Week 3- Barker Chp. 5 (Biology and Culture)

I have been thoroughly disoriented by this book. Whereas the chapters including and prior to chapter 4 seem to dismantle hope in language correlating with reality in any strong connection, chapter 5 moves into very certain language. Barker asserts that we must deal with "the undeniable fact that human beings are evolved animals" (Barker 2003, 151). I suppose I am airing out my evangelical bias and my anti-evolutionist heritage here. In all honesty, I appreciate greatly the exploration of the effects of human ancestral experience on contemporary states of mind. The topic is fascinating and helpful. In fact, I agree wholeheartedly that the human person has developed reactions and thought patterns which are passed from generation to generation via both culture and genetics. However, Barker seems to have taken a major shift in emphasis and tone from chapter 4 to chapter 5. Earlier in the book, the language of science and empiricism was relativized as only one way to speak of reality amongst many other ways. In chapter 5, the grandiose narrative of evolutionary theory is taken to be a wonderful descriptor of all things past and present. It simply seems odd that Barker, who seemed so hesitant to assign meaning to anything in particular, finds such certainty in evolutionary theory which covers such vast expanses of time and can never fully be demonstrated or comprehended.