Product Description

Evaluates the evidence of modern science in relation to the debate between the atheistic and theistic interpretations of the universe, and provides a fresh basis for discussion. The book has grown out of the author's lengthy experience of lecturing and debating on this subject in the UK, USA, Germany and Russia, and has been written in response to endless requests for the argumentation in written form. Chapters: *War of the worldviews *The scope and limits of science *Gods, gaps and goblins *Designer universe *Designer biosphere *The nature and scope of evolution *The origin of life *The genetic code and its origin *Matters of information *Taming chance without intelligence *The origin of information

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4497 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
This short book is more than just a critical analysis of the deep question posed in the title. It is a scientific detective story, which keeps the reader on his toes as the evidence is put in place bit by bit. John Lennox reaches his final conclusion in grand Hercule Poirot style, revealing the answer that he sees as the only possible solution to the pieces of evidence he has amassed along the way. If you begin this book thinking the answer to the question in the title is 'No', you will enjoy this masterful collecting of the evidence. If you begin it thinking it is 'Yes', maybe you won't in the end be persuaded to change your view, but you will certainly be faced with a lot of challenging and thought-provoking ideas that will certainly tax your powers of reasoning. Whatever your final conclusion, it is impossible not to find this a stimulating read. --Keith Frayn, Professor of Human Metabolism, University of Oxford

Review
As an agnostic in the true sense of the word as 'not knowing', I found John Lennox's book intriguing and providing much food for thought. The relationship between science, both biological and cosmological, and Christian beliefs is closely examined and evidence carefully marshalled to dispel the idea that the two approaches are incompatible. The author is a committed Christian and an internationally recognised mathematician. Will the reader be convinced by his arguments? I must leave this to others to judge. But whatever the conclusion, one must agree that this is a well-written and thought-provoking book and will contribute to reasoned discussion on a fundamental question: Has Science Buried God? --Alan Emery, Emeritus Professor of Human Genetics, University of Edinburgh

Review
God s Undertaker: Has Science buried God; by John Lennox is an important and topical contribution to the debate and questions about the origin of the universe and its physical laws, the origin of complex biological design and the purpose (if any) of mankind. There are some (both religious and materialists) who would like to give the impression that we have answers to these most fundamental questions, and, most disturbingly, even attempt to stifle and censor debate. However, it is my opinion that rather than inhibit further discussion we should encourage further intelligent debate about mankind's origins and that is why I believe it is essential that manuscripts such as God s Undertaker; be published and made available to the public so that they can judge for themselves. --Chris Paraskeva, Professor of Experimental Oncology, University of Bristol

Customer Reviews

A Scientific and Philosophical Defence of Rational Faith
Possibly the best thing about this book is the foundation from which it approaches the current debate. Lennox identifies the real confrontation as not being Science vs. Christianity (a fundamental category mistake), but as Materialistic Naturalism vs. Christian Theism. Lennox provides some great evidence for those who actually want to think for themselves about the direction in which science points.

In the opening chapters Lennox surveys the leading theories in cosmology and physics to show that on the macro scale our universe shouts "design" much louder than "random chance". The fact of a beginning to all things, the fine tuning of many independent constants, the beauty of mathematical formulae and many other pieces of evidence are amassed against the hypothesis of naturalistic materialism. The conclusion that an intelligent mind is behind the universe is seen at least to be a plausible, rational explanation.

Lennox then sails in to the stormy waters of Biology and Biochemistry to see what the unfolding world of DNA and chemical microstructures has to say to us. He draws on his vast knowledge of mathematics and information theory to shows the incredible implausibility of the first mutating self-replicator arising by purely by chance. He shows that whilst random mutation and natural selection can certainly carry some weight, they crumple under the full force of atheism which demands they be the full explanation for all the specified complexity in the world.

In part this book is a refutation of various writings of Richard Dawkins (both are lecturers at Oxford University), but it goes far beyond that. It shines light on the poor philosophy that lurks in the shadows of the recent New Atheist writings. It deals in broad terms with the limits of science and the epistemological ignorance of those who insist, with Bertrand Russell, that the only source of knowledge is scientific knowledge.

Lennox also spends a long time identifying and avoiding a "God of the gaps" approach to Christian apologetics. His objection to this form of lazy intellectualism comes across loud and clear. Lennox highlights the "bad gaps" that we don't know the answer to because science hasn't advance well enough and refuses to simply posit "God did it" as the explanation. But he also shows a number of "good gaps" where atheistic materialism fails because of what we know, not what we don't know. Lennox also highlights the ironic "evolution of the gaps" dogma of those committed to a naturalistic worldview who meet any deficiency in our current understanding with the creedal cry of "evolution did it"!

