Why are we here ? A little book of guidance by Alister McGrath SPCK, 2015 42 pages £3.99ISBN 978 0 281 074 389 also available as an ebook
In just 3 chapters and a conclusion, Alister McGrath, Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University, offers a compact and stimulating argument in favour of the Christian view of life contrasted with the way atheists see things.
As is to be expected of an articulate academic, there are plenty of quotes from both sides of the case which turn on purpose, meaning and values.
Science and religion are complementary, it is argued, the one dealing with the material world; the other primarily with spiritual reality. Both are equally valid; both are based on faith, the one relying on the uniformity of causes; the other relying on a creator God.
Perhaps the most illuminating implication of what Prof McGrath writes is that the theory of evolution of itself does not require a commitment to atheism. It is really a matter if interpretation.
If you are a committed atheist you may well use the theory of evolution to support your conviction that there is no divine Being who set creation off.
Evolution may well explain why things are the way they are without the need for a creator – the universe happened by chance or accident.
Yet it is not the only explanation possible.
Evolution and atheism may be linked which is a sufficient link but not a necessary one.
The case for faith, and Christian faith in particular, is positively presented with arguments from such stalwarts as CS Lewis and others, including scientists reluctant to side with aggressive atheism.
This is a little gem of a book.