From the Dust of the Earth

"Ramage’s book is the first to fully gather and systematize Ratzinger’s thought on the relationship between faith and science. As such it is a very significant contribution, one whose value is greatly enhanced by the drawing in of lecture notes that further clarify Ratzinger’s less systematic approach to the book’s questions in his published works."

~Christopher T. Baglow, University of Notre Dame

"In From the Dust of the Earth, Matthew Ramage does the Catholic Church a great service. Not only does he make Professor Joseph Ratzinger’s university lectures on evolution and creation accessible to an English-speaking audience, but he also successfully engages in the hard work of further expounding and developing this great theologian’s approach to the Catholic faith and evolution. This book is theology at the cutting edge of the modern natural sciences and should be widely read by all who seek to understand the faith."

~Jordan Haddad, Notre Dame Seminary

"Ramage's great contribution is to have distilled from an impressive variety of sources Ratzinger’s holistic method for interpreting Scripture, amplifying Ratzinger's insights with the best of what's been thought and said about Genesis and evolution. The author has left few stones unturned in this regard. Because both Ratzinger's theological legacy and the myth of faith-science conflict prove equally resilient, the contribution is timely and significant."

~Aaron Pidel, SJ, Marquette University

"Ramage brightly shows, in the light of Ratzinger’s thought, that a nuanced reading of Scripture is perfectly compatible with evolution, including the difficult question of original sin. Some points, and even his interpretation of Ratzinger’s thought, will be, perhaps, the object of debate and disagreement. But what cannot be at stake is Ramage’s honesty in his attempt to present faithfully the teaching of the Church in the context of evolution, and in his passionate way to unite his theological thought and his Christian experience of life."

~Santiago Sanz Sánchez, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross

"Dr. Ramage's distillation of Ratzinger's work is a prime example of Catholicism's relation to cultural and academic fields. His readable yet substantial prose offers biblical and anthropological clarifications on a long-debated subject. A timely and necessary work!"

~Jared Zimmerer, Senior Director, Word on Fire Institute

"This work is a well-planned excursus through the deep thought sustained over decades by the emeritus pontiff and his wrestling with the most fundamental questions of man’s origins in light of the Catholic faith and of the last two centuries of the scientific revolution… Those with both a scientific and/or theological background will find the volume illuminating. However, anyone who is interested in tackling this subject will ultimately benefit from reading this volume. It is a highly accessible work for anyone willing to take the time to read it and it is highly recommended."

~The Catholic Post

"Ramage states that he has written the book with the widest possible audience in mind, and the writing style makes it accessible without being overly simplified….he achieves his goal of creating a helpful resource for any who are interested in or struggling with the topic of faith and science as it pertains to evolution."

~The Bible Today