THE PRISM AND THE RAINBOW

THE PRISM AND THE RAINBOW
A Christian Explains Why Evolution Is Not a Threat
By Joel W. Martin
Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2010
ISBN 13: 978-0-8018-9478-7

Here’s a great little book, helpful, that is easy to read. I read it in 2 hours.

The bulk of Martin’s arguments are against creationism and intelligent design as valid hypothesis deserving of being taught in school. While the author made every attempt to be gracious and to qualify his arguments, out of necessity he did sometimes paint with a rather broad brush. However, Martin is also sharply critical of many noted scientists who have insisted there is no God. Some may even perceive that he is harsher on them than he is on creationists.

Martin outlines exactly what science is, with definitions for Fact, Hypothesis, Law, Rule, & Theory. In particular, Martin (who is both a Presbyterian Elder and Biologist) explores the meaning of both fact and theory: A fact is an object or event ‘”having real, demonstrable existence” while theory is “the entire body of inter-locking and well-supported explanatory statements about a given subject.” By these explanations, Martin explains, an apple that falls from a tree is a fact, while gravity itself is a theory.

Hypothesis, “a suggested explanation for something” with the further restriction that it must be testable, is differentiated form theory, which is the body of knowledge about a subject and “does not imply doubt,” as commonly supposed.

Martin admits that ambiguity that is attached to many of these terms- for instance, the word theory is applied to many underlying mechanisms that are still under study.

Therefore Martin argues that evolution is not just another theory, and that creationism and intelligent design lack sufficient supporting evidence to be theories, nor do they qualify as hypothesis because they are not testable.

Yet Martin is a man of faith. Martin argues that science is meant to answer questions that begin with how, when, where and what but cannot answer questions that begin with why. Other authors- notably Karen Armstrong- have made the same argument, but Martin’s wording is easier to grasp AND more believable, because he shares his faith when doing so: “The light of science and the light of faith are meant to be illuminating, not blinding. And like other sources of light, the two will compliment, and not negate, one another. No finding of science will ever lessen your capacity or your need for worship.” (p. 100)

The book includes a fine appendix, many chapter notes, a good glossary and a fine list for further reading. It is a great introduction to the subject.

George R. Pasley
November 11, 2010
Ketchikan, AK

THE TIGER

THE TIGER: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival
By John Valliant
ISBN 978-0-307-39714-0

This book is a true account of a tiger killing near the village of Sobolonye in the Russian far eats in December 1997. As such it is a gripping narrative, describing how the Tiger seems to have stalked and killed a man who had earlier tried to kill the tiger, how the Tiger went on to kill one more man and terrorize a village, and how authorities tracked down and killed the tiger at risk to their own lives.

But it is more than a true story, and that is the genius of the book. Each of the characters in the story came from somewhere else far away, for reasons other than choice, and stayed because for the most part they had no choice. Instead, they were compelled both to come and to stay for reasons of history, politics and economy. Valliant weaves those reasons into the narrative.

Even more, Valliant gives vivid description to the exceptionally unique ecology of the region known as Primorye, to the evolution of tigers, to the history of interaction between men and predatory beasts (including a vivid and chilling description of baboons hiding in caves by nighttime), the environmental predicaments posed by perestroika, the economic depravity in which the current residents of Primorye live, and finally, efforts to save the Siberian Tiger from extinction.

I found the book holding tight grip on my interest, and loved the way the author helped us to see both the larger environmental, economic and political pictures as well as the intimate picture of a life and death struggle in the winter forest, and yet held the larger picture and the intimate picture in balance.

Valliant ahs apparently made a career out of this sort of writing. After reading a few chapters I read the dust jacket and learned that he also authored “The Golden Spruce.” That book tells the story of a Sitka Spruce on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia. It had a rare genetic mutation causing its needles to be golden in color, but an unemployed logger cut it down as apolitical statement.

The Tiger is educational reading and compelling narrative. I would read it again, and read anything else Valliant has written.

George R. Pasley
November 8, 2010