Reddit mentions of Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul

Well if you get in touch with him later, if you get a chance, ask him what else he reads besides the bible to find out if it's more like this or more like this. Finding out what he thinks about things besides the bible should give you an idea of where his head is. I guess in that sense, it isn't a very big deal what you ask, but if you can engage him in anything worldly (politics, science, less politicky current events, etc), you're likely to get a better idea of how he's doing.

Maybe I'm taking all of the weight out from what I'm saying by disclosing my Christianity (I have ingenious justifications :) ). But that being said, you're much more likely to feel like you're getting someplace if you're engaging him on specific issues, by talking about things such as negative aspects of social conservatism or the authority of the scientific community as far as describing the natural world is concerned, or even this or that about Christianity rather than attacking "theism". (Not because it's a 'sacred cow' that can't be questioned, but because he isn't likely to respect your views about theism in itself if that's most of what you guys talk about right off the bat),

I asked originally about what your expectations were because if you want to (and if he still likes to have such rangey, high-minded discussions), you guys can knock around on things like this and over time you'll be giving him a chance to see things the way that you do. I just worried seeing your original post all by itself that you might be tempted to make this make or break at the beginning and I was thinking that you might not make that much headway, and wanted to throw in my 2 cents.

To add to my other reply, here is a good book if you actually want to learn about it:

http://www.amazon.com/Only-Theory-Evolution-Battle-Americas/dp/067001883X

I just finished this one, it's also very good:

http://www.amazon.com/Genome-Matt-Ridley/dp/0060932902

If you want a 2 hour lecture by a Catholic Biologist on ID/Evolution, here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVRsWAjvQSg

Here, read this:

http://www.amazon.com/Only-Theory-Evolution-Battle-Americas/dp/067001883X

The author is a devout Roman Catholic and evolutionary biologist who addresses claims made by various creationist and intelligent design advocates, including the claim that adapatation =/= evolution. It's a well written book, and includes a section on why evolution does not deny us our humanity or our unique place in the universe.

I think you'd appreciate it. You're wrong about splitting hairs over adaptation and evolution, as adaptations are simply the driving force behind evolution, but this book would help with that!

Regarding the 'finches': yes, they had adapted to have different beak shapes on different islands. Island populations are a classic case of evolution in action. These birds are, in fact, classified as different species, and their genetic similarity arose from a common ancestor.

What is your proposed alternative to evolution? If it's a supernatural power of some sort, why would that supernatural power go to so much trouble to make everything look like it occurred by evolution?