Comment
Creation versus evolution is an important topic to address, particularly for the youth in school and university settings. However, while the article ["Some Thoughts on Evolution," Youth Anchor, June 1998] did present some Biblically sound points, Biblical quotations relevant to the topic should also have been included.
Response
Youth Anchor is, of course, a Christian publication, and so this criticism is certainly warranted. However, that article was intended to provide some insight into the nature of the theory of evolution and to enable our readers to better understand the viewpoint, mindset, and philosophy of those who accept it. The thoughts expressed were based on personal experience, observation, and interaction derived over the course of my studies in the field of biology, and were largely presented with this atmosphere in mind. I believe in the origin of life on this planet through divine creation. Evolutionists believe in the origin of life on this planet through the processes of evolution. Science is the means by which we may examine our differences, as in its purest form science is the search for fact. Much of the purpose of this article was to help prepare our readers for such a venue, and also to pique the interest of evolutionists with whom the article may be shared.
Sometimes we may forget that atheists (which most evolutionists claim to be) do not accept the Bible as an authority. Therefore they do not place much value on the information found in the Bible, and grant it no more consideration than we ourselves would ancient Greek mythology. When discussing evolution with an atheist, then, the use of Biblical text is ineffective and immediately removes common ground for discussion. However, the point is well taken that during the course of a conversation the Biblical connection should not be forgotten. Approaching the evolution/creation debate from the common ground of science is sure to foster further discussion that will hopefully, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, create an opportunity to extend the discussion into more Biblical realms.
Most atheists are completely unfamiliar with the teachings of the Bible, and often their exposure to Christians is marred by an adversarial condemnation of their beliefs. This attitude is not appropriate to Christians, and will do little to create an interest in Christianity. The best means of witness is first through our example of a Christian life and Christian love. Once an interest is created and opportunity arises for discussion, the truths of the Bible may be shared. Topics that I think will appeal to the pragmatism and curiosity of scientific minds include the extreme longevity and timelessness of the written Word, the wisdom contained in its pages, the accuracy of its history, and perhaps most powerfully, the detailed, specific, and ongoing fulfillment of its prophecies. Of course, the story of the Bible is above all else one of love and hope, and this is a story we all have need to hear.
In the end, though, the creation/evolution debate will always return to the platform of science, an area in which Christians are typically on the defensive. This need not be the case. Evolutionary theory is largely accepted on authority, under the assumption that prominent and "objective" scientists will not be wrong. However, when inspected objectively, the theory of evolution is found to require a great deal of faith and basic belief and is, therefore, not truly science at all but rather a religion adopted and preached by a "scientific" community.
Comment
I disagree that "Evolution has proven to be an exceptionally useful model…" and that "…without the perspective provided by evolutionary theory, it is likely biology in general and ecology in particular would not have developed to the level of understanding that is present today." [See "Some Thoughts on Evolution," Youth Anchor, June 1998.] Evolution is a false teaching. It is simply a lie and contrary to God, the Bible, and Truth. A lie is not "exceptionally useful" nor is it good. Biology and ecology would both have developed to higher and better understandings of reality without the impediment of the evolutionary hypothesis, if a creationist model as presented by the Scriptures had been maintained.
Men of Science, Men of God
"Every physicist and astronomer is overwhelmed by the mathematical order in the world. The greatest minds like Newton, Kepler, Planck and Einstein felt by virtue of it they must believe in a supernatural intelligence." -Siegfried Müller-Markus, "Science and Faith," Integrative Principles of Modern Thought, ed. Henry Margenau, New York: Gordon & Beach, 1972. [Quoted in Mark William Worthing, God, Creation and Contemporary Physics, 1995, p. 41.]
Johann Kepler (1571-1630), founder of physical astronomy, was a Bible-believing Lutheran. Because of this, he was expelled from Styria, Austria, in 1600 for refusing to convert to Catholicism. He lived at the time in history when empirical science was young and at war (sometimes not so quietly) with certain ancient (and "unscientific") views of the world (and the universe) long held by the "established" religious institutions. It is interesting to note, however, that he was also at war with certain of his own views. He believed, like Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) before him, that perfect circles and spheres were expressions of the perfection of God and therefore the orbits of the planets should also be circular. Yet it was Kepler who first discovered and later published (in 1609) their elliptical nature. He first expressed to the "modern world" the laws which govern the speed and position of the planets in the heavens--that their paths are elliptical. Even so, he never abandoned the sphere as the perfect model of the universe. Kepler wrote that "in a sphere ... there are three regions...--the center, a symbol of the Father; the surface, of the Son; and the intermediate space, of the Holy Ghost." He was a methodical scientist who was motivated (and at times limited) by his own resolute beliefs. He came very close to discovering the law of gravity and perhaps would have had he not accepted certain long-held, preconceived ideas. But the law of gravity had to wait another fifty years for an apple to fall from a tree in front of the eyes of a teenager who would later be known to the world as Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727).
