Evolution and the Church
"....it is asserted that there is no contradiction between Christian faith and Darwinism. In order to consider this claim carefully we need to identify the implications for the Church of embracing evolutionary theory. There are obviously many who believe that evolution is the mechanism that God used to create the variety of life on this planet. However, for those who are serious about the supremacy of Scripture, it is essential that any apparent theological tensions that arise from this are rigorously reviewed. It would be premature to say the least to commit to a scientific position without having a clearly worked out theology that accords with it, particularly when so much of the scientific evidence does not necessitate a Darwinian explanation."
Contents
Foreword
Wayne Grudem
Preface: A twenty-first century challenge
Phil Hills
1. Evolution and the Church
Alistair Donald
2. The language of Genesis
Alistair McKitterick
3. Adam and Eve
Michael Reeves
4. The fall and death
Greg Haslam
5. Creation, redemption and eschatology
David Anderson
6. The nature and character of God
Andrew Sibley
7. Faith and creation
R. T. Kendall
8. Towards a science worthy of creatures in imago Dei
Steve Fuller
9. Interpretation of scientific evidence
A. Homology
Norman Nevin
B. The nature of the fossil record
Norman Nevin
C. Chromosomal fusion and common ancestry
Geoff Barnard
D. Information and thermodynamics
Andy McIntosh
10. Does the genome provide evidence for common ancestry?
Geoff Barnard
11. The origin of life: scientists play dice
John Walton
Conclusion: Should Christians embrace evolution?
Phil Hills and Norman Nevin
Infomation
Book Price: £9.99
Paperback 192 pages
ISBN 9781844744060
Published 20/11/2009
Edited by
Norman C. Nevin
Foreword by
Wayne Grudem
Latest Comments
The Fall and Death
You object to the idea of death before the Fall. Paul speaks of the cross of Christ and the Fall of Adam as parallel events. We accept that the cross is an eternal event that ... Read More
25.04.12 14:03
By Ruth Campbell
Wayne Grudem's Foreword
I agree that evolutionary thought poses challenges for fundamentalist Christian faith, but I disagree that this means it's not true. Any lay person who spends more than a few ... Read More
25.07.11 04:09
By Ryan McGoff
Wayne Grudem's Foreword
Actually, I think the equation works. The proper mathematical illustration is some say 2+2+0=4, but others say 2+2+God=4, therefore God=0. In your illustration, nobody thinks ... Read More
22.07.11 18:56
By Tim
Origin of Life
"All reputable scientists who have studied the problem, whatever their ideology, concur with this view." This is absolutely false (unless you mean "actually random" as opposed... Read More
19.07.11 13:50
By Francis- Wayne Grudem's Foreword
Speaking as a Christian, evolution only "leads to many positions contrary to the [LITERAL] teaching of the [Genesis narrative]." It is simply not true that evolution is "secul... Read More
19.07.11 13:38
By Francis
Comments
"[Y]ou ought to throw away Big Bang or any scientific account of temporal cosmic origins."
If I understand you correctly, you accept the Big Bang as the work of God and then remove Him from the picture when it comes to the creation of life and ultimately man. You let the natural laws He created do the work.
But this is what is being argued. Can natural laws left to themselves do the creative work required of them? These laws must somehow create digital codes, information processing systems, and signal transduction systems with feedback control mechanisms of almost unfathomable complexity. Our common human experience tells us that such systems can only come from an intelligent cause.
Let us make sure that we can demonstrate that natural laws can do the creative work before we attempt to reconcile God and evolution. If they can do the creative work, can we then really call God our Creator?
I want to clarify what I think you think I am saying. Of course this is based on what I think you are saying!
I am defining the theory of evolution as evolutionary scientists define it. Their theory is a completely materialistic theory; they deny that God is or was involved in any way. To then say that God is in fact involved is to ascribe to the putative theory a property it does not have, and you are thereby positing a different theory.
This is not to say that what is called evolution is not a process effected by God. In fact, as one who is persuaded by the arguments for intelligent design, I believe that this is the case.
ID arguments also extend to the fine tuning arguments for the universe, so I do not throw out the Big Bang. It is the moment of ultimate Creation!
Well you think like that because you have a very poor doctrine of creation! Grow up. The Universe that God brought into being by his word is stratified and multi-layered. Don't confound Creation-a theological concept with a lower level description like Biology or Physics.
Else in the same breathe you ought to throw away Big Bang or any scientific account of temporal cosmic origins. Selective literalism is a poor mask.
If evolution is truly a naturalistic process, that is, one not guided by God, then obviously God cannot guide it, unless He is so powerful that He can engage in a logical contradiction.
I believe that those who say that evolution is God's mechanism are engaged in wishful thinking. They believe in God as creator, and at the same time they accept that evolution is true. Theirs is a vain attempt to reconcile what are in reality contradictory positions.
The first question to ask is, "Is evolution true?" If it is not true -- and I say that it is not -- then no reconciliation is necessary.
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