Evolution and Christianity

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The riddle of the origin of man has been subject to many ponderings and theories for thousands of years. In America, two theories concerning this timeless question have driven a spike through the general populace. These two beliefs, Evolution and Christianity, have driven a riff through the American populace and fueled several debates and conflicts over which is the truer theory. Incidents such as the decision of the Kansas school board to ban schools from including the Evolution Theory from their curriculum are becoming a tragically frequent and threaten to escalate if not checked soon. However, there is a growing belief in America today in the possibility of believing that evolution is an inescapable fact while still prescribing to Christian faith as well. This radical theology, which seems to meld, distort and expand the theory of Evolution and traditional Christian beliefs, has been termed "Theistic Evolution" by its followers and has emerged as a very respectable alternative to choosing between Evolution and Christianity.

Much of the conflict between Traditional Christian and Evolutionary thought stems from the strict, literal interpretation of the Bible used by many individuals and Church groups. One of the fundamental beliefs that most branches of Christianity share is that God created the world and life as we know it in six days. "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done (Genesis 2:2)." Following this chain of thought, many devout Christians go on to further speculate that according to the Bible, Earth and animal life have only existed for a few thousand years. Evolutionists have attacked this speculation relentless...

... middle of paper ...

.... It is for this reason that alternatives such as Theistic Evolution are becoming more and more available. As Howard Van Till put it, "Christianity and Evolution are not contradictory. They provide different answers to a different set of questions" (Sheler).

Bibliography

Darwin, Charles. The Origin of Species. New York: Avenel Books, 1979. pp. 435-460.

Dorfman, Andrea and Michael D. Lemonick. "Up From the Apes." Time. August 23,

1999. pp. 50-60.

Genesis. Holy Bible: New King James Version. Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Publishers,

1982. Chapter 2, Verse 2.

Sheler, Jeffrey L. (1999). "Is the Bible True?" (Online). USNews Online. November

19, 1999. Available: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/991025/bible.htm

Sunderland, Luther D. Darwin's Enigma. California: Master Book Publishers, 1984. pp.

22-24.

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