Comment A Christian's Perspective on Evolution (Score 1) 348
Well, just to put my two cents in, I am an avid Linux user (Debian, thank you very much), was a science geek in high school, and, last but farthest from the least, am a born again believer in Jesus Christ and the Bible. As a disclaimer, I don't have a Southern drawl, I don't own any shotguns, and I'm half way through a college education in a respected college in Boston.
I want to set straight my own personal opinion on the evolution-creation debate, an opinion which I share with many educated and theologically experienced Christians. I should note however that there are different opinions within the Church regarding the creation of the universe.
I believe that God created the Earth as well as the entire Universe. That much is without question. I would however take with a grain of salt the supposition that the entire creation of the Universe, the Earth on which we live and every living thing on it was completed within six days. I believe that the language used in the book of Genesis chapter 1 is often times figurative, especially in referring to time.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1.
I believe that this simple phrase encompasses the entire series of events theorized by astronomers, physicists and such. Seriously, who better to produce a "big boom" than the Almighty Sovreign God? Over the next six days of time listed in this passage, Moses, the actual author of the book of Genesis (BTW, I believe that all scripture, in its original language, is the inerrent, inspired word of God given through the mouths and hands of mortal men.) describes the creation of 1. Day and Night, 2. the sky, 3. land, seas, and vegetation, 4. the Sun, Moon, and stars, 5. animals of the sea and air, and 6. animals of the land and Man. By now, 9 out of 10 of you are thinking "this sounds like any other ancient tale of the beginning of the world," and indeed it does. I believe though that this explanation of the beginning of the world is a figurative one, with figurative times as well. I DO believe that if God had wanted to make the entire universe and the modern world appear over the course of one Earth week, He could have easily done so, just as He could have also done it in one billionth of a nanosecond (or even less : ). The fact of the matter is that if God is all powerful, He can make things happen in any way that fits his will. I believe that He did not create the Earth in one week, for a good reason. Physicists are amazed at the way in which our entire world and universe fits together. Scientists have realized that if the position between the Earth and Sun were not precisely the way it is, if the composition of the atmosphere was even slightly altered, if any one of billions of variables were not as they are, life would not exist on this planet. We recognize this, but we just as quickly then chalk it up to a freak occurance of "nature," the infinitely small chance that one special chemical reaction in a puddle of ooze would produce all living creatures on the earth. In my opinion that's a very shaky assumption on which to base a theory of the creation of the world. From another perspective, however, if God designed this perfect set of enviromental variables and set up the physics just right so that the natural world would work as smoothly as it does, would He not want to follow His own perfect rules to create the world? I believe that He would.
As far as the theory of our alleged primate ancestors are concerned I am without opinion. I don't know whether we were created as a seperate species or are direct ancestors of monkeys through some yet to be discovered missing link. What I do know is that, either way, anything that we have become in terms of our status above the animals and our dominance above all other creatures on Earth has been through the power and grace of God and not through any ambition, talent, or ability of our own.
"He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Collosians 1:15-17.
In short, as well as I understand the theory of evolution to date, I believe that all discoveries and theories used to explain the evolutionary process can be much better used as signs of the awesome sovereign power of God.
Hmm. This is flamebait if I've ever seen it. Please keep your replies on an intelligent level and feel free to question my theories or my beliefs. I would be happy to take a crack at any question as best my knowledge allows. God Bless.
Will Meyer
I want to set straight my own personal opinion on the evolution-creation debate, an opinion which I share with many educated and theologically experienced Christians. I should note however that there are different opinions within the Church regarding the creation of the universe.
I believe that God created the Earth as well as the entire Universe. That much is without question. I would however take with a grain of salt the supposition that the entire creation of the Universe, the Earth on which we live and every living thing on it was completed within six days. I believe that the language used in the book of Genesis chapter 1 is often times figurative, especially in referring to time.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1.
I believe that this simple phrase encompasses the entire series of events theorized by astronomers, physicists and such. Seriously, who better to produce a "big boom" than the Almighty Sovreign God? Over the next six days of time listed in this passage, Moses, the actual author of the book of Genesis (BTW, I believe that all scripture, in its original language, is the inerrent, inspired word of God given through the mouths and hands of mortal men.) describes the creation of 1. Day and Night, 2. the sky, 3. land, seas, and vegetation, 4. the Sun, Moon, and stars, 5. animals of the sea and air, and 6. animals of the land and Man. By now, 9 out of 10 of you are thinking "this sounds like any other ancient tale of the beginning of the world," and indeed it does. I believe though that this explanation of the beginning of the world is a figurative one, with figurative times as well. I DO believe that if God had wanted to make the entire universe and the modern world appear over the course of one Earth week, He could have easily done so, just as He could have also done it in one billionth of a nanosecond (or even less : ). The fact of the matter is that if God is all powerful, He can make things happen in any way that fits his will. I believe that He did not create the Earth in one week, for a good reason. Physicists are amazed at the way in which our entire world and universe fits together. Scientists have realized that if the position between the Earth and Sun were not precisely the way it is, if the composition of the atmosphere was even slightly altered, if any one of billions of variables were not as they are, life would not exist on this planet. We recognize this, but we just as quickly then chalk it up to a freak occurance of "nature," the infinitely small chance that one special chemical reaction in a puddle of ooze would produce all living creatures on the earth. In my opinion that's a very shaky assumption on which to base a theory of the creation of the world. From another perspective, however, if God designed this perfect set of enviromental variables and set up the physics just right so that the natural world would work as smoothly as it does, would He not want to follow His own perfect rules to create the world? I believe that He would.
As far as the theory of our alleged primate ancestors are concerned I am without opinion. I don't know whether we were created as a seperate species or are direct ancestors of monkeys through some yet to be discovered missing link. What I do know is that, either way, anything that we have become in terms of our status above the animals and our dominance above all other creatures on Earth has been through the power and grace of God and not through any ambition, talent, or ability of our own.
"He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Collosians 1:15-17.
In short, as well as I understand the theory of evolution to date, I believe that all discoveries and theories used to explain the evolutionary process can be much better used as signs of the awesome sovereign power of God.
Hmm. This is flamebait if I've ever seen it. Please keep your replies on an intelligent level and feel free to question my theories or my beliefs. I would be happy to take a crack at any question as best my knowledge allows. God Bless.
Will Meyer
