Dr Richard Dawkins is an accomplished popular science writer, learned evolutionary biologist (PhD, Oxford), and avid athiest. This fascinating text is quite engaging, loaded with scientific commentary and the latest information concerning the progess of the theory of evolution. Dr Dawkins presents an extensive explanation of the evolutionary process as he understands it and what evidence has led him to conclude that evolution is "fact". Unfortunately, he does take for granted some crucial areas that are actually still in contestation about the theory, attempting to sell evolution as an air-tight deal. I approached this book with the aspiration to learn more about this subject (which I certainly have) inorder to make an informed decision about the debate. Dawkins is a strict imperialist and skeptic and holds scientific inquiry in extremely high regard, though almost to the point of placing it on a pedestal and denying fallibility. Obviously, science as a tool is still evolving and changing with the times as it is swayed by politics, popularity, ambition, and curiosity. Dawkins, however, pollutes the book with some condescending and arrogant slander about those who comprehend that there may be a God. He lumps "creationists" and adherents of various religions into piles he labels "history-deniers" and the "44%-ers", which he repeatedly berates throughout his book. Despite being so knowledgeable about his field of evolutionary biology and topics that support his thesis, he (publicly) reveals that he is rather ignorant about the finer points of faithful theistic observance. Caveat/tangent: not all "creationists" interpret the biblical account as occurring merely 6,000 years ago, nor that the Earth was formed in a literal six 24-hour days, nor that God "interfered" in the process He set in motion. If there is a God and He is the author of both the universe and the Bible, then the two would consequently be in harmony (which so far, they are). Unfortunately, evolution is mistakenly embraced by (some) athiests as proof that a God does not exist, it is not. And, some young-earth creationists believe that the realization of evolution means to deny God, it does not. Truth is the ally, and if it is ultimately revealed to be represented faithfully in evolutionary theory, great; if not, great. This text is an oasis of information concerning the evolutionary process and evidence to its merit, however, clouded with irrelevant anti-theism propaganda. Ironically, Dr Dawkins' beautifully detailed book demonstrates God's creation as truly "The Greatest Show on Earth".Get more detail about The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution.
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