Is There A God?

This book caught my eye and I picked up a copy of the 2006 reprint edition in a second hand store. Editorially, the version I have is quite flawed, missing spaces, sentences beginning with lower case letters--at every turn begging 'where was the editor?' On several occasions I found that the writer had misspoken, chosen an argument that seemed to contradict one aspect of his own thesis, or omitted relevant information. Again, I think that better editing would have helped this book a great deal, by which I mean not only an editor to clean up typographical mistakes but an editor somewhat knowledgeable in the geographical disbursement of rattlesnakes and one informed on biblical studies and exegetic theories (as I will explain below). Question: So, with all of these blatant shortcomings, why would I rate the book as deserving 3.5 (maybe even four) of five possible stars? Answer: The APPENDIX. Oakes is a professor of chemistry and physics, and being a chemist, is quite knowledgeable in the foundational principles of biochemistry. Being a physicist, he has a deep and clear understanding of thermodynamic principles. In the appendix (again, this is the strongest part of the book), Oakes, having examined the nature of various carbon macromolecules (all stable macromolecules which are requisite to all biology are carbon molecules), brings the second law of thermodynamics to bear on the theory of abiogenesis (the proposed spontaneous appearance of biological life from non-living substratum). Stating the product of the appendix as simply as I can, spontaneous abiogenesis is not merely improbable, it is strictly precluded from occurring in any 'natural' system (i.e., any non intelligently manipulated system) by what has been called the firmest law of nature. The argument is made quite rigorously, and I see no means by which it could be overcome. Life cannot be spontaneously generated from non-life, without appeal to an extremely intelligent agency. Systems (in this case putative 'emergent' living cells) cannot reduce local/internal entropy (that is, increase 'order') without 'payment' in terms of increased entropy in the system's environment, but this cannot be the story of so-called spontaneous generation. The story of abiogenesis begs the thermodynamically impossible, that is, it demands a miracle more strongly than it can deny one. There are some interesting arguments throughout the book but some apparent bungles as well (that might have been cleaned up by better editing): Chapter 7; "Rattlesnake Fat, Anyone?": While making what might otherwise be a good point, Oakes translates the Ebers Papyrus (Egypt, c.1550 BC) as including in a medical prescription "the fat of a rattlesnake." Perhaps the papyrus is more correctly translated as "viper" (?) -- as the "rattlesnake" is a group of exclusively New World animals. If there is a good explanation for the use of the term "rattlesnake," we need to hear it, because informed readers will be distracted, wondering

Pay no mind to the blather of the person who gave this book 1 star, this book is honest, and a good read. Those who think and those who seek truth will have no reason to hate this book. Enjoy! :)

This books wasn't bad only I didn't agree with his flood assesment. Everything he say's is nothing new to me. I've been researching origins of life for many years. This book might possibly be good for the novel researchers. However, it will prove to be repetitive for those who are well versed and skilled in these things. I liked it. Yet again, I skimmed over a lot of the pages. I can't emphasize enough how repetitive this stuff was to me. I think the other reviewer is way off the true assesment of this book. In the end, it's all a matter of opinion.