In what ways may modern ideas about evolution conflict with the biblical concept of creation?

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Claire Fricker

Creation and evolution come from two very different viewpoints. The main differences here are that in the story of creation in the beginning there was God, and in the theory of evolution in the beginning there was random chance. The conflict between the two is often referred to as “The Great Debate” because everyone asks the question “why are we here and how are we here?” they can either look to the bible or science for answers. They are completely unlike answers to one another but both agree on one thing – that the universe has not existed eternally. There are problems with the bible story of creation in the way that we cannot prove or do any tests to show that there is a God or a creator, and as we cannot see, touch, or hear God then the only evidence to go by is the account of creation in the Bible. Scientists, however, claim that they can prove there was an actual scientific reason for the beginning of earth and show evidence through the big bang idea.

Evolution is the theory of the origin of the universe, including the solar system, earth, plant, animal life and man. It states that through the operation of the current relevant laws of physics, chemistry and biochemistry over a very long time span, life evolved out of matter through a long series of very small changes to its current state. It ignores ultimately the possibility of a divine creator and is simply a gradual natural process. Darwin was the most famous man to make points on creation after he saw from first hand experience on his travels what was not explained before, Darwin found fossils, believed to be extinct creatures which closely resembled living creatures found in the same place, and still alive today. With this in mind, he came up with the theory for natural selection, which he published a book on in 1859 – “The Origin of Species”. In this book, he states that natural selection occurred through species that slowly change through time as favourable adaptations make the animal better able to survive in its environment. These creatures would then pass this favourable change onto their offspring eventually making bigger genetic changes. This theory from then was taken further and the fossils were found to be much older than the traditional bible creation date – not just thousands of years old but billions of years old. Contradicting the bible through something that can be proved caused a lot of people to lose their faith in the Christian religion, because if the account of Gods’ actions in the bible are false, then maybe the God of the bible could be false? Although Darwin originally gave God the glory of being responsible for the gradual changes, he was met by a lot of controversy among religious people who would not accept any other account of how humans came into existence apart from the biblical account of creation.

When Darwin’s Origin of Species was published, his theory soon became accepted as the only valid way to explain all life on earth. He said that higher forms continually develop out of “lower forms as a kind of natural and automatic process”. Another important aspect of the theory is that life is an accident. Evolution is explained to have got its start in a random, purposeless place- the universe. This meant that for Darwin, God was no longer necessary to explain the origin of life. A British atheist philosopher, Bertrand Russell, who accepted Darwin’s ideas said in his book ...

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The biblical account of creation, on the other hand is something quite different from factual evidence. This view rejects the theory that animals and plants have descended from a single line of ancestor, evolving over billions of years through random mutation and says that life only begun 6,000-10,000 years ago, and all things were created according to Gods design. The biblical creation story believes in a divine Creator. (However, some Christians, regarding the creation of the world, also believe in evolution. They say that the process of evolution is carried out by the acts of God). People who believe in biblical creation (creationists) believe that all basic types of living beings, including man, were made by the acts of God during the creation week in Genesis in the Bible. Biblical creation is more supernatural than evolution, and is viewed as a miracle. Creation in the bible was brought about by direct acts of God as opposed to a natural, gradual process. 'In the BEGINNING God created the heaven and the earth' (Genesis 1:1). Creation took place in the beginning and was finished and complete - it was not spread out over the long period of time history of the universe. Creation was by the word of the God, the creator and He spoke things into existence. In Genesis 1 we read of a series of 'And God said' statements. Also we read in Psalm 33, 'By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.'

Creationists also believe that all geological matter in the world was laid down by a worldwide flood, as told in the story of Noah, and that life arose essentially in the complex forms that we know it today. This rejects the idea of progression of species by evolution as thought by Darwin. Some very strong creationists think that evolutionists hate God as they so fully reject the belief that only an extremely superior being could have created the world we live in. Biblical creation is also creation EX NIHILO (from nothing). First there was nothing and then there was something - no time was involved, and God did not need matter or energy or anything else. Creationists believe that He is first and all else is second. In fact the basic meaning of the word “create” implies that there was nothing and then there was something. Creation is so important to believers because it identifies God.

The design argument was developed to prove the existence of God, arguing from evidence of design in the universe around us. This relates to creation in the way that as the universe shows so much complexity and design and order, it could not have been brought into existence just by random chance, and must have had an intelligent designer to make such a place. William Paley, a philosopher in 1802, used analogy to compare a complicated and ordered universe with complicated and ‘man-made’ products (E.g. A watch). His argument rests on the idea that just as these ‘man-made’ products (in this case a watch), are the result of intelligent design so the universe must have been brought into existence by an intelligent designer who is God, (and in his analogy – the watchmaker). The design argument includes the Anthropic Principle, as thought by F.R.Tennant, and states that the exact conditions in the universe have come about to allow human life to develop and be sustained – and may include the theory of evolution by seeing God as the one who sets up 'necessary' structures in the universe within which life has the 'chance' to evolve. Biblical writers assume that the world exhibits order and design through the ‘handiwork’ of God – ‘For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse’ (Romans 1:20). There are criticisms of this argument, however. If a God who created the universe purposefully for us to live, and, if as God is shown in the bible He is all loving and all powerful then why does He allow evil and suffering in the world. David Hume says that the world is imperfect, and why should we presume God has got it right? It may have been a first attempt of a lesser God, but we cannot prove this; ‘The first rude essay of some infant deity’.

