Review of Larry Witham’s book Where Darwin Meets the Bible, (c) 2002 Oxford University Press, ISBN 0195150457

by Thomas P. Sheahen

Where Darwin Meets the Bible provides an excellent introduction to the controversy between creation and evolution.  With an absolute commitment to neutrality that is rare in the field of journalism, Larry Witham provides readers with background information on all of the major players in the contemporary debate, and allows readers to draw their own conclusions.

Larry Witham has been Religion writer for The Washington Times for over 15 years, and during that time has interviewed a lot of people.  In this book, he distills the essential parts of those many interviews that pertain to the interface between religion and science, and in particular between "Darwinism" and "Creationism."  He lets each person speak for themselves, and organizes the compendium into chapters that give a coherent presentation of the different viewpoints.

Near the back of the book, we find this very clear statement of purpose:  "This book has tried to show the many places the argument has unfolded, all of them in some sense places where Darwin meets the Bible."  Witham succeeds admirably in that purpose.

This book is most helpful to the novice reader, who seeks clarity after having been given very limited information by others -- something along the line of "Smith is a genius but Jones is a fool."  Here one can read the actual words of individuals on both sides.  Brief vignettes of nearly all the major contributors to the controversy are provided, based on actual interviews with each person; direct quotations (as contrasted to third-party reported accounts) are used to ensure fidelity of presenting viewpoints.

In the early chapters, the opposing poles of Darwinism and creationism are explained.  The history of how a conflict developed between Darwin's theory of evolution and traditional creationism, especially in America, is laid out.  The famous Scopes Trial of 1925 is summarized, and the subsequent politicization of the issue in described.  More recent creation/evolution conflicts in State Legislatures over the decades, up to the present day, are also described.  The struggle over school curricula and textbooks, where issues of religious freedom often come up, is treated very fairly.  A chapter on "Higher Education" provides a convenient guide to how various universities treat the opposed positions.

A chapter on "What Natural Scientists Believe" begins with descriptions of the beliefs of Einstein and of Darwin, and then goes on to look at contemporary scientists.  The religious beliefs of scientists have been surveyed several times over the 20th century, and the results are summarized (and data appears in an appendix).  It turns out that biologists are far less inclined to hold a religious outlook than chemists, physicists and mathematicians.

To understand why this entire controversy is so prominent in the public eye today, a chapter on the debates that have been held across America for two decades is quite helpful.  Witham clearly acknowledges (often in the words of participants) the importance of the public-relations aspects of the debates.  The size of the crowds attending such debates signals the enduring importance of this topic across college campuses everywhere.  The role of the media in continuing to promote the controversy is covered; Witham refers to the "Darwin Industry" and explains how it developed to its present state.

Everyone's own thoughts on science and religion affect their answers to very fundamental questions about the meaning of life, the basis for morality, and so forth.  Are we entirely driven by our genes?  How do you explain altruism?  All this and more comes to the fore in the chapter "The Good Society," and this is the point where the entire book comes together, where it becomes clear why there is a struggle between creationists and evolutionists.  "With the scientific and theological viewpoints on the table, and no ruling authority at its head, Americans make a choice in how they define human nature."

The final chapter, "Search for the Underdog," explains that "the debate perpetuates certain areas of confusion."  Witham cites five categories in need of clarification.  Everyone likes to be the underdog, to gain favor with the public.  The final words quote a participant in the debate:  "There is truth on both sides."

Who should read this book?  For the reader unfamiliar with all the controversy between evolutionists and creationists, this book is an ideal introduction.  For the reader already participating in the controversy (usually adhering to one or another position), this book gives an unbiased portrait of both opposing and sympathetic views, and makes it possible to learn a great deal about others (and their positions) without being required to accept the validity of their arguments.

For a college course that wishes to examine the historical, scientific and theological aspects of the debate, this book would be an outstanding textbook.  The absolute fairness with which Witham describes participants and lets them present their opposing views is particularly helpful to learning: it allows both professor and students very wide latitude to start from here and pursue in-depth investigations.