Burgess, John P. In whose image: faith, science and the new genetics. Louisville, Ky: Geneva Press, 1998

Velaidum, Joe

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 25Issue 2 The Arts and the Church Article 1611-1-1999In whose image: faith, science and the new geneticsJoe VelaidumFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationVelaidum, Joe (1999) "In whose image: faith, science and the new genetics," Consensus: Vol. 25 : Iss. 2 , Article 16.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol25/iss2/16122 ConsensusIn Whose Image: Faith, Science and the New GeneticsJohn P. Burgess, EditorLouisville: Geneva Press, 1998140 pages, $23.95 SoftcoverThis book is a response to the call of the 202"'^ General Assembly of thePresbyterian Church for an account of the impact of the Genome Project onbroad based theological issues. According to the editor, the essays in the volumecomprise “a significant effort by one mainline denomination to reflect on theChristian faith in light of changes in science and technology” which “lends itselfto both personal and group study” (viii; ix). Whatever the intended use, the bookis undoubtedly a student’s guide; each chapter concludes with a summary andstudy questions, and the book is written with the educated non-specialist in mind.Furthermore, In Whose Image, is not strictly denominational (except for JamesC. Goodloe’s article on Presbyterian theology), but will benefit all Christians of aliberal persuasion concerned with issues in science and religion.The six essays (plus an introductory essay) that comprise the book aredivided into three parts: “Interactions Between Science and Religion” (chapters1-3); “Genes, Environment, History: What Really Determines Gs” (chapters 4-5);“What God Created Gs to Be” (chapter 8). The first three chapters attempt toreconcile science and religion on philosophic, historical and theological grounds:Margret Gray Towne’s article calls for “critical thinking” and “informedskepticism” (chapter 1); James Miller provides a brief account of the historicalinteraction between science and religion in the classical, modern, andpostmodern era: and James Ayers considers the Book of Genesis as a “hymn ofpraise” which is more akin to modem literary biblical criticism than historicism.Each of these essays argue, in its own way, that science and religion need not beadversaries, but interact to provide knowledge about existence. The two chaptersthat compose Part Two are introductory essays in the science of genetics (R.David Cole’s “Do Genes Control Gs?”) and biological evolution (1. Lehr Brisbin,Jr.’s “Perspectives on the Origins and Evolution of Humanity”). Both essaysprovide clear introductions to some complex scientific theories, although thereligious implications of these theories could have been more fully integrated intothe scientific discussions. Part Three is comprised of theological reflections onthe nature of humanity in a modern, scientific world: Susan L. Nelson’s article(chapter 6) reminds science of humanity’s dependence on God; James Goodloeinterprets the scientific enterprise in light of Reform Presbyterian belief; andRonald Cole-Turner (chapter 7) outlines the questions modern theology musttake into account, given the findings of the modern biological sciences.In Whose Image is a much needed introduction to the theological issuesraised by the biological sciences because the dialogue between science andBook Reviews 123religion, historically, was really the interaction among physics, cosmology andreligion. Even after Darwin, physics and cosmologywere still the most prominentsciences, and therefore the bulk of interest in science and religion was orientedtowards them. It is only with the recent tremendous experimental (and financial)success of geneticists in cloning living organisms and the ethical implications ofsuch work that theology is now taking biological science very seriously. While achapter introducing the issues faced by religious ethics in terms of geneticmanipulation is warranted and conspicuously missing (given its importance andurgency since this technology is already readily available), the volume containsenough good introductory material to deserve a wide reading among thoseinterested in the interaction between modern biology and liberal Christianity.Joe VelaidumMcMaster UniversityHamilton, OntarioComing Out as SacramentChris GlaserLouisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998155 pages, $23.95 SoftcoverWelcoming But Not AffirmingStanley J. GrenzLouisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998210 pages, $29.95 SoftcoverThese two books, from the same publisher, are on the popular andcontentious topic of homosexuality and the church. The first, by well-known gaychurch activist, Chris Glaser, is firmly in the queer liberationist genre. The other,by Vancouver evangelical professor, Stanley J. Grenz, is just as forthrightly in the“love the sinner, hate the sin” category.Glaser’s book, while using the language of sacrament, really models a queerhermeneutic for our time. It is not actually as deeply rooted in sacramental pietyand imagery as the title might lead one to expect. This is not surprising givenGlaser’s self-conscious Presbyterian roots. In a book that is exciting because ofits creative use of scriptural text and story, Glaser shows other gays, lesbians,bisexuals, and transgendered (and any one else who for reasons of solidarity orself-enlightenment cares to read it) howto appropriate biblical myth in light of ourlives and experience. It is a good application of the method of faith Marcus Borg

In whose image: faith, science and the new genetics

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In whose image: faith, science and the new genetics

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