This work includes ten different scholars. This provides a wide perspective and interesting contrasts. Contents -
Part 1 - Historical Perspectives on Jewish Responses to Evolution
1. Anglo-Jewish Respomses to Evolution
2. Responses to Evolution by Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Rabbis
3. Twentieth-Century Orthodox Jews contend with Evolution
Part 2 - Social Uses of Evolution: Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Zionism
4. The Impact of Social Darwinism on Anti-Semitic Ideology
5. The Evolution of Jewish identity
6. Zionism, Race, and Eugenics
Part 3 - Evolution and Contemporary Judaism
7. Crisis Management via Bibical Interpretation
8. Torah and Madda?
9. Modern Orthodoxy and Evolution
10. The Order of Creation and the Emerging God
The introduction explains that Darwin did not introduce evolution. Lamarck, Spenser and even Erasmus Darwin, had presented similar ideas. Darwin did introduce natural selection.
The focus of this work is the Jewish reponse to Darwin. Why? Because "the use of evolution in racial theory in Germany in order to provide "scientific" credence to anti-semitism"; the social impact of Darwinism commands analysis. (6)
This work covers the Bibical, scientific, historical, political and social aspects of Darwinism.
Showing the difference between the Jewish and the Christian response to evolution was an article from 1875. The writer says it is "correct to adopt this stance since science is incompatible with Christianity: the former [Judaism] is rational but the later is irrational. Particularly flawed was the Christian doctrine of salvation "according to which millions of human beings are being consigned to everlasting perdition." (34)
Note author says this is unscientific, that is, irrational, not anti-Bibical (which it is).
A 1871 article by a Jewish author says "nor could he find any evidence that humans were more intelligent than they had been in the past - an implication, he believed, of the theory of evolution. Henry concluded this editorial by contrasting the futility of scientific theorizing with "the beautiful accuracy of the Bible account of the creation as proved by modern scientific research." (37)
Still a valid observation.
In 1874 he chastised Tyndall for portraying himself as "the priest of new religion" - the religion of science." The issues include pride, status, power and glory. This is not devotion to scientific truth. Henry was concerned Tyndall "would provide scientists with a precedent justifying the excercise of their authority outside the legitimate domain of science. . . . He claimed that Tyndall has mislead the public by portraying scientific theories as immutable truths whose meaning extended far beyond the facts." (37)
Nothing changes more than "scientific" theories. Think Aristotle - Newton - Maxwell - Einstein. Most of Tyndall's scientific beliefs, i.e. Newtonian physics, the luminiferous ether, Milky Way as the whole cosmos, etc., have all been discredited. Henry was correct.
Another Jewish scholar, Nathan Aviezer, received his Ph.D in physics in 1967 from the University of Chicago. He believes "modern science reveals and confirms the literal meaning of Torah." (169)
"Aviezer prefaces his analysis with the admission that a Bibical day must be interpreted figuratively as a phase or period of time. Aviezer also acknowledges that this interpretation was propounded by the rabbis of the Talmud." (170) This understanding of the uses of "day" in Genesis resolves most of the modern objections to the creation account.
"Thus shoehorned into nine verses of Genesis are to be found the Cambrian explosion, the Paleozoic and Mesozoic periods, the disappearance of the Neanderthal man, the rise of modern man, and the Neolithic revolution. Through modern science, Aviezer insists, 'the Bibical text can be understood in its literal sense". Indeed, without modern science, the Bibical text would remain opaque. 'Modern science has become a significant element in the strengthing of ancient faith." (172)
This type of careful, erudite, detailed, profound analysis, is what characterizes Jewish response to science and Darwin. The Jewish scholars have defended their faith with reason and research, facts and evidence.
There is much interesting information here. Anyone interested in the relationship of science and religion will enjoy it. Also, the effect of Darwinism on the modern state of Isreal will learn much. The focus on Jewish thinkers, including the ancient rabbis, Nahmanides, Rashi, and others in explaining Genesis is facinating!
Includes a three page bibliography and a ten page index. Each scholar has his own style, nevertheless all are readable. No footnotes, which makes for smooth flow. Provides a lot of insight and understanding.
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Top reviews from other countries
David Ashton
EVOLUTION AND EVIL: Ten writers on Darwinism, Racism, Anti-Semitism, Judaism and Eugenics.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2016