This is an attractively produced hardback volume. It is written for ‘expert and layman alike’ (p.10) and aims to compare two different hypotheses.
Hypothesis 1 is the approach of atheism: there is no God — all that exists is matter. Hypothesis 2 is the approach of biblical theism: God is real and the Bible provides a true account of his dealings with us.
The two hypotheses are examined in the areas of modern physics and biology. The author’s conclusion is that the universe only makes sense when we have God in the picture. ‘The biblical hypothesis of God … provides a comprehensible, intellectually consistent and spiritually satisfying view of life, the universe and everything’ (p.10).
I especially appreciate the way Professor Andrews points out that at the heart of biology is the language of the genes, and then highlights the importance of the Word of God in creation. The God who speaks is the God who makes life based on its own kind of language.
The author also explains that the biblical revelation of God is based on his covenants. These give order and arrangement to his dealings with human beings, for the God of the Bible is the supreme arranger and order-er.
This is manifest in the creation of life too. Each cell is a wonderful example of order and arrangement. So, in genetics and the structure of the living cell especially, the nature of the God of the Bible is clearly revealed in what he has made.
The author takes a different view from many creationists, including myself, in seeing no contradiction between Big Bang cosmology and the Genesis record. He believes that some parts of the creation account are to be taken as how things appeared from earth’s perspective rather than how they actually happened. Thus the sun and stars ‘became visible’ from earth on the fourth day rather than actually being brought into being that day.
I did not find this an entirely easy read and perhaps those without a science background will find it difficult at times. But it is well worth persevering, as the author provides us here with valuable tools to respond to the increasingly belligerent attacks of a determined band of new atheists.
