Living with Darwin: Evolution, Design, and the Future of Faith by Philip Kitcher A Religion for Darwinians? A Review by H. Allen Orr

Darwinism seems to occupy a special place at the intersection of science, philosophy, and religion. One result is that evolution gets featured in controversies as different as those over theism versus materialism and nature versus nurture, to mention just two. In America, any discussion of evolution typically turns to the subject of creationism, the idea that an intelligent agent played a part in designing life. (According to this definition, creationism includes, but is not restricted to, the biblical account of life's origins.) Though some of us doubt that creationism provides an ideal vehicle for serious discussion of science and religion, the topic won't go away. In his latest book, Living with Darwin, Philip Kitcher considers creationist claims and uses them as a springboard for discussing subtler issues.