Keathley and Swamidass review Loren Haarsma’s book which proposes four scenarios reconciling evolution with the doctrine of original sin. While Haarsma presents these as equally viable, the reviewers identify significant problems with both his scientific arguments and theological conclusions.
Scientifically, the review identifies substantial errors in Haarsma’s population genetics discussion. These errors lead to the unfair exclusion of several important ancient Adam and Eve scenarios that are compatible with evolutionary science.
Theologically, the reviewers conclude that scenarios affirming a historical Adam face far fewer challenges than those treating Adam as symbolic. The latter require major reinterpretations of Scripture and potentially undermine the doctrine of creation’s original goodness.
The review affirms that many ways to reconcile evolution with original sin exist, but concludes that Haarsma’s book fails to accurately represent both the scientific evidence and the theological implications of various harmonization attempts.
Reviewing Haarsma’s book, there are indeed “many ways” to reconcile evolution with the doctrine of sin…
The science of genetic bottlenecks is known to many, but often misunderstood.
A genealogical Adam will not solve the puzzle of Adam and Eve for everyone, but it will for many. Is a rapprochement possible?
This last year, 2017 till now, we have been reworking the science of Adam. This brings us several new ways to think about Adam and Eve in human origins.
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