So where is this heading? What kind of Christians accept evolution, and how does it affect their beliefs? Do they all deny Adam, original sin, the doctrine of inerrancy, divine intervention? Do they even accept the virgin birth and bodily resurrection of Jesus? Before any of these questions can be answered, a few points should to be made clear:
- Evolutionary biology is not a theology. A Christian with an evolutionary view of biology may be a Calvinist, a Pentecostal, a Roman Catholic, or a member of any other conservative or liberal denomination. An evolutionary understanding of natural history doesn’t close the door on discussions about inerrancy, an historical Adam, or other theological issues. You will find theistic evolutionists holding diverse positions on these issues. Even within the issue of evolution itself, there is a spectrum of views about how it works and God’s involvement.
- For Christians, evolution can be difficult to deal with whether we accept or deny it. Neither side can rest in certainty and ignore the challenges of the other. Young-Earth Creationist Todd Wood put it well in an essay when he said “Either way we go, we’re left with intellectual and spiritual tensions.” There are difficult theological questions for Christian evolutionists to work through, and there are difficult scientific questions for special creationists. Young-Earth Creationists may wonder how some others interpret Genesis 1 to include millions of years, and some of us wonder how they could interpret the fossil record as having been formed by a single catastrophe in recent history. Old-Earth Creationists have their problems from both sides. It’s not a simple issue regardless of where one stands.
- The truth is the truth no matter where it leads. It’s not about picking sides based on the whether or not we like the implications of an idea or if we like some individuals in a given camp.
As I work through some of these questions and discuss things here on this blog, keep in mind that my conclusions are still personal and that other Christian evolutionists may disagree with my interpretations and theology, even if we agree on the science (though we may disagree about the science, too!).
To answer the questions above, I affirm orthodox Christianity, as expressed in the Nicene Creed. I believe in the divinity of Christ, His virgin birth, and bodily resurrection. I believe that God can do miracles. Regarding Original Sin, I think that the biological advances made since Augustine call his understanding of inherited sin into question – and I don’t think it has the biblical support to overcome the scientific, theological, and philosophical problems it creates.
I’m a life-long student of the Bible. When studying the synoptic Gospels, or comparing Kings and Chronicles, I find it impossible to ascribe to the Doctrine of Inerrancy as it tends to be understood in evangelical circles. I believe the Bible is inspired, authoritative, and useful for “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” I believe the Bible is “God-breathed”. To say it’s “God-spoken” and the authors were merely taking dictation ignores the explanations explicitly given by the human authors and replaces them with an imposed view that fails to explain the features of the Bible, in my opinion.
So those are some of my views, for what it’s worth. Some may incorporate evolutionary thinking, but most are completely independent. My point is that there isn’t a single, unified evolutionary theology. Accepting or denying modern science’s conclusions about life on earth doesn’t conclude our efforts to understand our world, ourselves, or our faith.
mod synthesis 
Darlene
August 28, 2013
Tony, this makes it all very clear to me. Thanks for posting 🙂 Sometimes when one hears something over and over, and for so many years, opinions come from listening to others rather than delving into it ourselves. I admire your desire to learn and seek truth !
tony-c
September 8, 2013
Thanks a lot, Darlene! It’s been nice talking to you about this stuff.
Vielsa Harding
September 9, 2013
Darlene: Just to bring you back to this discussion. I hope this gets to you. Thanks,
God is the best scientist..!
I can see there is Not much to interpret when ONE is trying to understand what it REALLY says, not what one WANT it to say…due to one’s pre-conceived notions..and conveniences. You have Already, expressed your pre-conceived notions and are looking at it with that in mind. You will never know the truth that way, my friend. ITS Scientific.,
The for corners of earth is INdeed poetic and we use it today IF we where lost in a coliseum, you say you’ve look in all corners of the place.
God is the Best Scientist. I notice you completely ignored the 2nd Law of thermodynamics…it should tell all you need to know. – NO BIG BANG – now IF you tell that ‘a tornado in a junk yard can produce a 747 jet complete and operational, then I can give it a thought ( I forgot where I read that joke/analogy sorry ).
