On this website, Deborah and Loren Haarsma recommend resources related to the topics covered in their book Origins: A Reformed Look at Creation, Design, & Evolution. In the book, the authors evaluate the competing ways in which Christians understand creation, design, and evolution. The book shows how both God’s Word and God’s world should be honored in coming to a responsible understanding of how God created the universe and our world. It offers help for thoughtful Christians who are seeking to resolve their differences and come to a deeper, more biblical understanding of origins.
> To purchase a copy of Origins, click here.
> To download a flyer (.pdf, 2 pp., 1.37 MB) for Origins, click here.
> To read a sample chapter (.pdf, 30 pp., 0.77 MB) of Origins, click here.
> To browse several dozen short articles by the Haarsmas that expand on topics covered in Origins, click here.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 1: God’s Word and God’s World
On Reformed Christianity:
- The Belgic Confession (written in late 1500s)
- The Heidelberg Catechism (written in late 1500s)
- The Canons of Dort (written 1618-19)
- The Westminster Confession (written in 1646)
- A Contemporary Testimony: Our World Belongs to God Grand Rapids, Mich.: CRC Publications, 1987.
- Plantinga, Jr. Cornelius. Engaging God’s World: A Reformed Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2002.
On a Reformed view of origins:
- Leunk, Thea. Fossils and Faith. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Faith Alive Christian Resources. This 4-session course, designed for middle and high school youth, provides an overview of the topic of origins that adults will also find helpful.
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Walk With Me: Discover Creation and Science Grand Rapids, Mich: Faith Alive Christian Resources. A 4-session course for 6th-8th grade students.
Position statements of various denominations and Christian organizations:
- Barry, A. L. What about Creation and Evolution? Barry states the position of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, which favors young earth creationism.
- Dembski, B., Miller, K., Nelson, P., Newman, B., Wilcox, D. 2000. Commission on Creation, American Scientific Affiliation. The American Scientific Affiliation is “a fellowship of men and women in science and disciplines that relate to science who share a common fidelity to the Word of God and a commitment to integrity in the practice of science.” Recognizing the diversity of views among Christians, they have drafted a statement that recognizes general areas of agreement and specific areas of disagreement among Christians.
- Murfin, Walter B. and Beck, David F. The Positions of Major Christian Denominations on Creation and Inerrancy 1998. This site summarizes the positions of all major Christian denominations.
- National Center for Science Education Statements from Religious Organizations. This site gives position statements of several religious organizations that favor an old earth and the theory of evolution.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 2: Worldviews and Science
On God`s work in nature:
- Hooykaas, R. Religion and the Rise of Modern Science. Scottish Academic Press and Chatto & Windus, 1972.
- Murphy, George L. Murphy. Toward a Christian View of a Scientific World. Lima, Ohio: CSS Publishing Company, 2001.
- Polkinghorne, John. Science and Providence. Boston: Shambhala Publications,1989.
On randomness:
- Bauer, Andrej. The Gallery of Random Art (discussed by Haarsmas in book supplement)
- Haarsma, Loren. Chance from a Theistic Perspective, The Talk Origins Archive, 1996.
- Haarsma, Loren. “Does Science Exclude God? Natural Law, Chance, Miracles, and Scientific Practice,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003. Excerpt available in book supplement.
- MacKay, Donald. Science, Chance and Providence. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1978.
On worldviews held by scientists:
- Polkinghorne, John. The Faith of a Physicist. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University, 1994.
- Karl Giberson and Mariano Artigas, Oracles of Science: Celebrity Scientists Versus God and Religion. Oxford University Press, 2006.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 3: Science: A Process for Studying God’s World
- Hearn, Walter. Being a Christian in Science. Downer’s Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1987.
- MacKay, Donald. The Open Mind and Other Essays. Leicester, England: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 4: God’s Word and God’s World in Conflict?
On Biblical interpretation:
- Berkhof, Louis. Principles of Biblical Interpretation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1950, 2003.
- Fee, Gordon and Douglas Stewart. How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, 3rd edition. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2003.
On the relationship between Christianity and science:
- Barbour, Ian G. Religion and Science. New York: Harper, 1997.
