Making Sense of Evolution

Subtitled 'Darwin, God and the Drama of Life', this book by a well-known science and religion scholar steers a middle path between scientific materialism and promoters of intelligent design, arguing that evolution not only makes good scientific sense but can make theological sense as well, using the metaphor of an ongoing drama. An important concept in the book is that of explanatory layers, neither of which exclude the other, but are in fact complementary. The author reminds us that Darwin was in fact an agnostic, rather than a militant atheist in the mould of Dawkins, Dennett and Hitchens. In a series of chapters all beginning with D - descent, , design, diversity, deity - he unpacks the arguments and issues, frequently quoting Darwin and his contemporaries. Towards the end of the book, Haught draws on Teilhard de Chardin in formulating a participatory role for humanity in the process of evolution.