Evangelicals divided over evolution

For many evangelical Christians, the debate over teaching evolution in public schools touches a vital spiritual nerve. Some see evolution as a path to perdition, while others see it as a crowning example of God's handiwork.

A legal battle in Dover, Pa., over the teaching of evolution and "intelligent design" has focused new attention on the issue, as have recent proposals in Kansas to change how evolution is taught there.

For David Wilcox, a biology professor at Eastern University, an evangelical college in St. Davids, the challenge is to teach students that it's possible to embrace evolution "without intellectual schizophrenia."

"Frequently, they've been taught that evolution is another way of saying atheism, and they just shut it out," said Wilcox, author of God and Evolution: A Faith-Based Understanding. "They say, 'Why do I have to learn this stuff - don't you know that God hates science?' "

"We have to make them wake up and smell the coffee. God doesn't hate science - he invented it. We try to get them to see that evolution happened and it's not so scary... that evolution is the way God did it."

"Evolutionary theists" such as Wilcox are part of a broader effort by the scientific establishment to defend evolution against advocates of creationism, "intelligent design," and other concepts that challenge all or parts of the theory of natural selection.

Evangelical Christians, sometimes portrayed as monolithic in their opposition to evolution, are as divided as much of the rest of the nation.

"No topic in the world of science and Christianity has created the intensity of discussion and disharmony with evangelicals as the source of biological diversity," says the American Scientific Affiliation, an organization of scientists who are Christians. "Today's spirited discussion often pits Christian vs. Christian and scientist vs. scientist."

The nation's leading science organizations and the vast majority of scientists accept the theory of evolution as the explanation for the origin of all living things, but Americans in general are much less convinced.

Offered three explanations for the origin of humans in a CBS News/New York Times poll six months ago, 13 percent of respondents said they believed "we evolved from less-advanced life-forms over millions of years, and God did not directly guide this process." Twenty-seven percent believed "we evolved from less-advanced life-forms over millions of years, but God guided this process." And 55 percent believed "God created us in our present form." The poll, which questioned 885 people, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Evangelicals who are "young Earth" fundamentalists dismiss evolution and subscribe to a literal interpretation of the Genesis account of creation, believing Earth is less than 10,000 years old. They often see the teaching of evolution as undermining Christianity and paving the way to immorality.

"What you believe about where you came from directly affects your worldview," said Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, a fundamental creationist organization that is building a 50,000-square-foot Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky. "If you can use man's ideas to reinterpret the book of Genesis, then why not use man's ideas to reinterpret morality?"

One of the newest wrinkles in a debate that has percolated ever since Charles Darwin published his On the Origin of Species in 1859 is "intelligent design." That is the concept at the heart of the battle in Dover, 25 miles south of Harrisburg.

Eleven parents have filed a federal lawsuit to stop the Dover school board from requiring biology teachers to present "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolution. The parents say intelligent design is a religious argument and teaching it violates a 1987 U.S. Supreme Court ruling against teaching creationism as science. [Edwards vs Aguillard . ]

Intelligent design holds that natural selection cannot explain all of the complex developments observed in nature and that an unspecified intelligent designer must be involved. Its adherents say it is a scientific, not a religious, concept based on scientific observations, although they acknowledge its theological implications.

Michael Behe, a biochemistry professor at Lehigh University in Bethlehem and the author of Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution, is an intelligent-design proponent and is scheduled to be one of the expert witnesses for the Dover school board when the case goes to trial in the fall.

He says religion is "clearly why [intelligent design] evokes such emotion... . People think it will support their religious views. It's not just another issue of science. If it were, no one would care."

Christian supporters of evolution say intelligent design, while rejecting "young Earth" beliefs, seems to require periodic intervention by the designer.

Kenneth R. Miller, a professor of biology at Brown University, is a Catholic and an ardent proponent of evolution and opponent of intelligent design. The author of Finding Darwin's God, he is to be an expert witness for the parents in the Dover case. [The Flagellum Unspun: The Collapse of "Irreducible Complexity," Kenneth R. Miller. Critique of Behe.]

