Why I Thank God for Charles Darwin
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Wed, July 02, 2008
- Viewed 81
- (20) comments so far
Jesus and a nurturing church community gave me a lifeline in my struggles to find sobriety as a young man. A corollary of being born again, however, was that the preachers I listened to and the authors I read told me that accepting evolution would seduce me away from godly living. At first I believed them. But then I met professors, ministers, priests, nuns, rabbis, and chaplains who not only accepted an evolutionary view of cosmos and culture but found it religiously inspiring. Soon I too came to embrace the history of everyone and everything as our common Creation story.
Today, thanks to Charles Darwin and the countless evolutionary scientists and writers he inspired--in fields as diverse as astrophysics, geology, genetics, primatology, sociobiology, and brain science--I interpret my Christian faith in far broader and more this-world realistic ways than ever before. It is obvious to me now that God didn’t stop revealing truth vital to human wellbeing back when people believed the world was flat and religious insights were recorded on animal skins. God is still communicating faithfully today, publicly, through the worldwide, self-correcting scientific enterprise. I now see science as revelatory and facts as God’s native tongue.
You can read the whole article here...
What do you think?
Rev. Michael Dowd writes, "July 1st marks the 150th anniversary of the theory of evolution. For years, I believed that Darwin was of the devil. Now, I deeply honor his contribution to religion and my walk with God. Indeed, other than Jesus, no one has had a more positive impact on my faith and my ministry than has Charles Darwin.
For the last six years as an itinerant evolutionary evangelist, I have preached the good news of evolution from the pulpits of hundreds of churches across America. Faith can be strengthened and difficulties in life surmounted--all by bringing a mainstream scientific understanding of evolution into our religious lives. The response has been phenomenal. People of all ages and across the theological spectrum light up when they see new possibilities open for them, their loved ones, and the world. Often tearfully, always excitedly, they share their testimonials. Here is mine..."
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
Peter Hamm on Thu, July 03, 2008
John, and others.
Not everyone agrees that “anything but a 24-hour period is not very convincing when looking at the Hebrew”. Can you see that? Many commentators believe that the Genesis account was not meant to be taken as a literal scientific document, much as there wasn’t really a woman who lost a coin, there wasn’t really a man who owned a vineyard in Isaiah 7 or Jesus’ parable.
If it didn’t happen exactly as Genesis accords it “literally” some don’t feel that makes Genesis any less true, inspired, authoritative, etc…
[Long story short, this creates some major problems for Christian Theology.] Nope. I don’t think it creates any problems of any kind. Obviously, God can do anything, so making the earth in 6 24-hour days is certainly possible, but to argue that anyone who doesn’t buy that is selling out their theology from underneath themselves (as some would attest) is going too far, imho.
John on Thu, July 03, 2008
Peter,
I understand that this is not a theological forum, and that a debate here would not be appropriate, given the purpose of this blog.
In light of that, I would simply like to expand upon my previous points to help you (and perhaps others) understand my logic, specifically on how this creates problems for Christian Theology:
1. A non-literal interpretation of the creation account opens the door for non-literal interpretations for any portion of scripture. At no point does the author of Genesis indicate that he is giving anything other than what he believes is historical fact. The rest of the book is presented as a historical account as well, so why would only the opening chapters be figurative?
In contrast, when the Bible discusses prophesies, and specifically parables, there is typically a clear indication by way of introduction that these are illustrations, and therefore not to be taken literally. (for example, see Luke 15:3 regarding the Lost Coin)
If we can say that Genesis 1-3 isn’t to be taken literally, what stops us from interpreting, say, the life of Christ figuratively?
Of course, you know that I understand that there are more than just literal, historical texts in the Bible, however, there is little indication that this is not one of them.
2. I see that this whole issue causes problems for Christian Theology in that Jesus must be either a liar, mistaken, or the Bible is wrong about what Jesus said in Mark 10 (see my above comment). Why would the Son of God, one who was present at creation (however long it took), go along with a mistaken view of the Earth’s origins?
Furthermore, Paul (and many, if not all, of the New Testament writers) bases his theology on sin entering the human race from the very beginning. All Men have sinned, according to Paul. “Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man…” (Romans 5:12) If Darwinian Evolution be true, then when was the first Man, and did he sin?
Can you see what I mean about the problems that this causes to Christian Theology?
Either Evolution is true, or the Bible is. I cannot see them co-existing. But I understand that this is where our opinions differ, and I’ll respect that.
Please note that I have not written this to provoke a response, this is merely an expansion of my previous thoughts.
With Charity and Respect,
John
Jade on Thu, July 03, 2008
Pretty good debate. I enjoyed watching the movie Expelled which in my opinion does a great job debunking the evolution theory. If you have not watched do so, it is well done. Done by Bestien who is of a Jewish background.
My take on this if anyone reads this is I am not thankful for Charles D. Infact I feel sorry for him and others who believe in evolution defined by him. To me you can’t marry Christianity and evolution they just don’t go together. Many Christians today try to do that because of what Science tells them. Me I believe the world was created in six 24 hour days. If someone does not believe that are they not Christians? No I dont’ think so and it does not worry me. What worries me is someone telling my child we evolved rather than were created, that she was accident rather than on purpose. What worries me also is Christians saying we can believe in Darwin’s theory and be Christian too. I don’t buy that. Infact to me that is selling out.
Daniel on Fri, July 04, 2008
Believing truth isn’t selling out.
Follow the evidence wherever it leads…
Ron Land on Mon, July 07, 2008
How I love a vigorous debate between people who have studied their subject matter and are able to share real reasons why their view is truth.
What I see here is lots of folks drawing truth from scripture and lots of evidentiary and experiential citations regarding the nature of God. Along side them, many of you are citing what you’ve been told or read others say, and sadly have been led down a path to nowhere.
God is not glorified by macro-evolutionary teaching in the Church. The god of evolution as shared here, friends, is subject to man and an all powerful Nature who really makes the plans and decisions. In case you don’t recognize it, Daniel and clan, this is the very lie of Satan in the Garden in that ‘beautiful story’ in Genesis. Even if you only recognize the Bible as a set of morality tales, that one would be pretty hard to miss in this instance, now wouldn’t it?
I say these things with the love of Christ in my heart for you folks, not bitterness. I pray that the road to wisdom for you is not too hard.
Page 2 of 2 pages < 1 2
Post a Comment