In Isaiah 40:12, centuries before science even conceived of this phenomenon, Isaiah said that God “has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance, and the hills in a pair of scales.” That is called isostasy right? The Bible knew of the water cycle, etc., Some of the Bible translations are poor, it doesn’t change much.
The Hebrew word translated “earth” (hug) refers to a sphere. It says, “He . . . hangs the earth on nothing”.
What are you going to tell me now that Cain found his wife elsewhere?
Seth descendants were the ‘sons of God’ ( Seth replaces Abel ). Who knows how many more children Adam&Eve had before Seth. Cain line was the sons of ‘man’ due to his ‘sinful nature’. Cain marry a sister before he left to wander..there was no one else around but them. It says in the Bible Cain left and “knew” his wife – yeah, that means he had intercourse with her and had kids – that doesn’t mean he “meet” her elsewhere.
Vielsa Harding
September 8, 2013
I am new studying the Bible. Still, I have gotten the strong view that You either trust/believe ALL the Bible says or you don’t, because IT is consistent all the way thru. I believe a compromise or to pick and chose what you want to believe does not work. I have read from ‘former’ evolutionist scientists, and because of latests research and findings, the imperative need to ‘re-evaluate’ the theory of Evolution altogether is in order., the flaws of carbon dating for example, the solids proof of mutations outside of species is non-existent. The amazing facts of the thermodynamics laws of decays, latest proving that even the speed on light is decaying., which latest atomic measures does puts the age of the earth at about 6 or 7 thousand years.
Just few years ago I would have never though I would believe in 6 days creation, and I am in awe today that the more I read ( from the Bible ), and learn there were such things as ‘monsters’ taller than 130 feet, with legs as “cedar” (dinosaurs), etc., the more I believe that’s the Truth. And, sir, The Truth is just one. So, it necessarily had to be us or them.
Of course you can, for the sake of ‘keeping the younger generation in your side’ compromise to a half true story..but then that’s just that., “a half true” story..Not what is stated in the Bible and regardless what Constantine or somebody else questions or disagree with.
Just as the Flood, I believe Jesus will come to redeem his true a honest followers doesn’t matter if there are just a handful us.
tony-c
September 8, 2013
Thanks for your time and your comment, Vielsa. I understand the “all or nothing” mindset, but I hope you understand it’s not a matter of not believing Genesis, it’s about interpreting it differently. The Bible makes lots of statements about the “corners of the earth” and plenty of times it appears to suggest a flat earth. Christians dealt with this long ago by accepting some of these statement as poetic, or as the Reformer John Calvin said, “accommodation” on God’s part – meeting the listeners where they are instead of bombarding them with scientific details beyond their understanding.
I believe the repetitive, poetic structure of Genesis 1, and it’s setting in the Ancient Near East where other similar writings have been uncovered suggest that it’s more of a worshipful poem or chant and not a chronological, historical/scientific account. I believe we should keep the Gospel essentials central and be cautious not to hang all of it on our interpretation of peripheral issues that the Bible may have never been meant to address (like the age and shape of the earth or the details about how God created things). This was the painful lesson of the Galileo Affair when the Church tried to use scripture to fight science. Now we all read through the heliocentric verses as poetic, or accommodational, or that such phrases are merely a consequence of the time period of the human writers, just as their writing styles, languages, and dialects are captured in time as the Bible was being written.
As for the science, I do follow Answers In Genesis and the ICR, but I haven’t found their interpretations convincing regarding dating techniques and biology. Feel free to chime in any time and you may post links citing specific data and articles backing your points.
Vielsa Harding
September 9, 2013
God is the best scientist..!
I can see there is Not much to interpret when ONE is trying to understand what it REALLY says, not what one WANT it to say…due to one’s pre-conceived notions..and conveniences. You have Already, expressed your pre-conceived notions and are looking at it with that in mind. You will never know the truth that way, my friend. ITS Scientific.,
The for corners of earth is INdeed poetic and we use it today IF we where lost in a coliseum, you say you’ve look in all corners of the place.