"I think there is a God, and he is the creator of the universe," Miller said. "But the God of the intelligent-design movement is way too small... . In their view, he designed everything in the world and yet he repeatedly intervenes and violates the laws of his own creation.

"Their God is like a kid who is not a very good mechanic and has to keep lifting the hood and tinkering with the engine."

In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as in most states, school districts are required to teach evolution as part of the science curriculum.

In Pennsylvania, "school districts may inform students of the existence of particular religious viewpoints when the information in conveyed for a secular and educational purpose and is presented objectively," according to Bethany Yenner, an Education Department spokeswoman. "Under no circumstance may an educator or a school district offer opinions on religious viewpoints."

In New Jersey, students "could look at how a variety of religions view a scientific theory," noted Jon Zlock, an Education Department spokesman. "Obviously, more than one religious viewpoint should be explored. It should be done objectively. One religious point of view should not be stressed above others."

Many evangelical Protestants, like many Catholics and other Christians, argue that faith and science complement each other and need not collide over evolution.

The scientific establishment is stepping up its efforts to present evolution as something apart from, not a threat to, religion.

"It's not science vs. religion - that misses the point entirely," said Jay Labov, senior adviser for education and communication for the National Academy of Sciences. "Science cannot begin to look into the supernatural. That's beyond the realm of science."

The president of the National Academy, Bruce Alberts, sent a letter in March to all members of the academy, urging them "to confront the increasing challenges to the teaching of evolution in public schools; your help may be needed in your state soon." [Letter from Bruce Alberts on March 4, 2005. ]

The academy has gathered the signatures of more than 4,000 Christian clergy, including evangelicals, supporting evolution as "a foundational scientific truth." The clergy, in the letter, "ask that science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth."

"If you think there are issues with school boards now, there are going to be a lot more," said Ham, of Answers in Genesis. "Wait till we get the museum finished - you haven't seen anything yet."

"Absolutely false. The chapter doesn't have anything to do with creationism. It has to do with Christ's return. The whole thing."

AND you think Genesis is not about CHRIST?????? Who was the TREE OF LIFE????? It is the BEGINNING where in all that follows comes from what is initially stated "IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND EARTH!!!!!!

Then there is an event described that is discussed in other places such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and PETER!!!

"Here is the chapter. My comments in brackets.

2 Peter 3
1This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
{Peter is writing a letter to a specific group of Christians he refers to as "beloved"} "

Check out what we are told in Ecclesiastes by the Preacher to the man under the sun, plainly speaking of flesh man.....

Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 (11) There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after..

Yet here is Peter stirring up a REMEMBRANCE, come now THINK!!!

"2That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: "

Ah yes those "HOLY PROPHETS" this make what is call the OLD one and the same as the NEW!!! What did the prophets have to say and this includes MOSES.

"3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,"

Accurately describes what we do in fact see today.

"4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
{The subject he is speaking of here...not creationism but the return of the Lord. Not the days of creation, but the days until his return.} "

Really, Peter says man is still doing what he has done since the beginning of the creation, used those words beginning and creation to describe what would be going on. So what was going on then that is still going on today???? This sends the reader to go back to what took place to get a glimpse of that remembrance Peter is seeking to STIR up, that is not given as told to us in Ecclesiastes,

"5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: "

IGNORANT of WHAT, the age of this earth!!!! HELLO!!!!! Oh and John comes to mind when he said who the WORD was and is and will be. Interesting what John's usage of that word WORD.

"6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: {I do not see how this is not referring to Noah, particularly with the previous verses. Noah was mocked when he said God was going to send punishment. He was scoffed at. 120 years he labored without a single convert. Peter is referring to the time of Noah and when the world that was was destroyed by water} "

Well because it is not talking about Noah, because Peter describes Noah in the previous chapter, here Peter is talking about the AGE of the earth that man is ignorant of and wherein it the earth perished. Check out that word perished and its meaning and all the places it is used.

