Book Review: The Fool and the Heretic by Todd Charles Wood and Darrel Falk

Introduction 

All who engage in apologetic discussions should expect to be asked about the various perspectives on human origins. This is a topic for which there is no overwhelming agreement, and therefore it is important to become familiar with the dialogue that is happening between proponents of different views – not just the content of the dialogue but the way in which the dialogue is carried out. That is precisely what the reader gets with The Fool and the Heretic by Todd Charles Wood and Darrel Falk. Both authors are Christians who hold doctorates in the field of biology. With that said, however, Wood endorses Young Earth Creationism, whereas Falk fully accepts the scientific consensus regarding evolutionary theory. Not only that, but they each work in organizations whose missions are directly opposed to one another. This book provides the reader a window directly into an extended dialogue between Wood and Falk as they debate the differences between their positions.

The Dialogue

The Fool and the Heretic is not a typical book. The authors don’t combine to write one cohesive argument. But they also don’t contribute debate-type essays arguing back and forth. Instead, the authors trade off taking turns recounting their experiences as they met together for several conversations about their different positions on the topic of human origins. To a certain extent, this means that the book ultimately needs to be experienced in order to feel the full force of it. Nevertheless, this review will provide a brief overview of the flow of the dialogue throughout the book.

The book is structured in five sections. Each section contains a chapter by Wood and a chapter by Falk in which the authors provide commentary on one main facet of the dialogue. Between each section is an interlude written by Rob Barrett, the one who organized the meetings and was the ultimate driving force behind this entire project that resulted in this book.

While the goal of the book is to foster discussion, it is not calling for an agreement to disagree. Instead, the differences are not only highlighted but treated with utmost importance. In fact, in the opening chapters both Wood and Falk go into detail not only about why they think the other is wrong, but also about why them being wrong is so significant. And they don’t hold back. Both ultimately consider the other to be one of the greatest threats to the Christian church precisely because of the positions they defend on this issue. Wood believes that Falk’s endorsement of evolution leads to an abandonment of trust in the word of God, while Falk believes Wood’s young earth position is responsible for Christianity losing credibility. At one point, the two even refer to one another as “mortal enemies.”

Although it is just words on a page, the tension is impossible to miss. And both authors’ contributions are filled with honesty regarding their emotions throughout the discussions. Both Wood and Falk at one point express their doubts that anything positive would come from the meeting. They were almost right. One significant anecdote from their meetings has Falk accusing Wood of being ignorant of evolutionary theory, only to be reminded that Wood’s exemplary credentials and involvement in the field of evolutionary biology likely surpasses his own. What is most significant about this particular exchange is the humility with which Falk tells the story, and the graciousness with which Wood accepts the apologizes.

The core of the disagreement between the two centers around how to look at scripture. Wood takes seriously the reality that God has given us special revelation in the Bible, and therefore holds that the only way to do science is with the consideration of what the Bible says. This does not mean to ignore the evidence provided by empirical observations about the physical world, but according to Wood it does mean that we ought to use scripture to help us understand what that evidence means. And when it comes to understanding what scripture says, Wood holds that the Bible is entirely unique – not the be lumped into some general category of ancient literature – and is breathed out by God for the purpose of being clear in its teaching. With that understanding, we ought to be able to trust the plain reading of the text.

Falk, on the other hand, does not approach scripture the same way – this is especially true when it comes to the first eleven chapters of Genesis. Falk highlights the differences by saying that while Wood reads Genesis 1-11 as one would a newspaper, he reads Genesis as one would a narrative story meant to portray an overarching point. This is not to suggest that what is included in Genesis is untrue, rather what Falk considers to be the important truth is the underlying message meant to be communicated by God through the stories, not necessarily the literal details of the stories themselves.

To close out the discussion, both Wood and Falk take an opportunity to express what they find to be important considerations for the dialogue. Falk emphasizes what he considers to be overwhelming empirical evidence in support of evolutionary theory. Wood accepts the overarching evidence that Falk provides, but since he struggles to reconcile it with the picture given in scripture, proposes that we need to consider how ignorant we truly are, and stop requiring answers for questions when we don’t have enough data to provide clear answers for them.

By the end of the discussions, nobody changes sides. Wood and Falk are still as far apart as ever on the question of origins. But while their differences are just as great, their hearts are in tune with one another. What started out as nothing but tension ends up with two friends who care deeply for one another.

Final Thoughts

The Fool and the Heretic requires a special place in every apologist’s library. It doesn’t reveal any groundbreaking research. It doesn’t provide any new arguments. But it does provide a real-life example of the fruitful dialogue that can happen when we approach disagreements within the community of Christ with intentionality. It is both encouraging and convicting. It is a quick read, yet it provokes much thought. When all is said and done, taking to heart the lessons revealed throughout the dialogue between Wood and Falk will make the reader much more effective in engaging others in disagreements in general, but especially in disagreements regarding the topic of origins.