Book Review: The Selfless Gene

Science. Religion. Darwin. Genesis. 

Polar opposites or potential allies?

These are the bold words plastered across the top of the back cover of this book. Charles Foster has given the reading world an excellent book in "The Selfless Gene", even as it directly riffs off a Richard Dawkins book title. This book, with its revealing subtitle "Living With God and Darwin", is one of many released over the last few years that examines the debate over origins, and aims to defuse the often unnecessarily infuriating polarisation of science and religion. 

The book itself is a good piece of design, with a clever cover showing a changing shape that clarifies into a recognisable crucifix. Its an obvious reworking of the classic ascent of man diagrams that adorn a million textbooks, bumper stickers, and wall posters. And this clever, engaged yet ultimately authentic Christianity is rife throughout this book. With endorsements from notable scientists, and the excellent Christian scientist and theologian David Wilkinson of Durham, this book has done well. Fortunately  it lives up to its cover, the hype, and its endorsements.

This is a book that seeks middle ground, that seeks not compromise but understanding. In a Vineyard sense, it is searching for the 'radical middle' of science/religion and creation/evolution. I found myself sharing Foster's observation that "Creationism has inoculated a whole generation against Christianity", but occasionally disagreeing with his programme of response. Fortunately - and this is one of the reasons this book is so good - Foster is well aware of where he sits and writes; "this book will have something in it to frustrate and annoy everyone". Its this sort of self-awareness, regardless of perspective, that is so refreshing in a good, thoughtful book, and noteworthy by its absence in books by people like Dawkins, or some of the crustier ends of the Christian church.

Foster has written a book that touches on all the relevant elements of the debate over origins, and its irritating cousin, the debate over science and religion. I personally found myself being convinced by a number of his arguments (which may be because Foster is an eminent lawyer), though this book is not the lightning rod that it could have been. Some will criticise it for being too science-y, others will criticise it for being too theology-y, and others will criticise it stylistically. You just can't please everyone when writing on this subject, but I think Foster makes an excellent contribution. 

Without summarising the book, or working through chapters, I can simply recommend it! I still haven't found the perfect book on this complex subject, but this is up there with the best. Its readable, intelligent, and accessible, yet engages well with a variety of technical theological and scientific issues. If you are interested in the discussion about origins, or science and religion, then this is a good book to read!