- Lindberg, David C. and Ronald L. Numbers, “Beyond War and Peace: A Reappraisal of the Encounter between Christianity and Science”, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 39.3:140-149 (1987).
- Rusbult, Craig. Searching for Truth in the Two Books of God and references therein.
On Galileo:
- Drake, Stillman, ed. The Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo. New York: Doubleday, 1957.
- Gingerich, Owen. The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Revolutions of Nicolaus Copernicus. New York: Walker & Company, 2004.
- Hummel, Charles E. The Galileo Connection. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1986.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 5: Genesis: Concordist Interpretations
On the range of interpretations held by Christians:
- Rusbult, Craig. Creationist Interpretations of Genesis 1 and the Bible and references therein.
On the Genesis text:
- American Scientific Affiliation, Descriptions of several scholarly commentaries
On interpretations of Genesis by the early church fathers:
- Catholic Answers. Creation and Genesis.
On the “Appearance of Age” interpretation:
- Gosse, Philip Henry. Omphalos: An Attempt to Untie the Geological Knot. Originally Published: London: J. Van Voorst, 1857; reprinted by Ox Bow Press, 1998. Gosse was one of the first to propose this interpretation.
On geological evidence for great age from a Christian perspective:
- Greenberg, Jeffrey. “Geological Framework of an Evolving Creation,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2003.
- Roberts, Hill. Evidences that have led many scientists to accept an ancient date for creation of the earth and universe.
- Weins, Roger C. Radiometric Dating: A Christian Perspective.
- Young, Davis A. and Stearley, Ralph. The Bible, Rocks and Time: Geological Evidence for the Age of the Earth. InterVarsity Press, 2008.
- Young, Davis. “The Discovery of Terrestrial History,” Portraits of Creation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1990.
- Young, Davis A. “How Old Is It? How Do We Know? A Review of Dating Methods.” Part One: Relative Dating, Absolute Dating, and Non-radiometric Methods. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 58:259, December 2006. Part Two: Radiometric Dating: Mineral, Isochron and Concordia Methods. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 59:28, March 2007.
On the history of the young earth creationist movement:
- Creationism in Twentieth Century America. This is a ten-volume scholarly anthology of writings from young earth Creationists, including George McReady Price, William Bell Riley, and Harry Rimmer who advocated the young earth view in the first half of the twentieth century.
- Davis, Edward B. “Concordism and American Evangelicals,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2003.
- Davis, Edward B. Important Primary Texts on Religion and Science in America.
- The Fundamentals, The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, 1917.
- Numbers, Ronald. The Creationists. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press, 1992.
On young earth creationist views:
On scientific responses to young earth creationist arguments from a Christian perspective:
- Answers in Creation
- Answers in Genesis, Arguments we think creationists should NOT use
- Reasons to Believe, FAQ on The Age of the Earth
- Ross, Hugh. Creation and Time. Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1994.
- Van Till, Howard J., Davis A. Young, and Clarence Menninga. Science Held Hostage. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
On the ocean salt argument (discussed by Haarsmas in book supplement):
- Morton, Glenn. Salt in the Sea 1996 posting to ASA discussion board and references therein.
- Morton, Glenn. Salt in the Sea 1997 posting to ASA discussion board and references therein.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 6: Genesis: Non-Concordist Interpretations
- Glover, Gordon J. Beyond the Firmament. Chesapeake, Va.: Watertree Press, 2007 and related video.
- Godfrey, W. Robert God's Pattern for Creation: A Covenantal Reading of Genesis 1. P & R Publishing, 2003.
- Harlow, Daniel C. “Creation According to Genesis: Literary Genre, Cultural Context, Theological Truth,” Christian Scholar’s Review, XXXVII:2, 2008.
- Hyers, Conrad. “Comparing Biblical and Scientific Maps of Origins,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation, Keith Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.
- Stek, John H. “What Says the Scripture?” Portraits of Creation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1990.
- Walton, John H. The NIV Application Commentary on Genesis. Grand Rapids. Mich.: Zondervan, 2001.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 7: An Ancient and Dynamic Universe
Interactive websites that allow you to explore the cosmos from the solar system out to the largest superclusters of galaxies:
On the place of humanity in the cosmos from a Christian perspective:
- Dennis, Danielson, click on “Copernicus and Tale of the Pale Blue Dot” to download the article.
