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The last part of the book deals with issues concerning the
purpose of human existence; what makes us fully human, what is our purpose,
why are we different from animals, can learned behavior overcome biologically
conditioned behavior, how does humanity connect to God? When it is appropriated,
Colling uses his understanding of biology to approach these questions, but he
acknowledges that the book moves moves more into the realm of the social sciences,
which he characterizes as the “soft sciences” (p. 145).The use of his own
personal experiences helps illuminate both the points he wishes to make as
well as his own social and spiritual maturing process - an enriching outcome
for the reader.
Dr. Colling has written an engaging book which is a must read for all those
interested in the current debates between the scientific and religious communities.
The Scriptures proclaim that God has created the universe and that humanity
is able to discern certain aspects about God from the creation, particularly
his eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20). By looking at the biological
process of creation, Colling has enabled us to catch a glimpse of the power and
wisdom of God. Randomness is a part of creation. It is the instrument used by
God to bring about life in it’s intricate and infinite variety. Yet randomness
has predictable outcomes. This biological fact has ramifications for our
understanding of the sovereignty of God. Some define sovereignty as a function
of deity which excludes any possibility of freedom. Yet a correct biblical
view of sovereignty notes that God has refused “to enforce his divine will,
which will mean the destruction of humanity,” but chooses “to suffer the
consequences of human disobedience.”
[ Continued on next page ]
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