Review: Responding to the Challenge of Evolution
by Kevin Logan (Kingsway Communications Ltd, Eastbourne, 2002, a 200 page paperback, £8.99. Republished by Victor Books, March 2005). Review, by Islwyn Rees, March 2007
It is the Anglican Chaplain, Kevin Logan, who provides a background to the controversy coming to a head-on collision in 2006. Logan’s book is an objective description of the two sides in the ongoing debate between the Christian Faith and Atheism. Battle Lines are Drawn is the title of the first chapter. It describes what the book is about – a clash between two views of origins. The truth of Logan’s claim of “Battle Lines” can be seen in the stream of books being written on both sides, as well as articles in the news media and presentations on TV here in the UK and internationally. Go into your search engine and key in <Creationism> or <Intelligent Design> or <Science> or <Religion> - the list is considerable. With the media still addressing Gateshead and with the challenge to the Intelligent Design Movement in the USA Logan’s statement in 2002 was almost prophetic when he stated that, “America and Gateshead are in fact symbols of what is fast becoming a world-wide creationist revival” (p.20).
Presented as an alternative to evolution as a view of origins at Gateshead in 2002 it seems to have been ‘creationism’ which brought about this collision with Dawkins’ atheism versus all religion. But why the increasing interest in Creationism? The major reason Logan gives for the creationist revival is the book, The Genesis Flood (1961), co-authored by John C. Whitcomb (Lutheran pastor) and Henry Morris (Baptist engineer/scientist). Leading figures pro and con would agree with Logan on this. In 1998 The Genesis Flood had its 42nd reprint! Logan attributes the amazing growth of interest in Creationism to this one volume (p. 93). But there is another reason. Says Logan, “Amazingly, leading atheist Richard Dawkins, and similar media scientists, may have been an inspiration to creationists. A reaction set in against Professor Dawkins’ reduction of humans to ‘nothing more than . . . throwaway survival machines’ for genes. His militant atheism, often dismissive of, and offensive to Christians caused the very thing he sought to eliminate – a creationist revival” (P.94-95). Since then reviewers and interviewers of Dawkins give general support to Logan’s claim.
Logan takes us back to the furore over Answers In Genesis presenting Genesis and creationism at Emmanuel College, Gateshead, in March 2002. Having one of the most popular Christian websites in the world - www.AnswersinGenesis.com (AIG reported 1,059,000 visitors to their website in March 2004), opposition to the AIG presentations caused such a stir that it was taken up by the national papers and on the TV. Professor Richard Dawkins at Oxford and Steve Jones of Genetics at University College London got involved. Sixteen scientists and clerics, including Richard Harries the Bishop of Oxford (now retired), and Sir David Attenborough, sent a letter of protest to the Prime Minister. But Tony Blair defended Emmanuel College at Prime Minister’s Question Time in the interest of a diverse school system. The whole airing of the issue seemed to favour Gateshead College with its high academic success rate. Contributions to the debate both pro and con have continued to increase considerably since 2002 and can be viewed by going into a search engine and keying in <Emmanuel College, Gateshead> to see just how much interest. Back nearer the time Google would produce around two thousand results. Today it is still hanging onto over twenty six thousand! Look for The Times article by Stephen Pollard – it is worth reading to capture the atmosphere the issue over Gateshead generated! It really provides the backdrop for the publishing of The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins in 2006.
As a leader of a Church of England chaplaincy team Logan asks, “What do I tell the hundreds I face each week in assembly?” He is not a scientist; he writes as an Anglican chaplain who did not want “to pass on ignorance of any belief that might harm young people in their social, moral or spiritual development” (p.17). Previously a journalist/sub-editor before entering the ministry he used those skills and his wide reading to report on what the scientists on both sides are saying. It is really a very balanced guide or textbook that does as it says, it gets “inside the debate that is dividing education.”
With his informative approach, Logan has done a service for the Christian church and educational communities in summarising both sides of the debate in a language that is understandable to young people and, most importantly, he does so impartially and respectfully. He avoids the ‘vitriol’ that often accompanies such debates. It is a book that deserves a place in school and church libraries. Responding to the Challenge of Evolution is a very useful introduction to a debate that 5 years on gives every appearance it is far from going away.
Revised 18/03/07
