Evolution ??
Evolution is a hot button word. The word can just mean “change over time” and we all evolve in that sense. My body is evolving and it is not an improvement. Darwinian evolution is the proposed scientific explanation for all of life. Scientifically, Darwin tied three ideas together to explain the development of life: 1. Common descent; 2. Natural selection; 3. Random Mutation (see Behe, The Edge of Evolution). Darwin proposed that natural selection and random mutation convolved together through time with chance and natural environmental factors to develop the complex web of life that we have today. Darwin had no access to the molecular data that we have today and could not begin to understand the details of how his proposal might work at that level. Today, genetic science and biochemistry have showed vast amounts of more detail in every area. Proving or disproving many of Darwin’s original ideas is irrelevant. However, the 3 key ideas are still very relevant.
Darwinian evolution is an explanation for how populations changed over time. It is not a story of how individuals change and it says nothing about how life began. Given that science has no real explanation to originate life, it is philosophical faith in “evolution” that makes many choose to believe that naturalistic processes can start life. I would strongly recommend that you read Dr Fazale Rana and Dr Hugh Ross’s book, “Origins of Life” for a fair examination of the scientific proposals for the origin of life.
Each of the key Darwinian ideas has implications and interestingly scientists who are Christians have reacted differently to them in the past and today. They could all be true without affecting the validity of the Christian faith, but it is an important task to learn what is true. Technical experts disagree and I want to point out early that I have no claim of expertise in biology or any of the related fields to judge all of the technical arguments. The beauty, variety and elegance of life surely has an explanation. What are options that Christians hold? Here are some that I see, plus the explanation without God.
Options
- No evolution…. Species created as is.
- Evolution with selected direct acts by God
- Intelligent Design
- Theistic Evolution or Evolutionary Creation
- Naturalistic Evolution
- No evolution…. Species created as is.
Those who hold this view believe that God created various “kinds” that over time became all of the species that we see today. Mankind was created as Adam and Eve in a garden.
Strengths: Simple and straightforward.
Weaknesses: For one, it does not explain the progressive changes that are apparent in life’s history. It really doesn’t fit with a life history of billions of years.
2. Evolution that includes selected direct acts by God
This view recognizes that God designed the processes of natural selection and mutation and they have acted repeatedly through the millions of years as life developed. At certain points, God directly intervened to progress his plans towards advanced life that would ultimately include a creature designed to relate personally to Him. At a few specific points, God acted directly to cause critical changes to occur. Key examples would be the start of life and the creation of spiritual man (not necessarily anatomically human). It does not claim to know what form the direct acts of God took. They could include miracles, where the ordinary laws of nature were set aside. They also could include acts that while not prohibited by physical laws, they would have been so improbable that it is unreasonable consider them unguided. It is important to see that proponents of this view see the “normal” change over time processes are also clearly driven by God towards His goals. On their own, they would not reach such goals.
Strengths: This view allows for the scale of Darwinian evolution that is apparent through geologic history. It recognizes God’s action in directly intervening sometimes but also His hand in guiding the processes of natural selection and mutation. Both acted with the conscious goal of directing life’s development for His purposes and those included mankind. This allows for the special creation of Adam and Eve literally as recorded in Genesis.
Weaknesses: The inclusion of direct acts of God is accused of being a “god of the gaps” and this can be true if not used carefully. [God of the gaps is an explanation where someone sees a gap in understanding and declares that this proves that their god acted there. When the gap is filled, then a new gap is found and their god is inserted there.] If science were to make realistic cases for scenarios that could actually occur in nature at points where God’s more direct interventions are proposed to have occurred, that would make this explanation weaker. One example would be for science to demonstrate a reasonable way that life could be formed from non-life (abiogenesis) under a possible naturally occurring early earth scenario.
- Intelligent Design
In the 1990s, the theory of evolution began to be questioned in different ways. The leading organization devoted to this issue, Discovery Institute does not emphasize Christianity, although most are Christians. They would argue that they make a scientific case though it has major spiritual implications. Phillip Johnson published the book, “Darwin on Trial” in 1991, challenging whether or not the scientific case for evolution was as solid as scientists claimed. The chief question is whether or not blind and undirected processes can really account for life as we see it on earth. Proponents claim that life has characteristics that are diagnostic of intelligent design. Impersonal undirected processes have no goal and don’t know what they are trying to build. If it is demonstrated that features require foresight, then a designer is required.
Strengths: The proponents include a wide variety of viewpoints. Many, such as Michael Behe have no problem with the Darwinian idea of common ancestry for all of life. Their concerns about the mechanism have raised many concerns that to me as a non-biochemist seem very real. It seems a much simpler hypothesis that many characteristics of life were designed than to have formed by purely natural selection and mutation.
