Graham Slam - Rap Artist, Patriot, Webmaster, and Christian

Evolution Vs. Creationism

The idea that evolution (macro evolution) is anti-God or anti Christian is a falsity too often purported by the creationist movement. Evolution is soundly grounded by science and is accepted by many mainstream Christian faiths most notably the largest and oldest Christian denomination the Roman Catholic Church. Charles Darwin himself attributes the evolutionary process to a creator at the end of his book The Origin of the Species ?There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one?.(Darwin 1872 p. 459)

Evolution is easily observable and simply proven in three basic premises as shown in the article The Short Proof of Evolution by Ian Johnston. The first point the article gives is the fact that every creature must have had a living parent at some point in its existence. The second point is that not all living creatures are alike and in fact many are completely different (for example vertebrates vs. invertebrates). The third point substantiated by the fossil record is that 'simple animals and plants existed on earth far before complex ones?. The article ties it all together stating ?If all living creatures must have a living parent, if living creatures are different, and if simpler forms were around before complex forms, then the more complex forms must have come from the simpler forms.? (The Short Proof of Evolution by Ian Johnston)

Creationism takes a literal interpretation of Genesis and tries to make science fit. The bible is not a scientific document, it is religious text written by human authors who are subject to making scientific mistakes. The basic premise of Genesis 1 is true; God is the creator; but God is just as capable of creating through the evolutionary process as science exhibits as through the story of creation in six days as Genesis tells us and science contradicts. What we know of science contradicts the literal interpretation of Genesis but does not contradict the idea that there is a creator. The bible was never meant to be scientific or explain things in scientific terms. It is divine interpretation and no human can ever come close to interpreting the true nature of God. As Father George V. Coyne the director of the Vatican Observatory stated 'science and religion are totally separate pursuits?. (Intelligent Design Belittles God by Mark Lombard)

Today Copernicus and his solar system are accepted by all educated people. When he first released his ideas he came across similar objections as Darwin did. His ideas contradicted literal Old Testament scripture. For hundreds of years afterward both Protestant and Catholic leaders condemned him citing biblical scripture that the sun and moon revolve around the earth. The book of Joshua 10:12-14 states ?On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: ?O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijolon.? So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies. The sun stopped in the middle of sky and delayed going down about a full day.? (Joshua 10:12-14, New International Version) Furthermore scripture if taken literally implies that the earth is flat, not round ?After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth? (Revelation 7:1, New International Version). Not all scripture is intended to be taking literally and surely should not be taken as a basis of scientific knowledge. I found it interesting while reading Gerald Schroeder's book The Science of God that 'the Talmud stated explicitly that the opening chapter of Genesis, all thirty-one verses is presented in a manner that conceals information.? (Schroeder 1997 p.10) (Babylonian Talmud Hagigah 11b, 12a, 500 A.D.)

Religion and science are not always and do not have to be at odds with each other over the Creation vs. Evolution debate. I believe that there is conclusive evidence for evolution and that the creation story in Genesis is not meant to be taken as a literal scientific sequence of events, but as a way to articulate the core idea that God is the creator. Eventually as science continues to fill the holes in Darwin's theory with solutions (for example genetics) the theory of evolution will become as widely accepted as Copernicus's theory of a sun centered solar system.

References:

Darwin, C. (1872). The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or
the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life(6th ed.).
New York: Mentor.

Schroeder G.L. (1997). The Science of God. New York: Free Press.

Johnston, I. (2005). The Short Proof of Evolution. Retrieved July 17,
2007 from Malaspina University-College Web site:
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~johnstoi/essays/courtenay1.htm

Lombard, M. (2006, January 30). Intelligent Design belittles God, Vatican
Director Says. Catholic Online. Retrieved July 17, 2007, from
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php'id=18503

John Schlismann has an interest in religous studies and how they relate to modern day science. For more information on the Evolution vs. Creation debate check out http://www.icr.org/ for the Creationism point of view and http://evolution.berkeley.edu/ for an evolutionary point of view.

MORE ARTICLES:

Bluetooth Earphones | Laptop Cases | Ipod Headphones
We have been providing various digital accessories to all around the world. These accessories are best for you because they are made of best material, are of high quality and last a long time. These accessories have been produced to meet the growing demand in the online world. We have supplemented all the best products at lowest price.

Freely Copy from iPod to Computer with iPod Copy Expert Software
It used to be impossible for iPod users to copy music out from iPod, but now, iPod Copy Expert software is appearing to make a difference.

Building a Church and Church Building Designs
Building a church is a large project that is more than constructing natural materials, because building a church is building an expression of a church congregation's heart. Building a church has a purpose that is much more than housing classrooms or meeting rooms.

Iphone 3g Cases | Laptop Cases | Bluetooth Earphones
Thinking about giving your Ipod a new look? Or perhaps you want to give your Iphone a makeover? These days it is difficult to find someone who sports the same phone for long or the same gadgets over a period of time. There is good news for all of us who want to be part of this race. You don’t have to spend loads of cash acquiring a new gadget to stay trendy. Ipod accessories and laptop cases are now available in a vast spectrum of colours, which you can use to change the look of your portable gadget and keep the trendy and cool image alive.

Tradition, Religion Of Christian Churches
Tradition, Religion Of Christian Churches

Music Download Sites - Where To Download New Music and Videos
Music download sites are one of the biggest businesses online nowadays. According to market research, digital music sales have grown by 300 percent from the previous year. This speaks a lot about the popularity and choice of online music download sites over other offline methods to download new music or just about any music video and music downloads. There is quite a handful of music download sites that let you download new music and music videos so it can get a bit confusing. Read on to find out more about selection of music download sites - where to download new music and music videos.

Best Ways to Attract More Music Fans Faster
Attracting more fans. Admit it, that's what music marketing is all about -- getting more people to come to your shows and buy your CDs. And hopefully, getting a lot more people to do those things.

Wireless Usb Adapter | Laptop Cases | Ipod Charger
Is it possible to introduce colorful inclusion as accessories to your portable devices? You must be thinking for a cool dude to find the best accessories online. Now, with help of various online shops you can make your cute devices perform wonderfully. Thrilled, how? There are a whole range of online shops to find the best accessories online. Yes you can find the online dude to help you find best accessories online.

More About Bible Software and a List of Bible CDs
Reading the Bible is one way to explore literature and understand history Now, Bible teachers and scholars can find great bible software to help with their pursuit

Laptop Cases | Iphone 3g Cases | Iphone 3g Accessories
Whether you are the proud owner of an Ipod or an Iphone, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing Ipod accessories or laptop cases. To give you an example, when it comes to accessories, you can take your pick from Iphone 3g cases, Bluetooth earphones, wireless USB adapters, Ipod speakers, skullcandy headphones, sennheiser headphones, Bluetooth headset, Ipod nano cases and other Ipod nano accessories. They will not burn a big hole in your pocket as they are now on the market for sale at extremely affordable prices.

To Copy from iPod to Computer is Not an Impossible Mission any More
The best way to keep your music safe is to make a back-up of iPod music. See what iPod Copy Expert software can do for iPod users now.

The Unjust Steward
In my opinion, this story has two very powerful spiritual principles that God wants us to get a hold of. These two principles are spelled out at the end of this passage.

Site Map | Home