In summary, I know of no better contribution to the atheism / theism debate than this book. It will provide a great resource for those wishing to defend Theism. And it will be a challenge to those who can sufficiently divorce themselves from their atheistic presuppositions to objectively evaluate the evidence.

Absolutely amazing
This is definitely the best book i've read on the topic of atheism vs theism and the relationship of science between the two.
Dr John Lennox(who teaches philosophy of science and also mathematics at Oxford University) also dissects(very well) the likes of the fanatics such as Richard Dawkins and Peter Atkins and really takes them out using highly logical and scientific methods.
He deals with issues such scientism(the belief that whatever science explains is correct and all other wrong) and logical positivism in very logical and understandable ways(for me).
Also he discusses the implications of mathematics in the search for God and about the origin of life and DNA and evolution which are very interesting and thought-provoking read. He shows that evolution does not contradict the belief in God and that its only the fanatic and dogma minded atheists who think it does.
Definitely recommended for all theists and atheists alike and i hope that this book encourages more dialogue and further refutation of the atheists.

Excellent of its type, but ...
This is a well written contribution to the debate over evolution, the origin of life, and intelligent design. Much of the book is, inevitably, dedicated to attempts to demolish arguments in favour of a rational and scientific explanation for life, the universe and everything. In particular, Lennox has Richard Dawkins in his sights, and manages to throw some convincing doubt at some of the estimable professor's more speculative theories (which Dawkins himself would agree are speculative - he doesn't claim to know the answer to everything).

Unfortunately what Lennox does not do is come up with any genuinely plausible alternative. We are all agreed that the building blocks of life - cells, DNA - are staggeringly complex and the triggers for their existence remain unexplained. The author is firmly convinced that there are good grounds for believing that intelligent design lies behind the apparently madly improbable existence of life.

Unfortunately, despite much huffing and puffing, Lennox's arguments for this do not move beyond the usual ones:
a) life is really complex and looks so clever that surely it was designed (and here's some really complex probability stuff to 'prove' it);
b) the increasing convergence of information theory and evolutionary biology and cosmology point to more and more order and apparent thought in the building blocks of life (see point a!);
c) Dawkins' speculation is wrong, therefore it must be design;
d) lots of scientists allegedly agree with him;
e) and towards the end, he hints loudly that, well, the Bible says so. In the beginning was The Word.

Well actually in the beginning were who knows how many Hebrew folk tales and oral traditions that were subjected to a game of Chinese Whispers that lasted for centuries before umpteen competing versions were written down at n generations from their emergence, but hey, who's arguing. As with all of these types of book that I have read, non-Christian faith systems do not really get a look in, and are subtly dismissed. That sounds like having your cake and eating it to me: if you believe in intelligent design, I think you'd better be prepared for it being one of the other side being correct, not necessarily your team! I've yet to see one of these people seriously consider that "their" book might actually be wrong, even if the premise is correct.

Lennox refuses to contemplate that perhaps the reason we don't understand yet is that we have lots more to discover. That there may be other factors involved, factors explicable without the aid of superstition, that we are not aware of yet, that make the triggering of life considerably more probable than we currently imagine. This is where Dawkins' speculations are rooted.

Again, we come back to science having done a very good job, for several centuries now, of coming up with answers and reasons that can be proved by observation, experiment or discovery, that time and time again blow God(s) out of the water.

Lennox likes to wheel out Paley and irreducible complexity, the favourite refuge of the creationist. One of his examples is, inevitably, the flagellar motor - even Lennox he has had to give up on the eye - and incredibly he favourably quotes the surely completely discredited Michael Behe in this area, which sorely undermines his case before he even starts. Imagine if Lennox had written this book 200 years ago; what "irreducibly complex" organisms/mechanisms would he have wheeled out then? How many of them have since been easily explained by science without the need for "design"?

Now imagine he writes this book in 200 years time: will he have anything left to write about?

He utilises many subtle and clever analogies to undermine science's general conviction that life will be explained by theory and not God, but in the end the best that he can do is cast doubt on ideas. After that Lennox can then only come up with arguments for design that are every bit as speculative and open to critical assault as the other ideas he has undermined. Unfortunately for him, momentum is on the side of science: there is clear evidence for evolution and related theories; there is none - zero, nothing, nowt - for God. Not one scrap of solid evidence that can be subjected to meaningful analysis or experimentation.

When someone comes up with a fossil that proves a miracle or a revelation, then I might be convinced. In contrast, on the other tab of my browser right now is a story regarding yet another transitional fossil being discovered.

In summary, an excellent read, with some very interesting (and complex) ideas, that convincingly undermines some wilder scientific speculation, but does not provide an alternative that will work with anything other than faith. A very learned and game attempt to sell intelligent design.