Creation: Remarkable Evidence of God's Design [Paperback]

"... the remarkable discoveries of modern science in astronomy, astrophysics, ... have provided powerful proof of the intelligent design of the Universe ..." (Introduction, Chptr. 1, p.31) Repetition is a teaching tool, but the restating of the previous comment throughout the book seemed unnecessary (see pages 14, 27-28, 114, 270-271, etc.)

The last line on p. 41 reads, "(See picture section, figure 1.)"
The book cover had not mentioned pictures, neither did the table of contents.It wasn't at the front or back of the book. I thumbed through and found 16 pages of color pictures starting on p.97. Though the pictures were pretty, they did not shed additional light on their related topics. For example, the eye shown in figure 1 has no parts labeled, and is too large a view to show cellular structure (eg., rod and cone cells, p.42).

There are numerous footnotes, but, (okay, I'm too picky) there should be more.
- [Martin] "Luther said to them, "Here I stand."" p.19
- "...William Thackery wrote..."the two most engaging powers ..."" p.28
- "...Martin Heidegger, once wrote, "Why is there any Being at all, ..."" p. 83
- during the description of DNA (p.49), where does he get his information? The author admits to not being a scientist (p.8).
I realize he is not the only one to write like that, even in "scientific" books: After discussing Pasteur's work disproving spontaneous generation, the authors continue, "Scientists now believe that a form of spontaneous generation probably did occur on the primitive Earth when life first began..." (p. 9; Tortora, Funke, Case; Microbiology, An Introduction; 7th ed., Benjamin Cummings, publisher). And of course, there is no evidence given for that statement.

There is a Selected Bibliography at the back of the book, but no index. In this day of computerized bookwriting, and in a "scientific" book an index should be standard fare.

Several typograhical errors were noted, as though the editing were done in a hurry. Pages 89-90 provide quotes from Paul Davies (footnotes 11,12,13). But one quote was given as coming from "...Dr. Davis", so at first I thought there was another author being introduced who had a similar name, but the footnote (#13) lists "Paul Davies".
On page 128, line 16, "then" should be "than".
Most of these spelling problems were insignificant.

Now, for the BIG problem. I don't know the author's theological background, but seeing a list of other books he's written or coauthored, I saw one titled "The Signature of God: Astonishing Bible Codes..." I do not believe in those "Bible codes" and view such authors as sensationalists, making me suspect of this author. (I noted his other titles before reading Creation, so I read with a critical eye for such sensationalism, but to my delight he wrote factually and avoided the melodramatic bent.)
I'm going to assume this error is another typographical one, but what about a non-christian reader? They may be led toward heresy such as the Watchtower teaches, that Jesus is not truly God, but simply the first of all creation. The context leads me to believe it is a typo. when Mr. Jeffrey states on p. 268, "...that He [Jesus] is the CREATION who purposely created ..." (Capitols are mine). As good as the book is, this one word gives me cause for great concern. To all readers, please learn to read everything with discernment.

Whether or not one believes in the literal truth of scripture, Jeffrey has made a startling case for the mathematical/scientific impossibility of a purely random universe.

If Jeffrey is correct in his data (and it must be pointed out that each chapter has scrupulous and comprehensive endnotes), it seems as if there has been a silent yet momentous paradigm shift amongst scientists over the past generation. A significant percentage of classically trained scientists now ascribe to either a personal creator or accept the empirical evidence that the universe was purposefully designed. Other scientists, those that cannot bring themselves to abandon their atheistic dogma, readily admit that the universe and life are so finely calibrated, mere chance and random mutation alone are scandalously inadequate theories.

Grant Jeffrey is brilliant when it comes to describing complex things in an accessible and yes, entertaining, way. His likening of a single cell to the infrastructure of a modern city is a vivid and almost cinematic way to help the reader visualize things that are too small to see.

Likewise, he is adept at refuting routinely accepted scientific models, such as the old canard that "enough monkeys sitting at enough typewriters will eventually write the complete works of Shakespeare." Evolutionists invoke this simian silliness in an attempt to explain that bio-cosmic complexity is merely a function of chance and time. But as Jeffrey points out with sound statistical evidence, a near infinite number of monkeys typing for many millions of years would not produce so much as a single Shakespearean sonnet.

There are dozens of other rich, invigorating and challenging examples peppered throughout this superb book. The section on human evolution alone is worth the jacket price.

I have spoken to Christians who say that "Creation: Evidence of God's Design" has not only reaffirmed their faith, but also helped rid them of a lifetime of doubts inculcated by the secular educational system.

Whether you read "Creation" in this spiritual context, or simply as an eye-opening journey through a universe that must certainly be more than the reductionism and materialism of the "dumb matter" model we have all been taught, Grant Jeffrey is a masterful guide and teacher.