An exploration regarding faith, science, and "emerging adults."

The author draws from his life experience working with young people trying to reconcile faith and science. He attempts to demonstrate that the "war" between faith and science is overblown, and does well at showing that there are things each has to say. He speaks of faith formation and development and how many young people wish to find ways to balance faith and science commitments.

The author is associated with BioLogos and seems to maintain a theistic evolutionist position. He is willing to accept those who disagree with his scientific views as fellow Christians although misinformed (how nice of him). He attempts to allegorize the narrative of Adam and Eve; he points out their importance in Paul's narrative, but as with most theistic evolutionists, does not address the fundamental disconnect between the conception of a creation without death into which sin and death enters through the fall of man and death as a major driver of evolutionary processes.

The author is at his best in discussing the benefits and challenges of technology in life.

The good in the work is the recognition that one can maintain faith commitments and explore the sciences, and that one can have a proper view of wonder through the faith commitment when exploring the sciences. I can appreciate that the author wishes to maintain balance between faith commitments and science, and seeks to harmonize, although I personally put far less confidence in science and more in the faith commitment.

If nothing else, the work helps to open up the thought process about how to work with young people as they navigate their faith commitment with their understanding of science.

For too many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, science and Christianity seem incompatible. Greg Cootsona, pastor, campus minister, and college professor, wants young Christians today to embrace the compatibility of believing in an all-powerful God and studying the wonder of his creation through mainstream science. In Mere Science and Christian Faith: Bridging the Divide with Emerging Adults Cootsona wants to "inspire more ministry leaders to point emerging adults toward studying nature as an act of worship." Given that "half of our college students and postcollege emerging adults will be involved in science-related fields," Cootsona writes that "they need to know how to do their work while following the upward call of Christ."



The difficulty many science-oriented emerging adults have is two-fold. First, the church perpetuates a suspicion of mainstream science by alienating it, rather than embracing it. Second, when the church does talk about science, it focuses on conflict, teaching about controversies between faith and science rather than engaging. We should "teach the collaboration, not the controversy."



Cootsona wants Christians to be comfortable with mainstream science as a means to teach us about God's creation. Overall, he holds to a view of dual causation: "God as first cause works through secondary, intermediate, and natural causes." In every field of science we can find practicing Christians who are both faithful followers of Christ as well as scientists accomplished in their fields of study. Unfortunately, by focusing on controversy, many young Christians miss this fact and assume that one can't be a mainstream scientist and hold on to Christian faith.



Cootsona's book is a helpful remedy for this line of thinking that holds science and Christianity as incompatible. He delves into several issues, like the days of creation, Adam and Eve, and cognitive science, bringing some reason to these contested areas. More than anything, the resources he refers to can open up lines of inquiry for leaders and young people alike.





Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

This book is written as a roadmap for those working with 18-30 year olds in the church. However, being a 40 year old with an engineering degree, I'd argue I'm a target demographic too! This is a great read that takes a look at how to work through the challenges posed when looking at some of the historical Chrisitan beliefs in comparison to current scientific norms. The topics of creation, evolution, technology, climate change, and sexuality. This is the kind of book that needs to be turned into a Bible study series and taught at all churches. Unfortunately, given the highly charged climate today, many churches will not even allow for questioning around these topics, and they are losing members and believers in the process.
What a great and timely book.

So many of the teens I see today are in what I'd term a crisis of faith - they want to believe, but they don't feel that they can. This book addresses that phenomenon head-on and offers real solutions for how to help our youth mature in their faith. I recommend it as a group read....possibly more for the teachers...and to put into action many of the ideas proffered.