On astronomical evidence for the age of the universe from a Christian perspective:
- Reasons to Believe FAQ on the Age of the Earth.
- Ross, Hugh. Creation and Time. Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1994.
- VanTill, Howard. “The Scientific Investigation of Natural History,” Portraits of Creation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1990.
On proofs of God from the Big Bang (discussed by Haarsmas in book supplement):
- Craig, William Lane, “‘What Place, Then, for a Creator?’ Hawking on God and Creation,” British Journal of Philosophical Science, 41 (1990). Archive of several articles by Craig.
- Reichenbach, Bruce, “Cosmological Argument,” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,Edward N. Zalta,editor, and references therein.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 8: Competing Views on Evolution
- Leunk, Thea. Fossils and Faith. Grand Rapids, Mich: Faith Alive Christian Resources. A 4-session course for teens and adults.
- Walk with Me: Discover Creation and Science Grand Rapids, Mich: Faith Alive Christian Resources. A 4-session course for 6th-8th grade students.
- Moreland, J. P. and John Mark Reynolds, eds. Three Views on Creation and Evolution. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1999.
On the microevolution of peppered moths (discussed by Haarsmas in book supplement):
- Miller, Ken. The Peppered Moth – An Update
Recommended Resources from Chapter 9: Evidence for Plant and Animal Evolution
On the scientific evidence for the theory of evolution from a Christian perspective:
- Colling, Richard G. Random Designer: Created from Chaos to Connect with Creator. Browning Press, 2004.
- Collins, Francis. The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. New York: Free Press, 2006.
- Falk, Darrel. Coming to Peace with Science. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
- Glover, Gordon J. Beyond the Firmament. Chesapeake, Va.: Watertree Press, 2007 and related videos.
- Gray, Terry. “Biochemistry and Evolution,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm B. Eerdmans, 2003.
- Matheson, Steve. Quintessence of Dust. A blog from a Christian biologist that frequently discusses scientific issues of evolution.
- Miller, Keith B. “Common Descent, Transitional Forms, and the Fossil Record,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.
- Wright, Richard T. Biology Through the Eyes of Faith. HarperCollins, 1989.
- David L. Wilcox, God and Evolution: A Faith-based Understanding, Judson Press, 2004.
On the second law of thermodynamics and its relation to evolution:
- Rusbult, Craig. An Introduction to Entropy and Evolution: The Second Law of Thermodynamic in Science and in Young Earth Creationism.
On scientific issues surrounding first life presented from a mostly neutral perspective:
- Brack, Andri, ed. The Molecular Origins of Life: Assembling Pieces of the Puzzle. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
- Orgel, L. E. “The Origin of Life—A Review of Facts and Speculations,” Trends Biochem Science. 23, 1998.
- Plaxco, Kevin and Michael Gross. Astrobiology: An Introduction. Boston: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 10: Intelligent Design
On fine-tuning from a Christian or theist perspective:
- Craig, William Lane. The Teleological Argument and the Anthropic Principle.
- Gingerich, Owen God’s Universe. Belknap Press, 2006.
- Leslie, John. Universes. London: Routledge, 1996.
- Ross, Hugh. The Creator and the Cosmos. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1995.
On fine-tuning and the multi-verse hypothesis, from a non-Christian perspective:
- Rees, Martin. Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces that Shape the Universe. New York: Basic Books, 2000.
On the history of creation, design, and evolution issues in the United States:
- Davis, Edward B. “Intelligent Design on Trial” in Religion in the News, Winter 2006, Vol. 8, No 3.
- Numbers, Ronald. The Creationists. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press, 1992.
- Lindberg, David C. and Ronald L. Numbers, eds. When Science and Christianity Meet. University of Chicago Press, 2003.
On intelligent design and biological complexity from a Christian perspective:
- Behe, Michael. Darwin’s Black Box. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996.
- Collins, Francis. The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. New York: Free Press, 2006.
- Dembski, William. The Design Inference. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.
- Falk, Darrel. Coming to Peace with Science. Downer’s Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2004.
- Gray, Terry and Loren Haarsma. “Complexity, Self-organization and Design,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.
