Who Was Adam? by Fazale Rana and Hugh Ross
Rana and Ross build a Biblical model of human origins, and then subject it to scientific testing. Point by point they show how a Biblical model of human origins fits the data much better than an evolutionary model. Anyone who doubts that creationist models can be tested scientifically or that human evolution is a shut case should read this book.
There is a good survey of major fossil finds, and how anthropaleontologists have gone about interpreting them. It’s interesting to discover how the experts are far from decided on the proper interpretation. There is not one evolutionary tree of human origins, but multiple trees. And the more data we gather, the more the trees appear to rot.
A lot of time is spent on research into the age and relationship of humans and other hominids. Good stuff.
Five Views On Apologetics edited by Steven Cowan
If you aren’t into (and I mean really into) apologetics, you probably won’t enjoy this book. But if you are, it’s a must read. It is one of Zondervan’s Point-Counterpoint books. Five apologists are featured, each making a case that his apologetic philosophy and methodology is the preferred strategy. There is a good discussion on the role of apologetics in evangelism, what we should expect our apologetic to do, whether faith is warranted without evidence, and the like.
Thinking to Believe 
April 26, 2008 at 4:47 am
“his apologetic philosophy”
I’m curious my apologetics seems to be dominated by men? (Could it be that it has more to do with being competitive than being caring?)
Just curious…
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April 26, 2008 at 4:48 am
“my” should have been “why”
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April 28, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Hi Aaron,
I think it’s the same reason theology tends to be dominated by men: men enjoy abstract and philosophical thinking more than women. Men are more cerebral-oriented. That may be politically incorrect, but it is true in general. I’m captivated by the question of the nature of time and space, but my wife could care less for my ruminations. The only thing about time she cares about is the time I get home, and the only space she cares about is the space in which the credit card exists! That’s not to say she doesn’t enjoy some of the stuff I think about, but not on the level I do. And I have scarcely met a woman who did. And just to clarify, I am not saying men are smarter than women. I am saying that there are some things men’s minds are more oriented towards than women’s minds, and vice-versa. There are a lot of smart, intellectual women out there doing many amazing things. Theology and apologetics just aren’t one of them.
One might respond that women come behind men in theological studies because most denominations have disallowed women from, or frowned upon women engaging in theological studies and/or teaching roles. That may be true to some extent, but what about those denominations that have a history of women ministry such as Pentecostals? How many women study theology, yet alone become theologians? Not many.
Even if denominations that frown upon women theologians and teachers, I would venture to say most do not have a problem with women becoming philosophers (the basis of classical apologetics). And yet, how many woman study to become philosophers (as opposed to taking a philosophy class, which may be required of them)? I could be wrong, but I think the number is extremely low. And I don’t think one’s faith has much to do with it. If you were to look at the gender of professional philosophers—religious and secular alike—I think men would outnumber women by far. As Larry Summers knew from the data, men and women are wired differently, and excel at different things. His honesty got him fired. Lucky for me I don’t have anything to get fired from.
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April 28, 2008 at 4:23 pm
In the last 50 years or so, women have become much more a part of the theological world. There are creative and intelligent women working in systematics, scripture studies, practical theology, etc. However, I know of no woman working in apologetics. Jast as an example: in Freeing Theology(a book on theology by 10 female theologians) there is no chapter on apologetics.
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April 28, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Looks like some good reading material I gotta buy Jason. Thanks.
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April 29, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Aaron,
Yes, there are more women theologians today than yesteryears, but theology is still pretty much a man’s world.
I actually know of at least two women apologists, although they are not professional apologists per se (by which I mean they make their living by teaching apologetics, or writing apologetics books). Both are from Stand to Reason, a prominent apologetics organization. Both of them contribute to the blog there, and at least one of them is a full-time employee, but neither do public teaching on apologetics to my knowledge, and neither has published any books. At least one (and possibly both) are graduates of Biola’s graduate program in apologetics/philosophy of religion. It would be interesting to know how many other woman have graduated from that program.
Jason
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April 29, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I think Karen Armstrong is trying to make a push. I have seen her offering, and supporting, her view’s a lot lately. Maybe it is just me. I know I have seen her alot on ForaTV.
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February 18, 2011 at 2:17 pm
[…] read a good number of books since my last “What I’ve Been Reading” post, but have failed to write about them. I hope to write about these books in the coming days or […]
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