God’s Role in Evolution and Natural Selection

“If humans evolved strictly by mutation and natural selection, who needs God to explain us? To this, I reply: I do. The comparison of chimp and human sequences, interesting as it is, does not tell us what it means to be human. In my view, DNA sequence alone, even if accompanied by a vast trove of data on biological function, will never explain certain special human attributes, such as the of the Moral Law and the universal search for God. Freeing God from the burden of special acts of creation does not remove Him as the source of the things that make humanity special, and of the universe itself. It merely shows us something of how He operates.” (pp. 140-141)

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

“Why is our life more a vale of tears than a garden of delight? … Much has been written about this apparent paradox, and the conclusion is not an easy one: if God is loving and wishes the best for us, then perhaps His plan is not the same as our plan…Have you learned more about yourself when things were going well, or when you were faced with challenges, frustrations, and suffering? … As much as we would like to avoid those experiences, without them would we not be shallow, self-centered creatures who would ultimately lose all sense of nobility or striving for betterment of others?” (pp. 45-46)

Faith and Doubt in Science

“Doubt is an unavoidable part of belief. In the words of Paul Tillich, ‘Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.’ If the case in favor of belief in God were utterly airtight, then the world would be full of confident practitioners of a single faith.’ But imagine such a world, where to opportunity to make a free choice about belief was taken away by the certainty of the evidence.” (pp. 33-34)