Comments on: A review of The Right Darwin?: Evolution, Religion and the Future of Democracy. By Carson Holloway. http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/ Bill Muehlenberg's commentary on issues of the day... Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:56:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jonathan Sarfati http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/comment-page-1/#comment-76589 Jonathan Sarfati Thu, 15 May 2008 05:10:41 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/#comment-76589 Even if JPB's claims were true, they would not be examples of genuine altruism, but only giving for the sake of getting something in return. We have long been aware of evolutionary arguments like kin selection, but they fail to explain altruism towards those not genetically related. Jonathan Sarfati, Brisbane Even if JPB’s claims were true, they would not be examples of genuine altruism, but only giving for the sake of getting something in return. We have long been aware of evolutionary arguments like kin selection, but they fail to explain altruism towards those not genetically related.
Jonathan Sarfati, Brisbane

]]> By: Julien Peter Benney http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/comment-page-1/#comment-76417 Julien Peter Benney Tue, 13 May 2008 09:32:15 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/#comment-76417 Have you read David Tillman's book <b>Resource Competition and Community Structure</b>? The way modern ecology shows species will co-operate - even help each other - in order to survive in unfavourable environments has always made me rather sceptical of arguments against evolution that suggest it cannot produce altruism. Knowledge of how species behave in extremely nutrient-poor environments like the kwongan of southwestern WA, the fynbos of the Cape region of South Africa and coral reefs throughout the tropics make me believe ecology actually has evidence for altruism. Ecologists studying these ecosystems believe that in fact only the extraordinarily nutrient-rich nature of European, Asian and North American environments creates a belief competition is inherent in evolution. Julien Peter Benney Have you read David Tillman’s book Resource Competition and Community Structure? The way modern ecology shows species will co-operate – even help each other – in order to survive in unfavourable environments has always made me rather sceptical of arguments against evolution that suggest it cannot produce altruism.

Knowledge of how species behave in extremely nutrient-poor environments like the kwongan of southwestern WA, the fynbos of the Cape region of South Africa and coral reefs throughout the tropics make me believe ecology actually has evidence for altruism. Ecologists studying these ecosystems believe that in fact only the extraordinarily nutrient-rich nature of European, Asian and North American environments creates a belief competition is inherent in evolution.

Julien Peter Benney

]]> By: Bill Muehlenberg http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/comment-page-1/#comment-351 Bill Muehlenberg Thu, 29 Jun 2006 14:31:22 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/#comment-351 Thanks Andrew You raise a lot of issues - perhaps too much for me to properly answer in this comment! Yes this book is not a bad volume, although it is not primarily about psychology. And I am no authoraty on that issue, but some titles I have found helpful include: Blazer, Dan, Freud vs God. IVP, 1998. Farber, Seth, Unholy Madness. IVP, 1999. Johnson, Eric and Stanton Jones, eds., Psychology and Christianity: Four Views. IVP, 2000. Kirkpatrick, William Kirk, The Emperor’s New Clothes. Crossway Books, 1985. Kirkpatrick, William Kirk, Psychological Seduction. Nelson, 1983. Vitz, Paul, Psychology as Religion. Eerdmans, 1977, 1994. Vitz, Paul and Susan Feich, eds., The Self: Beyond the Postmodern Crisis. Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 2006. I will seek to address some of your other issues in direct corrspondence with you. Thanks again Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch Thanks Andrew

You raise a lot of issues – perhaps too much for me to properly answer in this comment! Yes this book is not a bad volume, although it is not primarily about psychology. And I am no authoraty on that issue, but some titles I have found helpful include:

Blazer, Dan, Freud vs God. IVP, 1998.
Farber, Seth, Unholy Madness. IVP, 1999.
Johnson, Eric and Stanton Jones, eds., Psychology and Christianity: Four Views. IVP, 2000.
Kirkpatrick, William Kirk, The Emperor’s New Clothes. Crossway Books, 1985.
Kirkpatrick, William Kirk, Psychological Seduction. Nelson, 1983.
Vitz, Paul, Psychology as Religion. Eerdmans, 1977, 1994.
Vitz, Paul and Susan Feich, eds., The Self: Beyond the Postmodern Crisis. Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 2006.

I will seek to address some of your other issues in direct corrspondence with you.
Thanks again
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

]]> By: Andrew Dinham http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Andrew Dinham Thu, 29 Jun 2006 13:56:13 +0000 http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2006/06/26/a-review-of-the-right-darwin-evolution-religion-and-the-future-of-democracy-by-carson-holloway/#comment-349 Hi Bill I'm studying Psychology at Uni. I'm in my second year and it can be quite difficult, especially in aspects of indigenous/cultural psychology and also in Freudian psychology. We are always told about evolutionary concepts and how Darwin influenced cultural understandings. Would you recommend this book for me to read, and also what else can you recommend that would help me to negotiate psychology from a Christian perspective? Also, in cultural psychology we were told about social constructionism and how someone is not ill (pathology) unless they believe they are ill. What is your opinion on social constructionism in general? Regards Andrew Dinham, Hope Valley SA Hi Bill

I’m studying Psychology at Uni. I’m in my second year and it can be quite difficult, especially in aspects of indigenous/cultural psychology and also in Freudian psychology. We are always told about evolutionary concepts and how Darwin influenced cultural understandings. Would you recommend this book for me to read, and also what else can you recommend that would help me to negotiate psychology from a Christian perspective?

Also, in cultural psychology we were told about social constructionism and how someone is not ill (pathology) unless they believe they are ill. What is your opinion on social constructionism in general?

Regards
Andrew Dinham, Hope Valley SA

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