provides convincing evidence that the ly mean nothing. argues that the man in question cannot concept of creatio ex nihilo has been In a brilliant refutation of this argu- be an early hominid Homo sapiens of Books accepted by a substantial number of ment, Aviezer takes guidance from the biologist or a Neanderthal man, eminent scientists. Particularly interest- Nobel laureate Richard Feynman, one since these “men” do not fit the Genesis ing is the view of John Wheeler, a dis- of the outstanding physicists of the description either temporally or qualita- tinguished Princeton theoretical physi- twentieth century, on how to define and tively. Although there are no significant cist, that “the laws of nature came into calculate the probability of an event. In physical differences between modern existence together with the Big Bang, doing so, Aviezer shows clearly that the man and Neanderthal man, and the Fossils and Faith: unheard of for a scientific society to Creation, as explained in the first chap- as surely as did space and time.” events described by Falk are everyday average brain size is the same for the two Understanding Torah and hold a discussion on science and reli- ter of Bereishit. To his surprise, he Several of the chapters amplify topics occurrences, whereas the coincidences of species, there is a quantum gap between gion. Nowadays, not only do such dis- found that significant changes had discussed in Aviezer’s first book on the anthropic principle are truly rare the utter primitiveness of Neanderthal Science cussions take place regularly, but they taken place, as a result of which the Bereishit. These chapters contain new events that legitimately cause surprise. culture and that of modern man. By Nathan Aviezer command large audiences. A few years current scientific description fits well material of interest, and particular As a result of the anthropic principle Aviezer focuses attention instead on ago, at the annual meeting of the with the Torah account. The book that attention should be paid to the chapter and other remarkable scientific discov- the remarkable Neolithic Revolution, American Association for the he wrote subsequently, In the called “The Anthropic Principle,” in eries, many secular scientists have which took place some 10,000 years ago Advancement of Science, the highlight Beginning, rapidly became a best seller which the author defends one of his come to accept the existence of a and included cultural innovations such was a public debate between Steven and has been translated into nine lan- crucial arguments against the criticism Creator. But this does not make them as agriculture, animal husbandry, metal Weinberg, a secular Jewish Nobel laure- guages. In his second book, Fossils and of Professor Raphael Falk, a geneticist religious in the spirit of the monothe- working, the wheel, the first written lan- ate in physics, and John Polkinghorne, Faith, Aviezer relates a wide variety of at The Hebrew University of istic faiths. Most secular scientists do guage, ceramic pottery, weaving, pre- a distinguished particle physicist and new topics in the area of Torah and sci- Jerusalem. The latter, a rabid secularist, not believe in Divine Providence and pared foods (bread, wine, cheese, but- deeply religious Christian, who had ence to the present scientific consensus. published a ten-page journal article do not consider that prayer, another ter), musical instruments and advanced become a priest a few years earlier. The Three factors characterize Aviezer’s devoted solely to attacking Aviezer per- characteristic of religious life, can play architecture. The first cities date back to subject of the debate was evidence of approach: sonally and denigrating his writings. this period as well. To archaeologists and design and purpose in the universe. A. Every attempt should be made to In the past few decades, many scien- Aviezer breaks new anthropologists, the cause of the Similarly, some years ago, the Royal understand a Torah text literally—only tists have become aware that the uni- ground in attempting to Revolution is shrouded in mist. Ktav Publishing House Society of Britain, whose former fellows if a conflict arises with well-based sci- verse seems to have been specifically scientifically identify the In the Genesis description, Seforno New Jersey, 2002 include Newton and Darwin, held a entific ideas should one resort to a designed for the existence and the well points out (Genesis 1:26) that the word public lecture entitled “Cosmology— 270 pages non-literal interpretation. This is in being of man. A remarkable series of “man” created by God in “man” in the first chapter refers to “the Room for a Creator?”; seats had to be accordance with the view of Rambam, coincidences has been discovered with- species of living creatures known as Reviewed by Cyril Domb Genesis. reserved in advance, and the lecture hall whom Aviezer regards as a role model. out which it would have been impossi- man,” (Aviezer calls this the Genesis was filled to capacity. B. In obtaining scientific information ble for life to exist. The nuclear forces any part in human affairs. man), whereas the specific person named The last few decades have witnessed A few years ago I was invited to par- Aviezer makes use only of primary are just the right strength for the sun But for the observant Jew, prayer and Adam is not mentioned until the second a staggering growth in scientific ticipate in a project called “Science authoritative sources and not of the pop- to function appropriately; the earth is Divine Providence are key features of reli- chapter. By identifying Genesis man knowledge in the established sciences and the Spiritual Quest.” Sponsored ular surveys that fill the bookshops located at just the right distance from gious life. Aviezer begins his discussion of with the Neolithic Revolution, Aviezer like physics, chemistry and biology. In by the Templeton Foundation, the nowadays. He is an avid reader of the sun for there to be water, an atmos- prayer by querying the purpose of prayer disposes of the difficulty of the multimil- addition, new disciplines including project aimed at finding common Scientific American (and I cannot think phere and other life essentials, and a in Jewish tradition, in