The Creation-Evolution Debate

• Creationist view – God created man, animals, earth, plants. NO descent from other life forms.

• Evolutionist view – Man, plants, animals descended from simpler life forms like bacteria, amoeba, etc.

• Evolution –a process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse state to a higher, more complex, or better state.

• Creation – the act of bringing the world into ordered existance.

• Does this suggest that man is descended from apes ?

• Faith and Science both seek truth

• Genesis – the story of creation – Does it exclude evolution?

• How long did it take to create the earth, plants, animals, and man? Days or …?

• St. Augustine

– His view of the Genesis was that the universe was not fully formed but could adapt or transform itself according to God’s will.

– Saw creation as a continuing process in which the commands of God were fulfilled progressively not instantaneously.

• Pope Pius XII– Cautions against belief that evolution explains the

origin of living things– Evolution rightfully belongs in the realm of science

where it is not fully proven– Research into evolution with regard to the origins

of the human body as coming from pre-existing and living matter is acceptable

• Can evolution and creation co-exist?

• Kenneth R. Miller – Finding Darwin’s God– As a scientist, I know very well that the earth is billions of

years old and the appearance of living organisms was not sudden but gradual. As a Christian, I believe that Genesis is a true account of the way in which God’s relationship with the world was formed. As a human being, I find value in both descriptions.