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I don't believe that scientists, the overwhelming majority of whom conclude that some evolutionary process has been underway, are part of a great demonic plot to undermine the Bible. I don't believe that scientists are lemmings, chirping the same supposedly anti-God tune. Greg's own doctoral dissertation shows that most leading evolutionary biologists don't think that religion and evolution are incompatible.

Yes, there are materialist fundamentalists like Richard Dawkins and William Provine (Greg's advisor) who claim to be stating facts when they're really stating atheistic opinions, but they are easily matched by Christians of high academic stature who acknowledge the evolutionary workings of the natural world—I'm thinking of John Polkinghorne, Kenneth Miller, Owen Gingrich, and Francis Collins.

I really think that Christians need to get over being hung up on evolution, mainly because it seems to have happened, and because there's nothing anti-God about it. And our theologians need to face the implications of evolution for how we think about the Fall and providence, among other things.

My own thinking on evolution (which Greg forced on me) has led to reflection on questions about God's interaction with the world, as well as on the relevance of the cross and of Jesus' identification with people who live in a natural world pervaded by suffering. This reflection, in turn, has deepened my commitment to Jesus.

Did the lead singer of Bad Religion challenge my faith? Yes, in the best way. He forced me to think more seriously about it. He is, in his own way, a sophisticated theologian--and he's a good gospel singer: he included a gospel song, "Talk About Suffering," on his new solo CD, Cold as the Clay.

Did I challenge Greg's faith in pure materialism?  I don't know, but I was gratified when things we discussed came up in the lyrics of the Bad Religion CD, The Empire Strikes First (2004).

Would life be better if the kind of conversation Greg and I had were less rare? Yes. But even as I write that, a heavy feeling in my stomach reminds me of the many projects I must get to.

My main hope is that Greg's and my correspondence will spark other conversations on walking trails, at churches, in bars, and in classrooms.

Preston Jones teaches history at John Brown University. He is the co-author, with Greg Graffin, of Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant? (InterVarsity Press). This article, as with all "Speaking Out" pieces, does not necessarily represent the views of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant? is available from ChristianBook.com and other book retailers. InterVarsity Press has more information on the book.

Bad Religion's site includes essays from Graffin.

Preston Jones's site at John Brown University includes information about his history work.

Jones's earlier articles for Christianity Today include:

We're Still Supporting Slavery | New efforts to stop U.S. troops from visiting prostitutes abroad are a good step, but let's not whitewash what's happening. (Sept. 28, 2004)

How to Serve Time | There is a Christian way to study the past without weakening the truth. (Mar. 23, 2001)

Jones is also a regular contributor to Books & Culture.

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September (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50