Creation & Evolution

Striking front cover, likely to instantly appeal to those in to dinosaurs!

Dog lovers will appreciate the Great Dane and Chihuahua pictured top right.

Beachcombers, the seashell.

Christians will of course relate to the 3 empty crosses bottom right.

Published in magazine style makes it useful to have atop the coffee table or in doctor, dentist or veterinary waiting rooms etc.

The introduction immediately sets the scene to show why Genesis 1-11 is not in contradiction to science and also why it is so fundamentally important. (Those wanting more help on this, reading chapters 1-11 alongside the related science and the many places throughout the Bible they are linked with, will find Day One's easily-digested yet technically excellent "Genesis 1-11" by Prof. Andy McIntosh of value.)

Part 1 of Garner's "magazine" explains the foundation of biblical doctrine - affirming the Bible as the originally given fully inspired Word of God -in an academically robust yet user-friendly style.

One illustration he uses is how the three key ingredients of physics - time, length and mass - link to the beginning, the heavens and the earth.

The early pages importantly clarify the distinction between creation and evolutionary processes.

Part 2 furthers this by discussing "implications of creation and evolutionary views." Covering key issues such as time-dating. Darwin's finches and natural selection feature. Implications of evolutionary thought, media and morality are put in to perspective.

Nor do they shy clear of difficult issues such as racism, euthanasia, marriage, abortion, survival of the fittest etc. Ending with a section on the biblical framework, Jesus Christ and evangelism.

All within the perspective of a loving God who understands the world we live in - e.g. on p.24, quoting Rom. 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (having faith in him.)

Dimensions given are a bit misleading. It is almost A4 in size, in keeping with its magazine style layout and the glossy paper used throughout. Published in 2008 and with an RRP of £3.00 on the Day One website.

Much as I love the old NIV 1984, the use of it here when quoting Scripture does mean the texts are not gender-neutral where context indicates. A minor and infrequent blip that readers are unlikely to be hindered by.

Although I personally would like to see it available in the c.210 x 135 mm (c.8 x 5") size of other Day One publications such as the above-mentioned "Genesis 1-11", it is an excellent, informative publication on a too-often steered clear of topic and very good value for money.