The Selfless Gene by Charles Foster raises the question “Is peace possible?” between Darwinists/Neo-Darwinists and Creationists. A mix of science and religion, this book raises many more questions.
As a follower of Christ, I cannot stand this book. Before I opened to the first page, I knew I was coming into it very biased. It was a book I couldn’t put down, not because I was dazzled by it, but because I couldn’t believe how heretical and blasphemous it really was. Mr. Foster denies the sovereignty of God and His providence, not directly from what I remember, but indirectly and many times. It attacks the authority of scripture and is really presumptuous. Phrases such as “[t]he Bible has to condescend to be useful” and “the whole point of the Bible is accessibility” (pgs. 130-131) offend me and my Creator. Another one that ruffled me up was ” [God] gets the results he wanted but not intended” (pg. 139). The author seems to present a lot of arguments for both sides but really doesn’t firmly stand anywhere. Seems a lot like a argumentative book just for the sake of having an argument.
I do NOT recommend this book to anyone and am praying that a new believer, without firm foundation, doesn’t get his/her hands on this book.
A scripture that comes to my mind a lot when I encounter things of this nature is 1 Timothy 6:3-5 (ESV):
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
I’m praying for Mr. Foster and that the gospel raptures his heart.
The Selfless Gene –> 0/5 stars
*Book Review Blogger for BookSneeze.com
–Jenai
Many thanks for your review of my book, The Selfless Gene. I’m sorry that you think that I attack the authority of scripture: my purpose is precisely to defend it. And, so that I can correct in future editions anything that I’ve got wrong, could you say why you were so offended by: ì[t]he Bible has to condescend to be usefulî and ìthe whole point of the Bible is accessibilityî? The Bible is a book that tells finite creatures about an infinite God. To make him accessible, either in words or incarnation, is a massive undertaking. It requires absolutely literal condescension, doesn’t it?
All best wishes.
Charles
In all humility, if your purpose was to defend it’s authority, I didn’t feel the defense. It seemed that, much of the time, scientific evidence was used to trump over Scripture, like that in Genesis.
And I was offended by the comments mentioned above because I believe the whole point of the Bible is pointing to Christ on the cross, dying for our sins, and in that, stirring a worship in us to want to serve Him all our days. Yes, the Bible is accessible which is important because “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” Rom 10:17, but accessibility isn’t the main purpose. If it was, then God’s work would have been done simply by making it – the words inside would just be the fall from the climax. The Bible’s main point is to change our hearts and the climax is when creation is most satisfied and made perfect in Him. The point is to see the beauty and authority of Scripture – to see this grand narrative that God made accessible to us AND that we are a part of, and to know that all of it allows us to be able to see his loving kindness and grace. The point is to bring us to our knees and repent and love Christ so that one day we may be reconciled to God.
And as to the condescension – in the essence that you just expressed it, yes I agree. It shows us how finite we are and how infinite He is, and hearing that creates a worship in me. But if someone is to claim that Scripture is God’s Word and that God’s Word is all authoritative, which I do, then that means that it ascends above any other book in existence. The fact that it wasn’t written with mathematical equations & etc doesn’t mean it condescends to those languages, which is what I was getting. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Scripture is just the way God wants it; believers needs to humble themselves to it’s teaching and pray that they gain selfless wisdom and knowledge of God from it and that He changes their heart. I’m not saying that people should read it and take it at face value, but to pray and study through the text as a whole to hear what God was saying exegetically and hermeneutically through it, and to tune their ear to how He’s speaking to them.
Some may feel like I’m expounding upon this too much, but I feel like it’s not expounded upon enough.
And just because I didn’t agree with the thoughts in your book doesn’t mean I’m attacking you in anyway, which I’m sure you may get a lot of. I am praying that God would use your writing, in whatever way, for His glory. He has a purpose for everything, even your book and I accept that.
Anyway, thank you for reading my review and humbly responding.
–Jenai