- Haarsma, Loren. “Is Intelligent Design ‘Scientific’?” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 59:55, March 2007.
- Behe, Michael J. “The Positive Side of Intelligent Design: A Response to Loren Haarsma.” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 59:63, March 2007.
- Haarsma, Loren. “The Filter Aspect of Intelligent Design: A Reply to Michael J. Behe.” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 59:64, March 2007.
- Rusbult, Craig. Intelligent Design and Science and references therein.
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Robert B. Stewart, ed. Intelligent Design: William A. Dembski and Michael Ruse in Dialogue. Fortress Press, 2007.
On scientific issues surrounding first life presented from a mostly neutral perspective:
- Brack, Andri, ed. The Molecular Origins of Life: Assembling Pieces of the Puzzle. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
- Orgel, L.E. “The Origin of Life—A Review of Facts and Speculations,” Trends Biochem Science. 23, 1998.
- Plaxco, Kevin and Michael Gross. Astrobiology: An Introduction .Boston: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.
On kenosis and evolution (discussed by Haarsmas in book supplement):
- Edwards, Denis, The God of Evolution: A Trinitarian Theology. Mahwah, New Jersey: Paulist Press, 1999.
- Polkinghorne, John. The Work of Love: Creation as Kenosis. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2001.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 11: Scientific and Theological Issues on Human Origins
On scientific evidence regarding human evolution, from a mostly neutral perspective:
- Heslip, Steven. Time-Space Chart of Hominid Fossils.
On scientific evidence regarding human evolution, from a Christian perspective:
- Collins, Francis. The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. New York: Free Press, 2006.
- Hurd, James. “Hominids in the Garden,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.
- Wilcox, David. “Finding Adam: The Genetics of Human Origins,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm B. Eerdmans, 2003.
On theological issues of human evolution:
- Collins, Robin. “Evolution and Original Sin,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.
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- Murphy, George. “Roads to Paradise and Perdition: Christ, Evolution, and Original Sin,” Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith, 58:109, June 2006.
- Young, Davis. “The Antiquity and the Unity of the Human Race Revisited,” Christian Scholar's Review XXIV:4, May 1995.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 12: Adam and Eve
- Collins, Robin. “Evolution and Original Sin,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.
- Hurd, James. “Hominids in the Garden,” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.
- Murphy, George. “Roads to Paradise and Perdition: Christ, Evolution, and Original Sin,” Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith, 58:109, June 2006.
- Young, Davis. “The Antiquity and the Unity of the Human Race Revisited,” Christian Scholar's Review XXIV:4, May 1995.
- Rust, Peter. “Early Humans, Adam, and Inspiration.” Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith, 59:182, September 2007.
- Theme issue on Human Origins, Perspectives in Science and Christian Faith, June 2006.
Recommended Resources from Chapter 13: But What About . . . ?
On the goodness and fall of creation:
- Munday, John C. “Animal Pain: Beyond the Threshold?” Perspectives on an Evolving Creation. Keith B. Miller, ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2003.
- Snoke, David. “Why Were Dangerous Animals Created?” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 56:117, June 2004.
- Spanner, D. C. Biblical Creation and the Theory of Evolution, Paternoster, 1987.
- Yancey, Philip. Where Is God When It Hurts? Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1977, 1990, 2002.
On being a Christian in science:
- American Scientific Affiliation. This professional society for Christians in science has many useful resources from a range of viewpoints.
- Chappell, Dorothy F. and Cook, E. David, ed. Not Just Science: Questions Where Christian Faith and Natural Science Intersect. Zondervan, 2005.
- Council of Christian Scholarly Societies. This website lists other organizations of Christians in the sciences and various academic fields.
- Fisher, David and Barrett, Eric C. Scientists Who Believe. Moody Publishers, 1984.
- Graves, Dan Scientists of Faith: Forty-Eight Biographies of Historic Scientists and Their Christian Faith. Kregel Resources, 1996
- Hearn, Walt. Being a Christian in Science. Downer’s Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1987.
- Craig, William Lane and Gould, Paul M., eds. The Two Tasks of the Christian Scholar: Redeeming the Soul, Redeeming the Mind. Good News/Crossway, 2007.