There are many basic contradictions between these two theories. As Darwin insists that evolution scientifically is a random process – that all humans are here on this earth by pure chance through random accidents genetically, mutations and altered genes have helped us to become the people that we are, this totally rejects the bible idea of election - that life is not merely a series of accidents and humans were designed specifically as they are by God and could even represent the form of God himself. The bible also says that man was created as a special being – in the image of God and completely opposes the view that man could just be another being in the process of the ongoing evolution. If evolution were a completely correct theory then creation would be totally disproved as God intended in Genesis that his work was completed and correct. If God’s work were correct then an ongoing series of mutation in order for humans and species alike to survive would not be necessary, as they would have been created perfect in the first place. Many people believe that the theory of evolution is true, as there is evidence in science to back its points up. However, there are less hard facts about this theory than many realise. In actual fact, the “theory” is no more than a theory, and science is mixed in with many hypotheses to prove that evolution exists. Darwin’s theory cannot be tested, observed or repeated as it happened many millions of years ago is just like a belief in God, it bears no more weight than what is written in the first book of Genesis. British evolutionist Sir Arthur Keith states, “Evolution is unproved, and unproveable. We believe it because the only other alternative is special creation, and that is unthinkable”. In my view, the main criticism of the two theories not corresponding is that as God is portrayed to be all loving, he would not have put his creations under suffering in order to survive. Fossils that are examined prove to belong to a harsh world, with storm, death, disease, and struggle for existence.

In some ways, creation and evolution can be used together. Creationists stress ways in which science proves the Biblical story, and science has confirmed the order in which the earth was created. Genesis and science have outlined ten stages: 1) a beginning; 2) a primitive earth in darkness and enshrouded in heavy gases and water; 3) light; 4) an expanse or atmosphere; 5) large areas of dry land; 6) land plants; 7) sun, moon and stars discernible in the expanse, and seasons beginning; 8) sea monsters and flying creatures; 9) wild and tame beasts, mammals; 10) man. Creationists ask, "What are the chances that the writer of Genesis just guessed this order?" Creationists believe that there is one Creator, God and that He had, and still has a master plan “...science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind”. Albert Einstein

Recently, there has been controversy surrounding the debate of evolution and creation, and has even come down to the question of whether or not evolution should be taught in the classrooms, as it contradicts the religious beliefs of some southern states in America. There has been a lot of debate on this topic that has resulted in court cases and trials, parent involvement, and school board decisions. Between 1921 and 1929 fundamentalists introduced anti-evolution bills into thirty-seven state parliaments. States such as Michigan, Arkansas, and Texas passed this legislation. The remaining states declared it illegal. There was a famous Scopes “ the monkey trial” trial in Tennessee in 1925, when a teacher was prosecuted for defying a state law by teaching evolution, made this topic seem that it was not a subject to take lightly. There were no laws ever passed saying that evolution had to be taught in biology courses, but the evolutionary theory has become famous through its impact on the thousands of biologists who learned its usefulness in the study of living things. Nowadays, there is equal time recommended for the Genesis account of creation and the evolution.

A famous article against the evolution theory was published in The Herald of Christs kingdom, titled the “Creation - Evolution Controversy”. In this article, it is argued that the genesis story stands up very well against the evolution theory that everything grew from a single cell, or species (Darwin’s theory). It points out that if everything was to develop from a single cell then science still hasn’t enough evidence to prove that this is true, as there are no fossils showing links between, for example, reptiles to birds. Another point to add is that when embryos are developing, there are five fingers that grow on humans fingers, birds wings and fish fins, but they all come from different types of cell and are adapted for different uses to one another. This article in The Herald attributes these differences to a divine creator, and concludes that the body is a very complex organism in which all its separate and different processes could only be credited to God, and his divine intelligence in creating life.

Creation and evolution are opposing equally as both have roughly the same amount of evidence for and against them, and either evolution would have to have a new piece of evidence to convince creationists towards evolution, or creationism would require a supernatural occurrence, or miracle to convince evolutionists towards creation. I believe that it is possible that they can exist coherently but for some, the two seem entirely incompatible and will never be reconciled. It is difficult to see which one is more possible because both are based on faith. We could say that “Science is wrong” and if we are confronted with data science has provided that doesn’t match our interpretation of the Bible we simply write it off by claiming science is surely wrong. We could also say that “the Bible is wrong” and that since the Bible is a book whose main value is in spiritual areas – faith and practice – it is not necessary to expect it to be completely accurate in practical areas e.g. Science. I believe that if the god of the Bible is true, then the same God must have created the laws of science, and therefore is guiding evolution. If both arguments are used together, then I think that there is a much stronger case to explain creation and start of the universe.