The central message of this book is that modern evolutionary theory is perfectly compatible with Christian theology, and all but the most literalist fundamentalists should have no problem accepting evolutionary science. No one thinks that the parables that Jesus told actually happened, and if we read the first few chapters of Genesis in the same spirit (as theological, not scientific or historical texts) then there is no reason to doubt evolution. Apparently, in the US, there are many people who do not see this.

He also presents the case that recent ideas in evolutionary theory provide reasons to believe in God. I must admit, I found that unconvincing. They all seemed to me to fall very firmly under the 'God of the gaps' idea, which he later mentions. That is the idea that is something is too mysterious or unexplainable, then it must be caused by God. For instance, we have little idea how evolution proceeded from a few biochemicals to something looking like a cell, seeing you actually need something like a cell membrane for that to be able to occur. Garte's answer is that that is where we see God. I have two problems with that. Firstly, that if and when we do find a convincing mechanism for those steps, God is then removed. Secondly, it seemed to have the idea that God is like the watchmaker who winds up the clock he has designed, and steps back and observes it. That does not rhyme well with Christian theology based on the incarnation. That points to a weakness of the book that it is much stronger on science, especially biochemistry, than on theology. Decades ago, I was lucky enough to hear a series of lectures by Jürgen Moltmann (who unfortunately died last year). He wrote many books, including God in Creation which tackle the theological aspects of Garte's book in some depth. The issues discussed by Garte are actually as much theological as biological and some heavier theology, for instance Moltmann's ideas would have been welcome in that respect. For instance, Garte posits that 'consciousness is transmission of God's thoughts', but how on earth does that work with evil thoughts?

I did have a few issues with the biology side, though. Since when is "biology the youngest of the traditional natural sciences"? What about Pliny? Crick and Watson are mentioned a couple of times. Nowadays, we know that Franklin should be included. The role of symbiosis (e.g. mitochondria being derived from bacteria) is a part of modern evolutionary theory that is an important addition to traditional Darwinism. The claim that there are no 'laws' about fitness is a bit odd. For example, population dynamics (which is essentially about fitness) is very mathematical - mostly expressed in models because it is too complex for simple equations. Likewise, the claim that biology is notoriously short on theory is not one that I recognise. I worked for ten years in ecological research, and much of that was about developing and applying theories. My work was not unusual in that respect. The statement that bees have no brains is just wrong. The assumption that human consciousness is fundamentally different from the consciousness of other species is rather out of date. See the work of the late great Frans de Waal, for instance.

In conclusion. If this book succeeds in opening the eyes to some of the more fundamentalist
American Christians that there is really no conflict between evolutionary science and taking the Bible seriously, then it will have served its purpose. It is easy to read and explains complex ideas clearly. However, its theology is a bit light and when the biology strays outside the author's own area of biochemistry it is sometimes a little inaccurate.

Thanks to the publishers for providing an advance review copy (via NetGalley) in return for an honest review.

The book provided a solid reading experience, with concepts that were truly eye-opening for me. I believe that any reader will find it easy to understand and appreciate the insights presented throughout its pages. Even if you are unfamiliar with the science and professional concepts, you can still embrace the journey ahead and enjoy the book. As a Christian, I feel a deep sense of excitement and happiness when I can seamlessly join two topics that I love. It's especially fulfilling because I don't feel any dogma standing in the way of their connection. This blending of interests allows me to explore my passions in a way that feels both authentic and enriching.