Weaknesses: The idea that foresight or design can be proven is rejected outright by many scientists. It is certainly difficult to quantify and some will never accept it regardless what type of evidence is given or how strong it is. Still the stronger the explanations for the mechanisms of natural selection and mutation, particularly at a genetic level, the better possibility it is that Darwinian processes are the mechanism that God used.
- Theistic Evolution or Evolutionary Creation
Many Christians believe that God created the universe and life and that He created and used the mechanism of evolution to work his purpose. Proponents claim that the Creator, the primary cause worked through natural selection and mutation and this alone can explain the life on planet earth. Mutation appears random from our perspective, but ultimately was under God’s control. Just as we use random processes such as radioactive decay, God can use what we see as random mutation to serve His purpose.
Strengths: The obvious strength of this view is that the conflict with the science that is accepted through much of the world is reduced. It explains much of the development of life found in the fossil record and certainly is demonstrated in terms of the modification of species over time. Many Christians find that this fits well with the creation in Genesis.
Weaknesses: On the science side, the origin of life is still a big challenge for this view. To me, natural selection and mutation can’t really explain all of life, but as I have said, I am not a biologist in any form. As an example, one area which I see as a problem for this view is the Cambrian explosion, 542 million years ago. Here, in geologically the blink of an eye, all of the modern phylae and even some others appeared. Once earth’s oxygen level reached the critical level for the complex life to live, it immediately appeared in dramatic fashion. This at least opens the door for God’s hand in more direct forms. Many Christians are unable to reconcile this view with their understanding of the Bible. Although some proponents of theistic evolution make important contributions to our understanding of Genesis, it requires accepting less literal interpretations of the text than many Christians find acceptable.
- Naturalistic Evolution
In her excellent book, “Science and the Mind of the Maker”, Melissa Cain Travis defines naturalism this way: “an inherently atheistic worldview that excludes the existence of God and conceives of the universe as a closed, self-contained system that – at least in principle—can be fully described using naturalistic explanations.” Naturalistic evolution is the belief that:
1. abiogenesis occurred with no help from any supernatural agent,
2. Unguided natural selection and mutation worked through all of the chance conditions on earth. They allowed that first living cell to flourish and eventually transform into the amazing variety of life that we have today. Eventually by accident, Homo sapien developed. Its brain accident developed in such a way that allowed them to understand all of this truth.
Many both in the scientific community and outside of it hold this view.
Strengths:
Many intelligent and articulate people support the view. Many of the opponents of the view don’t have the scientific background to argue well and often hold undefendable positions in other scientific areas. We certainly see evidence that natural selection and mutation can effect changes in species.
Weaknesses:
Philosophically, one has to wonder why one should believe that the conclusion reached by processes in this randomly developed brain should be taken as true. Also, the evidence for a designer in nature is not just based on life itself. The whole universe seems to be incredibly fine-tuned to allow for advanced life. Our galaxy, our star and planet seem to be incredibly designed to allow life to flourish here for over 3 billion years. At many levels, our world seems to have been consciously manipulated to allow for our existence. It is in this context we need to consider the claim that life developed by unguided processes. Even if science were to find a scenario by which life could have originated by purely natural processes, it’s history would have to be considered so “lucky” that it would take a lot of faith to believe it.
It is my view that natural selection and mutation have been two of the tools God used to bring about His plan for the extravagant beauty and variety of life we have. He certainly directed the processes and at times must have gone beyond the Darwinian processes. In his book, “Early Genesis: The Revealed Cosmology”, Mark Moore describes this as “soft-touch” creationism.
Notice what Genesis says: And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed” (1:11), “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly” (1:20), “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds” (1:24). These do not say that God spoke and instantly there were new plants or animals appearing. It is not a stretch to interpret these as God speaking to initiate and guide a process that resulted in the creatures named. That certainly leaves room for some level of evolution.
The scientific side of evolution continues to be an exciting area to investigate. Theologically, I don’t think that the discussion of evolution becomes all that interesting until we come to mankind. Here Genesis gives much more detail. I take these as literally true, with a literal Adam and Eve. There certainly were pre-Adamic hominids but what their relationship to Adam and Eve and their descendants is a matter with much discussion and I will consider that in more detail in later posts.
Although the differences scientifically and theologically are real and worth studying, in my view, many of the disagreements between the above views 2-4 are not as large and significant as often claimed. Some are differences in terminology and focus. The scriptural interpretations in some cases are different but perhaps over time these also can be resolved.
