I have read a portion of the book, as well as attended a lecture by the
author on this topic (and spoken with Dr. Schroeder afterwards). While I do
understand Joseph's perspective concerning the nature of Torah vs. science
and the "apologetic" nature of the work, I disagree strongly with the
conclusion that therefore the book offers nothing of value.
First of all, recognize that modern science has reached conclusions about
the nature of the universe that are completely in accordance with Torah -
and also realize how revolutionary this is. The Greek philosophers believed
that the world was "Kadmon," without beginning, having existed for all
eternity. The "Big Bang Theory," on the other hand, could practically have
been lifted from the first chapter of the Book of Genesis - an enormous
explosion of pure energy (light) burst into a universe which was previously
just space, utterly devoid of matter. No known laws of physics can explain
this phenomenon; it just "happened." Can you say, "Hand of G-d?" Sure. I
knew you could.
The Jewish approach to G-d and Torah is based on evidence - _know_ that G-d
exists, based on facts you can see, study and understand. A Jewish citizen
of an earlier era could dismiss the philosophers who said the world was
eternal, just as many of us dismiss the theory of evolution (but that is
another topic). Not so the age of the universe, which has been verified
using a number of different means. There is currently little reason to
disbelieve the evidence that the universe has a physical age of some 15
billion years.
Dr. Schroeder offers an analysis which demonstrates how this apparent age
of the universe might not contradict the seven-day Week of Creation. It is
possible to accept both the scientific evidence and the Torah as completely
true. In other words, to accept the Torah does _not_ involve rejecting what
scientists appear to believe is solid evidence. Why does this have no value
to one with a "scientific mind?"
Dr. Schroeder's book offers far from the only theory which reconciles the
age of the universe with Creation - actually, it's not even my personal
favorite. But his contribution to the available literature is hardly
without value, and may be very helpful to a person grappling with the very
nature of Torah as the blueprint for our universe.
Yaakov Menken