particular those lion-year history of prehistoric man, cosmology, computer science, evolu- ground in science and the monotheis- of a more reliable reference source). For collision of the earth with a giant prayers in which we ask God to grant our which is seen to be irrelevant. Our own tionary biology, molecular genetics, tic faiths. What impressed me most, earlier developments he has made a great meteor took place some sixty million physical and spiritual needs. It is clear that 6,000-year calendar starts from the sec- chaos theory, complexity theory and a however, was the caliber of the partici- effort to identify the most trustworthy years ago to eliminate the dinosaurs God has no need for our prayers, and ond chapter with the creation of Adam. dozen other branches of study that pating physicists, astrophysicists, biol- texts available, and the references to and allow mammals to develop, et Aviezer develops the thesis that the aim of The author also addresses recent sci- were unknown a half-century ago have ogists and computer scientists. The these texts at the end of each chapter are cetera. Religious scientists argue that prayer is to emphasize to ourselves our entific literature on aging. A revolu- emerged and now occupy a central project ended with a highly successful an additional benefit to any reader. the probability of such a series of dependence upon Divine Providence and tionary concept emerges: The human place in the scientific landscape. Our international conference, which was C. When quoting scientists on cur- events occurring by chance is negligi- to elevate ourselves spiritually so that we body does not wear out in the way universe has turned out to be far more held at the University of California’s rent scientific thinking, Aviezer only ble, rather it demonstrates convincing become worthy of Divine blessings.1 Using that a car or washing machine wears fascinating and challenging than envis- Berkeley campus and was widely uses secular writers to avoid any sug- evidence of the hand of the Creator. well-chosen examples, Aviezer demon- out after years of faithful service; aged by even the most imaginative reported in the general and scientific gestion of religious bias. Falk challenged the probabilistic strates that God expects us to make the rather the diseases that usually termi- thinkers of the previous generation. press; Newsweek’s cover exclaimed, The book consists of nineteen chap- basis of this argument (as others have maximum use of our abilities in meeting nate human life arise from genetic The effect of this new scientific infor- “Science Finds God.” ters, divided into three subheadings— done before him) as follows: the problems of life before we turn to defects. If the early generations in mation on the status of religion has Nathan Aviezer, a distinguished pro- “Faith,” “On Science and the Bible” According to Aviezer’s logic, the probabil- Him. Aviezer also warns us to treat with Genesis did not have these genetic been dramatic. Previously, it was fessor of physics at Bar-Ilan University, and “Fossils.” The chapters are self- ity that I am writing these lines with a dull great caution any publication claiming to defects, they would have remained was one of the first to appreciate the contained and can be read in any yellow pencil, using my left hand, sitting at show statistical evidence that prayer young and able to sire children Professor Domb is professor emeritus of importance of the new scientific devel- order. The opening chapter, “Faith and my kitchen table, on the third floor of a improves the health of seriously ill patients. throughout their lives. They would physics at Bar-Ilan University. He has opments to the Torah-intellectual; he the Era of Science,” demonstrates the specific Jerusalem address—this probabil- Aviezer breaks new ground in not have been immortal—their lives written widely on the subject of Torah devoted a sabbatical year to learning importance of plausibility arguments ity is completely negligible. Nevertheless, attempting to scientifically identify the would have terminated as a result of and science. the scientific disciplines relevant to both in science and in religion and all these events happened and they clear- “man” created by God in Genesis. He hazards, virulent diseases or violence. Spring 5764/2004 JEWISH ACTION JEWISH ACTION Spring 5764/2004 Professor Caleb Finch, a leading expert discovery by Sir William Jones, a British uncanny—and disheartening—is the required by Darwinian evolution does in the field, has indicated that the Orientalist serving in India, that the way in which each side can muster the not appear to occur. Instead the fossil average life span would have been ancient Indian Sanskrit language bore a same fossil record into an utterly differ- record typically shows that a species about 1,300 years, and on this basis, close connection to Greek and Latin as ent synthesis for human evolution.” remains unchanged, that it is in “equi- the lifespan of 900-odd years recorded well as to Gothic and Celtic. This bril- The author devotes subsequent chap- librium” for long periods of time, and in Genesis is very plausible. liant observation triggered further stud- ters to different aspects of the theory of then, on rare occasions, this equilibri- Aviezer suggests that at the time of ies and led to the new term, “Indo- evolution; he points out that even 150 um is suddenly “punctuated” by an Noah, the genes for aging were intro- European” languages to describe this years after the publication of Darwin’s extremely rapid evolutionary change. duced into the human gene pool. It family of languages. The ancient famous book, and more than fifty years This fact is completely ignored by the took several generations for these genes Anatolian language of Turkey is also a after the formulation of the synthetic ultra-Darwinists. The punctuated to propagate throughout the entire member of this group. The Japhethide theory of evolution (the synthesis of equilibrium picture has been widely human population, and eventually the languages can thus be identified with Darwin’s original ideas with modern accepted by paleontology researchers. maximum life span was reduced to the the Indo-European family. genetics), strident arguments are