The Sacred Chain: How Understanding Evolution Leads to Deeper Faith

(Paperback)

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In this marvelously accessible book, philosopher-Christian Jim Stump provides the reader with new eyes for a journey through time, the origin of the soul, suffering, and morality, and reveals how the latest scientific findings about what it means to be human have led him to a deeper and more authentic faith.Francis S. Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project and Founder of BioLogos, author of The Language of God

A thought-provoking and eye-opening work by Jim Stump, Vice President at BioLogos and host of the Language of God podcast,offering a compelling argument about how evolution does not have to be at odds with faith, but can actually enrich and deepen it.

In this moving and deeply thoughtful book, Jim Stump takes readers with him on his journey to understanding evolution and reconciling it with his faith. The Sacred Chaindraws on philosophy, theology, and the latest scientific research to tackle some of the biggest questions facing humanity and people of faith today, such as:

• How can we hold the Bible as a sacred text and yet reconcile modern science with it
• By condensing noteworthy events in the history of our universe into one calendar week, what can we learn about Gods creative process and priorities, and where humans fit in
• If humans are created in the image of God, what does evolution have to teach us about our species and our place in creation
• What about the soul How can we understand our transcendent qualities if the human body is the product of evolution
• How does evolutionary science help us understand how God might use pain and suffering for important and good purposes
• Does it have to be one or the otherscience or religionor is there a third way, one that not only preserves faith in the face of modern science, but leads to a stronger, more relevant, and more authentic faith

Deeply researched and a delight to read,The Sacred Chainprovides clarity in our uncertain times, revealinga bigger pictureof our world and our place within it. It is a panorama consistent with the scientific findings about who we are and where we come from that can actually bolster our faith as it engages our curiosity about ourselves, our universe, and the nature of existence itself.

Reviews

"Stump constructs a wide-ranging and nuanced case that dismantles literalist interpretations of the Bible. . . . Stump's logical and nuanced approach stands a good chance of reaching those struggling to find a meeting point between the natural and the supernatural." -- Publishers Weekly

"an excellent companion for people wondering about science and faith and the places where they seem to be in tension" -- Medium

"Stump's narrative is not just an intellectual journey but also an emotional and spiritual one....[I] recommend the book to any seeker who wishes to engage themselves with ultimate questions about who we are and how God has made us and interacts with this world." -- The Natural Historian

"Jim Stump has given us a rare and lovely gift: a generous, wise, compassionate, and readable overview of why understanding the facts of evolution need not threaten our relationship with a loving God, but should deepen it. People of all faiths will find much here to celebrate as well as to thoughtfully discuss, even respectfully argue with. And that, I maintain, is exactly the right way to joyously explore the miracle of life and the mystery of faith." -- Sy Montgomery, New York Times bestselling author of Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell

"In this marvelously accessible book, philosopher-Christian Jim Stump provides the reader with new eyes for a journey through time, the origin of the soul, suffering, and morality, and reveals how the latest scientific findings about what it means to be human have led him to a deeper and more authentic faith." -- Francis S. Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project and Founder of BioLogos, author of The Language of God

"Jim Stump presents a deep yet eminently accessible reflection on the compatibility of Christian belief and scientific insights about the origins of humanity. But what makes this book unique is Stump's personal narrative of faith and the stretching, wrestling, and reconsidering that come with a deepening awe for our Creator. The Sacred Chain will make you wonder anew at the majesty of God and propel your heart into worship." -- Curtis Chang, author of The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self and The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics

Author Bio

Jim Stump is vice president at BioLogos and host of the podcast Language of God. A former professor, he has a PhD in philosophy. He is the author of Science and Christianity: An Introduction to the Issues and a coeditor of Four Views on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design; How I Changed My Mind About Evolution; and The Black-well Companion to Science and Christianity. He lives in Goshen, Indiana.