With regard to evolution, I am currently interested only in its biological aspects, leaving the other fields of study to which evolution has been related for some time in the future.
   
  I am very interested in the theological implications of evolution, but between my personal library, PSCF, ASA ListServ and various websites, I already have more than enough material. What I am looking for is recommendations from the ListServ for a book(s) that present an up-to-date scientific case for evolution.
   
  I hope this helps. Thank you for your interest in responding thoughtfully.
   
  Paul Bruggink (ASA Member)
   

       
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Received on Tue Dec 18 08:02:36 2007