Book Notes-July 2010

This was a light month and a bit late in getting put out there, but nonetheless, here was my reading.  

1. Ambassador Basic Curriculum: Course One by Greg Koukl (2002).  Although technically not a "book", this CD series comes with book length notes, which I have read.  I want to highly recommend obtaining this series of you want to learn how to be warm, attractive, and inviting as a Christian.  Koukl is funny, captivating, and informative.  I also completed Ambassador Basic Curriculum (Course Two of Three) & Ambassador Basic Curriculum Course Three of Three By Gregory Koukl 5 stars. 

2. Refuting Compromise: A Biblical and Scientific Refutation of "Progressive Creationism" (Billions of Years) As Popularized by Astronomer Hugh Ross by Jonathan Sarfati (2004).  This book was recommended by one of my pastors as a response to the work of Hugh Ross and Reasons to Believe.  Hugh Ross, a Christian astrophysicist, promotes old-earth creationism.  Sarfati wrote Refuting Compromise as rejection of Ross's work.  There were both positives and negatives about the book.  On the positive side, Sarfati presents a thorough defense of young earth creationism (a term he does not prefer, but which seems appropriate) and covers a broad range of topics. He is mostly readable, and certainly passionate.  On the negative side, he presents in such a way that he appears to have a score to settle.  He criticizes Ross (personally) at many turns, which is unfounded, in my opinion.  He also fails to apply the same criticisms to himself that he applies to Ross.  For example, he criticizes Ross for being a poor exegete, yet he himself is a scientist, not a Hebrew Scholar.  He happily cites Bruce Waltke's interpretation of certain Hebrew words (p. 92), yet does not acknowledge that Waltke is a professed theological evolutionist, contrary to Sarfati's own view.  He happily cites church fathers (e.g., Calvin), unless they disagree with him, then he is quick to reject them.  All in all, I was most bothered by his inconsistency.  If you want to understand the YEC position, this may be a good start if you can overlook the aggressive style.  3 stars.

3.  Bariatric Surgery: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals by James Mitchell and Martina de Zwaan (2005).  I took 4 days in July to catch up on professional reading.  In addition to several journals, I read this book about the psychology of bariatric surgery.  I conduct psychological evaluations of bariatric surgery candidates as a part of my job and this is a brief book that addresses some of the relevant issues.  Interestingly, despite its brevity, there remains a lot of redundancy.  Useful, but not profound.  3.5 stars.

4. Neuroscience, Psychology, and Religion: Illusions, Delusions, and Realities about Human Nature (Templeton Science and Religion Series) by Malcom Jeeves and Warren S Brown (2009). I respect Jeeves and Brown a great deal, though their approach to Christian psychology is much different from what you might expect from David Powlison, or even Stanton Jones.  Their starting point seems to be science, rather than their faith, in understanding human nature.  Unfortunately, this too often leads to scriptural compromise.  It is a worthwhile read to understand the current nature of neuroscience as it relates to religion and provides a review of non-reductive physicalism, their preferred understanding of the body/soul problem.  I am not sure that they are right, though they present their ideas well, albeit too briefly.  4 stars.

5. Confessions of St. Augustine, The: Modern English Version by Augustine of Hippo (398-400/2005) Augustine's Confessions were assigned reading when I was a freshman in college.  I slogged through, resenting every word.  Reading it again, 15 years later, I have a much deeper appreciation of the words within.  Reading The Confessions has reminded me why reading classics is, in many ways, preferable to reading contemporary writings.  They endure for a reason.  Augustine combines orthodox Christian faith, with philosophical knowledge, and personal revelation that enriches the story.  I particularly appreciated his essay "The Book of Memory", which resonated with me as a Christian, a psychologist, and a neuroscientist--it should be required reading for all folks in the neurosciences--to realize that Augustine was writing about things contemporary writers address 1600 years ago.  5 stars.

If you are going to read one, definitely read Augustine.