Every man and every age has its assumptions challenged. True science and true belief will agree. The visible and invisible worlds were made by the same God (Colossians 1:16), and each has something to teach us about the other. If we humbly honor God with our learning, we will discover and be a part of the harmony.
--The Editors |
Response
The theory of evolution is based on certain facts observed in nature, on clear observation of the natural world and how it functions. It was instrumental in supporting and popularizing the idea that life on our planet is dynamic and in a constant state of adaptation and change. This was ultimately extended to attempt to explain how life on our planet originated and proceeded, which is where the error lies. Like all great deceptions, the doctrine of evolution is based on much truth- truth which the religious world of the time was slow to recognize and unwilling to accept.
It is unfortunate that Christian growth is often hindered by theological misconceptions. For example, observations suggesting the planets travel in elliptical orbits were considered heresy for a considerable period of history, because the dominant church of that time had limited God to a man-made construct that stated only proper circles are perfect. Similarly, in more recent times the concept of change in the natural world was resisted due to the idea that God had created a perfect and therefore unchangeable creation. The possibility of extinction was particularly opposed, as to many it suggested that God had made an imperfect creature, one which was not fit to survive. Of course we know that these ideas were the result of flawed and narrow thinking, rooted not in Biblical study but rather in man's invention. We should not form opinions of how we think God and His creation should be, and then attempt to force God's work into our distorted preconceptions. Rather, we should always be open and willing to listen to the truths God reveals through His Word and His works. In other words, we should be good scientists.
Evolutionists, of course, are also often guilty of allowing misdirected beliefs to obscure the truth. The evolutionary paradigm is so firmly entrenched in the minds of many that they will not even consider the possibility that it could be wrong. Current advances in molecular biology are revealing mounting evidence against the theory of evolution. Evolutionists cannot explain how the amazingly intricate and complex biomolecular processes upon which life is based may have come about through evolutionary mechanisms, and yet they are unwilling to consider other possibilities. We should work to help them see another possibility!
Unfortunately, in this great debate many creationists and evolutionists alike have misconstrued facts. As Christians, we should never have to resort to underhanded tactics to prove our Lord. We know we have the Truth, and we should have the faith that allows us to perform objective science with the knowledge that all facts will point us closer to God. We must never limit God or force our own misconceptions of Him; perhaps, had the earlier church not done this so strongly, evolution would never have gained such an easy foothold.
Question
You mentioned in your Mitochondrial DNA article ["The Mitochondrial Clock," Youth Anchor, June 1998] that you tend to view all dating results skeptically. Why is this?
Answer
All long-term dating methods require a suite of assumptions that must be met in order for the results to be valid. It is impossible to determine whether or not all of the assumptions have been satisfied, and it is far more likely that they have not been. If any of the assumptions have not been met, this will skew the results by introducing significant error into any age estimate.
Error is not a problem in science, as long as it can be identified and quantified. For example, you may look at a clock and read that the time is 5:35. If I tell you that the clock was set five minutes fast, then it is no problem for you to determine the actual time. Subtracting five minutes from your reading will correct for this error, and you will know the true time. However, if I tell you only that the clock may have been set correctly, it may have been set ahead by an unknown amount, or that it may have been set behind by an unknown amount, then the clock is effectively useless. It does provide a time to you, but that time cannot be trusted with any confidence. This is the situation that exists with common dating methods--the readings are based on processes that are prone to interference by a large variety of factors that will throw the timing off, and therefore are extremely susceptible to unidentified timing errors. As such, the "clock" must be considered extremely unreliable.
Readers who are interested in further exploring the evolution/creation debate will find the internet to be an excellent resource. Keywords to search for include evolution, creation, geochronology, radiometric dating, and carbon 14.
A Final Thought
Many Christians today, including Pope John Paul II, accept the possibility of an evolutionary scheme for creation, suggesting that God used directed evolution as the mechanism of creation. This compromise acts to bring the secular and religious communities together at the sacrifice of clear truth. The extensive ramifications of such an idea, which challenges aspects of Christianity ranging from the literal interpretation of the Bible to the very nature of God, should alarm all Christians. However, this trend bears a greater and more ominous relevancy to us as Adventists. Creation through evolution obliterates the literal week, as set down and sanctified by God. At its core it is a direct attack on the seal and memorial of God's creative work--the Sabbath Day.
--Mark Demarest, U.S.A.
| If you have any comments, questions, or ideas regarding any topic related to science and Christianity, I'd like to hear them! I can be reached at sda.refmov@t-online.de, or send a letter to me, C/o the General Conference Youth Department. |
