Last month we ranked higher than ever before at #36. This month we are at #16! To what should I credit this leap? Evolution.
Congrats to Jim West and Joel Watts for ranking #1 and #2 and to Marc Cortez, my academic advisor who has already made it to #5!!!
the archives near Emmaus 
Sweet!
actually it says your # 15.
Yes, but it you look down there are two #5s since they forgot Marc Cortez and he ended up being #5 bumping everyone down a notch.
Evolution is certainly a hot topic these days, what with Bruce Waltke’s unfortunate choice of words, Albert Mohler’s presentation at the Ligonier Ministries’ National Conference, John MacArthur’s 49 consecutive blog entries on the general topic of ‘my strictly literal reading of Genesis or nothing’ from late March to the end of July (very sad), the exchange between Rachel Held Evans and Ken Ham, and the rise of BioLogos. I know that it’s one of those secondary issues, but it’s interesting to follow, and I personally believe that it is important to Christian evangelism. I believe that Bruce Waltke’s message was right. Evangelicals are going to have to eventually come around. According to several surveys, 40+% of Christians already have. It’s one thing that the Roman Catholic Church gets right. It’s the Galileo Affair all over again.
BTW, have you had a chance to read any of the books I recommended on April 17 in response to your April 10 blog?
Best wishes for continued high rankings.
Yeah, it’s that evolution thing. Try something on theistic evolution next. 😀
Paul,
I agree that evolution is a very important subject. I find it funny that so many people come here to learn about it though. Especially since I write very little on the subject since I know very little. I write about the Apostle Paul a lot but not many come here for that!
I have no had a chance to read any of your book recommendations yet. It has been a busy summer for me.
TC,
I think the big thing that I wrote about was the whole Waltke fiasco. I honestly don’t know enough science to speak on the subject with any authority.
Brian,
You might not know or write a lot about evolution, but you did raise a very good question about the implications of “whole Waltke fiasco.” That counts for something. Not to mention that the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Romans and the Corinthians are going to have to play a major role in an evangelical solution to integrating evolution and evangelical Christianity, since they are currently cited by many as a big part of the objection to evolution, as in ‘the Apostle Paul (supposedly) believed that Adam was an historical person, therefore . . . .’ , etc.
Is the connection with the Apostle Paul enough to motivate you to become more familiar with the topic of evolution and the Bible? Come up with another good question on your blog and watch your ratings soar! 😉
Thus far I have set aside this question for the simple reason that I want to avoid being anachronistic about this discussion. I am not so sure that Paul’s theology depends on his affirmation that Adam was a real, historical person but I am pretty sure he believed such a thing.
Brian,
That is the view of many who have addressed the issue, though some writers believe that educated first-century Jews did not necessarily believe in a historical Adam.
Paul,
Did they mention who those Jews would be? Philo? Josephus? I have read a little of the latter and I don’t recall him portraying Adam as figurative.
Brian,
Now I have to remember where I read that!!
It turns out that it wasn’t any specific first-century Jewish writer. My statement was based on an opinion by Charles Foster in his recent book “The Selfless Gene: Living with God and Darwin,” which I happen to be reading. Foster suggests that first-century Jews understood that Genesis 1 & 2 were not literal history, based on the literary style of the Hebrew text (pp. 128-129).
Does he provide any support?
The book has fairly extensive footnotes, but not on those particular pages, unfortunately.
I would like to say that I’ve read similar views elsewhere, but then you would ask me where, so I won’t. Perhaps someone else can help out here.
Paul,
I gave this question its own blog post: https://nearemmaus.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/a-figurative-adam-in-second-temple-literature/
Yes, evolutionism is a hot topic.
Jeff
I may do a post where I write the word “evolution” like 100 x’s. 🙂