Most secular people have retained a high regard for science, so it is helpful that John Walton\u00b9 is an eminent scientist. He is an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at St Andrews University in Scotland, the author of several notable chemistry books, and, of particular interest to Seventh-day Adventist readers, has been a committed Adventist all his life. Science and Bible-believing Christian faith can go together<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The arguments Walton makes in Justice for Genesis<\/em> stand on their own merits, but his career as a scientist and researcher lends them additional weight. He does not fall into the trap of believing that science is the judge of Scripture, or that Scripture must be made to conform to prevailing scientific theories. Instead, he presents a range of scientific evidence supporting creation rather than evolution, consistent with the Genesis account.<\/p>\n The Seventh-day Adventist Church has consistently upheld the full authority of Scripture, including the belief in a literal six-day creation rather than old-Earth theistic evolution. Through the Geoscience Research Institute<\/a> (GRI), the Church has also promoted research that supports the Genesis account. Nevertheless, the debate between evolution and creation continues, and people who lose their faith often cite evolutionary theory as a primary reason.<\/p>\n Walton argues that this need not be the case, as evolution explains far less than is often assumed, and much of the evidence expected by Darwin and subsequent evolutionary thinkers has not materialised. He also contends that developments in science increasingly point in another direction.<\/p>\n We all live within a story about who we are, where we have come from, and where we are heading. During the past 150 years, the secular understanding of our origins has come to dominate much of Western culture, yet it stands in fundamental contrast to the Genesis narrative. Walton argues that evolutionary theory has, in some respects, become self-undermining. He points to scientific discoveries in support of aspects of Genesis, such as the universe having a beginning and the significance of information, including DNA, as something more fundamental than physical matter, because the information had to come first.<\/p>\n Walton also contends that the book of Genesis continues to stand up well as history rather than myth. He points, for example, to genetic research that he argues is consistent with the idea that humanity descended from a single original couple. He also discusses the discovery of DNA and soft tissue in dinosaur bones. Since dinosaur fossils have long been assumed to be millions of years old, Walton argues that these discoveries raise significant questions about accepted geological timescales and the long ages required by evolutionary theory.<\/p>\n People in secular societies have often been taught to regard science as the most reliable form of knowledge. However, Walton argues that there is considerable scientific evidence that does not support evolution but instead supports creation. Christians can benefit from becoming familiar with this evidence, both for their own confidence and for conversations with friends who approach questions of faith from a secular perspective.<\/p>\n Readers will find Justice for Genesis<\/em> to be a thought-provoking book that challenges widely held assumptions. Walton presents a carefully argued case that deserves thoughtful consideration. Genesis has served as the foundational text on origins for the world\u2019s great monotheistic religions for millennia, and Walton invites readers to reconsider whether its claims may continue to offer compelling answers today.<\/p>\n Many of history\u2019s greatest scientists, including Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, and James Clerk Maxwell, were themselves Christians who saw no contradiction between scientific inquiry and belief in a Creator. From this perspective, today\u2019s secular consensus may prove to be the historical exception rather than the rule.<\/p>\n For readers seeking a more accessible introduction to some of these ideas, the recently released documentary Universe Designed<\/em> covers some of the same ground as Walton\u2019s book.<\/p>\n Produced by Michael Ray Lewis, a former atheist, the documentary explores scientific evidence that Lewis says led him to believe in the existence of a Creator. So persuaded was he by that evidence that he invested 100,000 USD dollars, of his own money, in producing the film.<\/p>\n Available through a number of streaming platforms, including Prime Video<\/a>, Universe Designed<\/em> is aimed at a general audience rather than scientific specialists. It presents evidence that Lewis believes points towards intelligent design, including the apparent fine-tuning of the universe for life. The documentary argues that if multiple physical parameters had been only slightly different, life would not have been possible. For Lewis, the implication is that the universe was intentionally designed.<\/p>\n The film also explores evidence that the universe had a beginning, which it presents as pointing beyond the universe itself to the existence of a Creator. Although Universe Designed<\/em> stops short of advocating a young Earth or a literal six-day creation as Walton does, it offers an accessible starting point for viewers willing to reconsider assumptions about atheism, agnosticism, and the possibility of a Creator God.<\/p>\n Taken together, Justice for Genesis<\/em> and Universe Designed<\/em> offer complementary approaches to the same conversation. Walton provides a detailed scientific and theological treatment, while Lewis presents some of the same themes in a format that is accessible to a wider audience.<\/p>\n Engaging with resources that explore the relationship between science and the Genesis account can encourage believers in their own faith while opening conversations with those who have yet to encounter Jesus. Whether through reading Walton\u2019s book, watching Universe Designed,<\/em> or discussing the questions they raise with friends, Christians have opportunities to engage thoughtfully with one of humanity\u2019s oldest and most enduring questions: where have we come from?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Publication details<\/strong><\/p>\n Justice for Genesis: A Scientific Exploration<\/em>, by John C. Walton, was published by Andrews University Press in 2025. The ISBN is 978-1-940980-31-7. In the UK, it is available through LifeSource Christian Bookshop<\/a> and other online retailers.<\/p>\n Universe Designed<\/em><\/a> is a 2025 documentary directed by Michael Ray Lewis. It is currently available to stream on several platforms, including Prime Video<\/a>, with additional viewing options listed on the documentary\u2019s official website.<\/p>\n [Photos: Featured image and additional image by Rawpixel & iLexx \/ Envato. Book cover courtesy of the Amazon UK website. Universe Designed poster courtesy of the official Universe Designed website]<\/em><\/p>\n \u00b9Readers should note, however, that another author with a similar name, John H Walton, advocates theistic evolution, and the two authors and their writings should not be confused.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Exploring evidence for a Creator in secular culture<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":26439,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26433"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26433\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26509,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26433\/revisions\/26509"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A scientific case for Genesis<\/h2>\n
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A documentary for a wider audience<\/h2>\n
Resources for sharing faith<\/h2>\n
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