Darwinism and the Divine: Evolutionary Thought and Natural Theology

“McGrath is a masterful teacher and this volume is as brimming with knowledge and insight as his many others.”  (Modern Believing, 1 January 2014)

“The writing in Darwinism and the Divine is clear, elegant, and well informed throughout, is distinguished by a balanced and nonpolemical style, and is a pleasure to read. Every chapter in this rich volume includes extensive endnotes guiding the reader to further study.” (Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 16 January 2014)

“These criticisms notwithstanding, McGrath’s Darwinism and the Divineis a well-written, lucid work that will occupy a prominent place as an apologetic for Christian theism in its dialogue with the larger scientific community.”  (International Journal of Public Theology, 1 May 2013)

“Furthermore, this work is a rare pleasure to read for its clarity and remarkable level of scholarship across multiple disciplines.  Consequently, I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone interested in how the debates over Darwinism relate to the ongoing and evolving goals and methods of natural theology.”  (The Way, 1 October 2012)

“These features, together with the author’s accessible writing style, mean that this book can not only be read cover-to-cover in a straightforward and engaging way, but can also be used as a text book to enable more detailed study of the various aspects of this important and relevant subject.”  (Evangelical Quarterly, 4 October 2012) 

“Whether these arguments are effective is a matter for more philosophic minds, but if this book brings new ideas into a science–religion conversation that often consists of repetition of the same essential themes, then all scholars of science–religion are beneficiaries.”  (Journal of the History of Biology, 2011)

“But I think that the chief merit of both of these books lies in their parallel analyses of natural theology, specifically the significance of scientific knowledge for resolving theological issues.” (The Quarterly Review of Biology, 1 December 2011)

“McGrath (King’s College London) offers an excellent examination of Darwin’s theory of evolution vs. Creationism/intelligent design within the context of natural theology. . . The writing is clear and readable with a wealth of documentation. Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and above; interested general readers.” (Choice, 1 October 2011)

“But if one had to choose between them, I would recommend the book under review. It presents a synthesis of much of his thinking, supported by richly informative documentation that, in range and volume, is little short of astonishing.” (Science & Education, 2011)

“This is a book anyone with an intelligent interest in the subjects discussed can read with interest and profit”. (Church of England Newspaper , 15 April 2011)

“The prolific theologian argues that Darwin’s own faith and worldview allowed for complexities and intricacies in the intersection of faith and science.” (Publishers Weekly, 8 March 2011)

“Darwinism and the Divine is a typically thoughtful and stimulating book on a major topic. There is a huge amount to be learnt from it, and both the expert and the beginner can profit from a reading. In an age when extremists of all kinds are glossing over the really important issues, it is most welcome to have scholarship that truly moves the debate forward.”
—Michael Ruse, The Florida State University

“This is an engaging and authoritative guide to past and present controversies about divinity, design and Darwinism. Brimming with historical and philosophical insight, the book represents a creative and thought-provoking contribution to a twenty-first century theology of nature.”
—Peter Harrison, Harris Manchester College, Oxford