God is the Best Scientist. I notice you completely ignored the 2nd Law of thermodynamics…it should tell all you need to know. – NO BIG BANG – now IF you tell that ‘a tornado in a junk yard can produce a 747 jet complete and operational, then I can give it a thought ( I forgot where I read that joke/analogy sorry ).
In Isaiah 40:12, centuries before science even conceived of this phenomenon, Isaiah said that God “has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance, and the hills in a pair of scales.” That is called isostasy right? The Bible knew of the water cycle, etc., Some of the Bible translations are poor, it doesn’t change much.
The Hebrew word translated “earth” (hug) refers to a sphere. It says, “He . . . hangs the earth on nothing”.
What are you going to tell me now that Cain found his wife elsewhere?
Seth descendants were the ‘sons of God’ ( Seth replaces Abel ). Who knows how many more children Adam&Eve had before Seth. Cain line was the sons of ‘man’ due to his ‘sinful nature’. Cain marry a sister before he left to wander..there was no one else around but them. It says in the Bible Cain left and “knew” his wife – yeah, that means he had intercourse with her and had kids – that doesn’t mean he “meet” her elsewhere.
tony-c
September 9, 2013
Sorry that I didn’t address each of your scientific points, but I’m not sure that you’ve been given reliable information and you weren’t very specific. There is no atomic evidence that I’m aware of yielding a young earth age – perhaps supplying a link would help. The speed of light is an interesting concept, but it’s not a “fact” that it’s decaying. So far, it seems Einstein is still right about that. The 2nd law of thermodynamics is an important concept, and the scientists that understand it understand that it in no way contradicts big bang cosmology or biological evolution – though it is often misused in lay-person language. Keep in mind that the universe is expanding – evidenced by the redshift of observed galaxies and other evidences like the recently discovered microwave background radiation which confirm Big Bang predictions over the now discarded Steady State theory. Some have said the progression of life on earth violates the 2nd law, but this is also a misunderstanding since the earth is receiving energy from the sun – and the sun is using up it’s available nuclear fuel to do so. There’s no free lunch, and as entropy is increasing, life forms still benefit from the availability of energy individually. This is what scientists would expect.
I don’t think there’s a compelling case for the water cycle being predicted in the Bible. Isostasy is a fascinating geological process, but it’s based on natural factors, as gravitational theory itself is, which is understood physically and naturally without invoking super-natural interventions. The Hebrew word used in Job 26:4 is erets, and does not mean sphere.
Vielsa Harding
September 15, 2013
“Arguments that the speed of light has been slowing down and thus traveled much more rapidly in the past would indicate a very young universe in terms of thousands rather than billions of years.” Barry Setterfield, an Australian scientist, proposed the decay in the speed of light in his writings called The Velocity of Light and the Age of the Universe. According to Setterfield the first careful measurement of the speed of light was made by a Danish astronomer, Reemer(?), in 1675 and then by an English astronomer, Bradley, in 1728. It’s been measured many times since then and is said to have reached an equilibrium at the number I gave you a moment ago. The data indicate that the speed of light in 1675 was about 2.6 faster than today and that it continued to decline until 1960 when atomic clocks began to be employed to measure it. Setterfield chartered a rate of about 5.7 kilometers decrease in velocity per second between 1675 and 1728 and 2.5 kilometers per second decrease between 1880 and 1924 and he kept charting the decrease. He worked out a curve tracing the decay of the velocity of light. On this basis, Setterfield figures the earth was created about 4000 and 40, plus or minus a hundred years.
At the time of creation the speed of light was going so much faster than it does now. If the speed of light has indeed decayed, along with everything else, then the most basic empirical measurement of the age of the solar system would fit precisely into the genealogical chronologies of Genesis. Wow, if you just take those same figures, put them on a curve, you have light being almost instantaneous 6000 years ago.
Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. Moreover, assuming that’s correct, that would explain why the dates derived from various types of radio active measurements on physical geological elements such as the half life of uranium 238 decaying into lead over millions of years would all be skewed. The velocity of an electron in its orbit is proportional to the speed of light. Everything changes and what appears to be old isn’t old at all if you understand this immense fact.
Hence, radio metric ages in rocks, meteorites and other astronomical objects in conventionally allocated years can all be predicted by the high initial value of sea and accommodated within a 6000 year framework. I don’t want to go into any more detail, I’ve said more than I know now. But I’ll tell you this, we can start with a fixed point and the fixed point is Genesis 1. Genesis 1. We don’t find anything in science that legitimately cast doubt on the veracity of this creation in six days, six thousand or so years ago.”
Vielsa Harding
September 9, 2013
Besides from the beginning it has always been about Seth & Cain descendants..especially today, and it will continue until the next ‘cleansing’ ( As you can tell things in Middle East ) I doubt we will last 100 years. Maybe three or more generations at the rate we are going, I can’t imagine we can sustain so much more chaos. Adam&Eve repent and were dealt with.
CAIN, and descendants, WILL NEVER FORGIVE OR REPENT, HE HATES ANYBODY PRAISING GOD PROPERLY AND WILL FIGHT THEM TOOTH AND NAIL. Think about it. Love,
Vielsa Harding
September 10, 2013
Nothing compelling on the water cycle, are you kidding me? when we didn’t learn about this in the last 100 years at the most… The point was, regarding Isostasy, it was already known, somebody 2000 years ago, understood, was known ( God aside ).
“often mis used in lay-person language” these are Russian scientists! and the other an Australian although not the only ones I have read the same sort of studies from ( yeah, I am lazy I don’t want to go look it up again ). You are probably going to find another link with progressive language to invalidate any I send regarding the decreased measurements of the speed of light – ever since 1675 – Barry Setter-field was the guy.,
okay the link I cited says hug, which means more a circle than a sphere, but I bet you I research other version of the Bible It will come up with a closer meaning of sphere – which is really the point – something that hangs on nothing – and which has mass and water and people 3D ‘can not’ be a geometrical circle – and that is what you people would argue all day long.
Anyhow, my friend toni I don’t have to believe your sources – If you trust them and I know what you are after already then I don’t trust them. My sources are known to be unBias, I look for unbiased. I have evolutionists who are ‘ frustrates ‘ with what they have come to understand for decades is not so anymore..( a few interviewed for book “It couldn’t just Happened “. I like Truth.
I got the feeling you are fighting tooth and nail to NEGATE the truth of the Bible – perhaps you don’t understand quite well why you do it..
Are you familiar with CS LEwis words: “When a man is getting better, he understands more and more clearly the evil that’s left in him. When a man is getting worse, he understands his own badness less and less.”
I will pray for you., be well and God bless you.
Vielsa Harding
September 15, 2013
Toni, I think I got into a bad start with you. I apologized. I have been reading so much constant bashing to God / Christians right and left. I got defensive too quickly., I guess. It is a good thing you have this website to discuss things, I appreciate that.
I am fascinated by Pastor John MacArthur, I have read lots of his sermons – I wish I could get caught up – There is just so much info in his website.
I read an interview or something where you mentioned him, I forgot what it was. That is why I answered to you.
I don’t believe you have read him with an open mind, is what I am thinking. The guy can no be more scientific and specific – He doesn’t separate himself from the Word of God any!
I never said I was in your same shoes not much ago. Wanting, wishing so much, I could see the evolutionists and creationist getting together, and see how to bridge those views.
I understand there is no reason now, evolution is impossible, the evidence is overwhelming for creationism; and for evolution the astonishment and embarrassment so huge – I think scientists wants to -leave that subject alone- which is absurd.
Anyway, I tried to reach some of your audience here – pasting info – since some of these post are a while back, they might not see it until they get an e-mail reply – I guess.
Sorry IF I am being intrusive? just that If Some of these folks have shown an interest in the subject, they GOT to know about GraceToYou and the treasure of resources there.