By REY FLORES
In the Beginning: A Catholic Scientist Explains How God Made Earth Our Home by Dr. Gerard Verschuuren, Sophia Institute Press. To order, visit www.sophiainstitute.com, or call 1-800-888-9344.
When I was asked to read and review this book, my first impression was that it was going to be more of a scientific book than a theological one. While the title itself borrows from Genesis in the Bible, the subtitle immediately lets us know that the author is a scientist, therefore making it a science book, or at least in my quick judgment. The coolest thing? He’s a Catholic scientist.
Just because a scientist wrote the book doesn’t make it all science, does it? This book instead offers a remarkably interesting and insightful explanation from one of our fellow Catholics who, despite his profession, explores God’s creation of the Earth as our home.
Home. What does the word home mean in its most basic context? It means a place of belonging, not displacement. We’ve all heard the expression “home is where the heart is.” Perhaps the Earth is our home where God’s heart is there for us, and our hearts for Him.
In his effort to set aside the chronological difference between Scripture and science, this question is posed: When in time was the world was created vs. when it actually came into existence in its nature?
Author Gerard Verschuuren tells us about James Ussher, the sixteenth-century archbishop of Armagh in the Church of Ireland who calculated a chronology of the history of the world based on data he had gathered from Scripture.
Verschuuren points out the mistake that many fundamentalist Protestants make by reading Scripture as if it were a science textbook, as opposed to Catholics who know the difference between the Book of Scripture and the Book of Nature. The author traces some of this to St. Augustine who is credited with saying the following around the year 400: “It is the divine page you must listen to; it is the book of the universe that you must observe.”
The book goes on to make its points regarding all of the expected topics in a discussion about creation vs. evolution, or how both have an important value coexisting, one with the other. Things like the Big Bang theory, the evolution of the universe and life, and how the Earth developed along with mankind are all explored.
As long as man questions the meaning of life and the universe, discussions about these things are necessary for our basic human understanding and — dare I say — intellectual and spiritual edification?
Especially in times like these with pandemics, socialist-anarchist riots, and our own personal crosses we have to bear, these are the necessary conversations we all need to have, as they transcend any and every current political and social climate of every generation of man.
My favorite chapter in this book finally arrives toward the end. Chapter eight is titled, “Were We Meant to Be Here?” How would you answer this question? Any Catholic with the proper formation knows that God made us to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him. Most Catholic children learn this as one of their very first lessons in the faith.
The author starts this chapter by acknowledging that God made us as special and unique creatures, but that it doesn’t necessarily mean that Earth was made with us in mind; or does it?
This is where the debate between science and faith takes center stage again. The way I see it, atheism and science are “religions” unto themselves. They are false and Godless entities that engineer their own version of a “truth” based on so-called research engineered to fit political and social agendas, aimed at controlling and oppressing populations. Verschuuren refers to this as “scientism.”
Planned Parenthood calls an unborn creation of God a clump of cells. We call an unborn baby a miracle made in the image and likeness of God. This author hits it right on the money when he questions the self-appointed authority of scientists who predictably debunk the beauty, mystery, and supernatural power of God and faith.
There’s just too much for me to tell you about in a book review, but I hope that I’ve piqued your interest, especially if you are like me and often get intimidated by science vs. theology debates.
I think that after reading this book, you and I will feel more equipped to answer anyone who doesn’t necessarily oppose intelligent design, but mocks it just to try and be a “cool,” enlightened modernist.
You know what they say about those with open minds. They have a hole in their head.
Yet another smash release by the good folks at Sophia Institute Press. Skip giving Jeff Bezos your money at Amazon and order the book directly from www.SophiaInstitute.com.
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(Rey Flores writes opinion pieces and book and movie reviews for The Wanderer. Contact Rey at reyfloresusa@gmail.com.)
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