still Alvarez and his son, Walter, have pro- divinely decreed value of 120 years. What was the original homeland of taking place within the biological com- vided a successful explanation of the mass This remarkable idea offers, for the the ancestral Indo-European language? munity even on the most fundamental extinction that killed all the world’s first time, a rational explanation of the This is a problem that has occupied principles of evolution. After giving a dinosaurs. They proposed that an impact enormous life span of the antediluvians generations of linguists. Aviezer quotes number of illustrative examples Aviezer between earth and a large meteor falling and how it diminished after the Flood. recent research by Cambridge concludes, “One stands in awe at the at a very high speed from outer space In another section, the author analyzes Professor Colin Renfrew, leading to welter of confusion and mystery that caused tremendous devastation, which led the literature relating to the “oldest the conclusion that “central and east- abounds in evolutionary biology.” to mass extinction. Their theory made a old”(i.e., those with exceedingly long life ern Anatolia [present-day Turkey] was The chapters dealing with number of predictions—all of which were spans) and concludes that if one merits the key area where the early form of “Darwinian fundamentalism” and verified—and has since gained wide the blessing of extremely long life, it is Indo-European was spoken.” recent critical analyses of Darwinism acceptance. The idea of astronomical cat- usually accompanied by good health! The last few chapters of Aviezer’s are perhaps the most important in the astrophes is totally alien to Darwinian An event of particular interest in the book focus on researchers’ lack of book, since they provide a coherent thinking and is not mentioned in any of Book of Genesis is the incident of the objectivity concerning fossils and evo- response to a new creed of militant the books of the ultra-Darwinists. Tower of Babel and the spread of lan- lutionary biology. Aviezer writes: atheism whose adherents have become Aviezer concludes that the term guages that resulted from it. According One naturally assumes that the fossil extremely vocal in the past decade or “Darwinian fundamentalists” (first intro- to Genesis, these languages should fall evidence and its interpretation (the science two. The following are typical quota- duced by Stephen Gould) is appropriate into three groups corresponding to of paleontology) have been presented by tions from three leading exponents of to characterize this group of atheists since Shem, Cham and Japhet, the sons of serious scientists who are objective in the such atheism, which Aviezer cites: they do not differ from any other funda- Noah. Aviezer points out that if we pursuit of knowledge . . . we shall see that “Religion is a dreadful disease of society, mentalist sect. Certainly their approach identify Cham with Africa and Shem nothing could be further from the truth. and I think that science liberates people cannot be considered as scientific. with Asia, the Biblical description fits Aviezer backs up his assertion with from the world’s religions” (Peter Atkins). This is an outstanding book, written in well with what linguists term the three striking cases of fraud from the “The kindly God who loves us, is, with lucidity and elegance, a worthy suc- Afro-Asiatic family of languages. early twentieth century: Neanderthal like Santa Claus, a myth of childhood, cessor to In the Beginning. I recommend But the Japhethide languages seem to man, who was falsely described as not anything that a sane, un-deluded it to all who are interested in the relation- present a problem since they were spo- uncouth, brutish and boorish; Piltdown adult could believe in” (David Dennet). ship between Torah and science at the ken throughout Europe and deep into man, a fossil that was an outright fraud, “Human vanity cherishes the absurd beginning of the twenty-first century. JA Asia. The European branch extends which deceived the paleontological notion that our species is special” from Greece through Germany as far as community for forty years and (Richard Dawkins). Note Spain, whereas the Asian branch Hesperopithecus, a “prehistoric man” The three scientists quoted above 1. A sentence in this chapter is liable to extends from Iran and Afghanistan as that turned out to be nothing but a pig. have prestigious academic appoint- misinterpretation— “the idea that prayers can far east as Pakistan. There should be a The author also shows that errors of ments and are authors of best-selling somehow influence G-d . . . is utterly linguistic relationship between these a comparable kind have taken place books on evolution. divorced from Jewish Tradition.” In the opin- ion of the reviewer, this sentence must be languages, and they should show signs quite recently in palaeoanthropology Aviezer directs his criticism at the understood in conjunction with the succeed- of having originated near Turkey some (the study of the origins of mankind). scientific content of these ultra- ing sentence that God is not “a cosmic vend- 4,000 years ago at the time of the In relation to Homo sapiens, there are Darwinists’ writings. He bases his dis- ing machine that dispenses benefits upon the Flood. In the eighteenth century, lin- currently two opposing theories, each cussion on the ideas of top-ranking insertion of appropriate spiritual tokens in the guists did not support the Genesis claiming to have found the correct paleontologists Niles Eldredge and form of prayers.” There are numerous Biblical account since they believed that there explanation for the evolutionary histo- Stephen Gould and Nobel Prize physi- figures who prayed to God and whose prayers was no connection between the ancient ry of contemporary human beings. The cist Luis Alvarez. On the basis of were answered positively and immediately. languages of Asia and Europe. disturbing aspect of this controversy is detailed studies of the fossil record, The picture began to change at the summed up by Professor Erik Trinkaus, Eldredge and Gould have noted that end of the eighteenth century with the a leading scientist in the field. “What is the gradual evolution of species as