Aquinas, Original Sin, and the Challenge of Evolution

According to Daniel W. Houck, there is no necessary conflict between original sin and evolution, and he offers a new Thomist view of original sin that is compatible with evolution. Houck's account is developed in dialogue with biblical scholarship and modern thinkers and is connected to debates over nature, grace, the desire for God, and justification.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Many people today believe that the answer is no. Daniel W. Houck, in his groundbreaking book, argues that there is not necessarily a conflict between this Christian teaching and mainstream biology. Houck delves into Aquinas's revolutionary account of the doctrine, highlighting that Aquinas's focus was on humanity's loss of friendship with God rather than the corruption of nature or personal guilt.

Houck's approach is theologically appealing in its own right. He further proposes a new Thomist view of original sin that is compatible with evolution. This account is developed in dialogue with biblical scholarship on Jewish hamartiology and prominent modern thinkers such as Kant, Schleiermacher, Barth, and Schoonenberg. It is systematically connected to debates over nature, grace, the desire for God, and justification.

In addition to this, the book explores a range of neglected premodern approaches to original sin, including those of Anselm, Abelard, and Lombard. Houck's work sheds light on the rich tapestry of ideas surrounding this concept and offers a fresh perspective on its compatibility with evolution.

This book is a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion between religion and science, and it will be of interest to scholars, theologians, and anyone seeking to understand the relationship between these two fields.

Weight: 438g
ISBN-13: 9781108725439