Adding to the pantheon of philosophies of the origins of humankind and all that surrounds it, author Eugene Glenn tackles creationism, evolutionism, intelligent design in this slim volume, the second of a planned series of textbooks on the subject.
This book, as the title suggests, leans heavily on the side of creationism, and Glenn has clearly cast his net wide in gathering evidence to substantiate his thesis. He has consulted biblical texts and cites his research on such heady topics as abiogenisis, biomolecular chirality, and RNA. Glenn also references the theories of familiar proponents of Intelligent Design theory such as Stephen C. Meyer and James Tour.
The author adopts a mix of styles, including fictionalized conversations with those reluctant to believe in creationism, as well as with people earnestly seeking meaning in life. In addition, he includes postings found in forums devoted to such topics. Finally, he provides a series of quizzes to test readers’ knowledge of the material covered in his chapters.
One of his prime tactics is to query an AI Chatbot, not just seeking information, but also asking the Chatbot for speculation. For example, the author asks the Chatbot what it thinks Jesus Christ might opine on the titular topic.
Overall, reading this book is challenging. The mix of narrative elements is jarring, with straightforward storytelling juxtaposed with dense, theological questions and answers. Dense scientific passages will be impenetrable for lay readers: “A falsifiable RNA World model must predict specific, testable outcomes regarding the spontaneous formation and sustained replication of functional ribozymes under plausible prebiotic conditions.
Additionally, while Glenn acknowledges that he’s employing the Chatbot solely for research and not in composing the document, when the questions become more speculative than fact-based, his proof of thesis loses some of its power.
Ultimately, the whirl of information and mix of writing styles becomes overwhelming. Only the most persistent readers who can navigate the disciplines of science and theology will find this book accessible.