Now Noah was saved for a specific reason, and Christ says that what was going on in the days of Noe (Noah) would be going on again as a sign of HIS coming. DO YOU KNOW WHAT was going on that cause Noah and his family to be the only from Adam that were saved?????

"7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. {Again a reference to God's promise to Noah to never destroy the world by water again. Next time, it will be as by fire} "

Ah that specific time noted as NOW, could we call it a dispensation of TIME know as the FLESH age. Note exactly what was said when the Adam was created, he was nothing until the breathe of life = the soul was place in him. Where did that soul come from as we are not told it was created at the time the flesh was formed from the dust.

"8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. {Not even anywhere near to discussing the 6 days of creation. It is a statement about how time itself is not the issue with God. It may seem long to us [the wait for His return] but in God's economy it is less than a blip on the map}"

This describes what TIME means to the Heavenly Father, break it down one of out days would be like a blink in the eye of the Heavenly Father. The DAY of the Lord is a distinct amount of time. What does it change for each day of creation to have been to us in the flesh a thousand years?

"9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,{What promise? The promise to return} as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. "

Yes, we are to pray for patience as things are on our Heavenly Father's schedule and not ours. Christ said I have foretold you all things and yet we still continue to learn. Note that word "PERISH" used again, study it learn who it applies to and why it is used over and over and over again and to WHOM specifically it denotes. (Hint son of perdition, the only one named that already has a death sentence.)

"10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. {Again, referring to Jesus's return. Not creationism}"

Creationism???? Actually it is a warning, think about it, what would create the condition to cause man in the flesh to be caught unaware of Christ returning. Maybe because as it is written the whole world except for the very elect would be bowing a knee to Baal. That one who was overthrown in Genesis 1:2.

"11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"

Check out what exactly this word "elements" means. What kind of fervent heat destroys flesh and souls????

"13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;"

Peter is in agreement with Paul and oh my what Paul had to say about predestination. How do the two of the fit, cause they sure have tooo after this glowing account of Paul by Peter.

"16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. {one error of such is trying to fit billions of years into the first few chapters of Genesis and making the Bible fit the latest "scientific" trends}"

Considering we are not told the number of years ago when Genesis 1:1 and 2 took place and the earth itself if filled with evidence of an OLD along with Peter telling us not to be ignorant of an OLD earth seems you might need to reconsider exactly what you are missing..... Some call them LINKS!!!

18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

NOW what difference in the scheme of things does it make or change if the days of creation were a literal 24 hours or as Peter tells us they were a thousand years???? Does it change what the Heavenly Father and those who were with Him in the creation??? Aren't we told that all these things were done as signs, so each thing we are told in Genesis is a sign that is part of the story of one man, the Adam, his generations to Christ and those they came in contact with.

"PETER IS NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BLOOMING AGE OF THE EARTH!!!!! Good grief! He's talking about the return of Christ and the judgment that will come upon the earth. People are ignoring it. They are WILLFULLY IGNORANT of the signs we are seeing. They scoff at it. They scoff also at a literal interpretation of the Bible. Let me ask you, why do you believe that the earth is billions of years old?"

Peter clearly says that IIPeter 3:5

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, (this is group number one who believes in a 6,000 year old earth) and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (this is to those who think that this is about Noah's flood).

You are partially correct about this being about Christ's return, it is specifically telling us what we are not to be ignorant of and what people would be doing prior to the return of Christ. Part of not being caught unaware of the return of Christ is the requirement to NOT be ignorant of this earth being of OLD.

The word is fertile and if you don't get it then so be it, as Peter says he is stirring up the remembrance and that would come from He who removed the remembrance in the first place.

Here are a few items that are pre-man in the flesh.

Ezekiel 28 describing Satan

Jeremiah 4:22-31

Revelations 12:4

Jacob and Esau in the womb already having a history.

Job 38 through the rest of the book

Jude

This would be for starters.

When did Satan get the death sentence?????

When did Satan rebel???

When were the souls created, they sure were not described as being newly created in Genesis?

Who was with the Heavenly Father when He said "Let US make man in OUR image.

This will do for starters.

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