The theory of
evolution as introduced by Charles Darwin 1809-1882 has been greatly accepted
by many Christian and non-Christians as well. According to the Bible book of Genesis,
God created the world in six days. Before this the world was formless and then
God began commanding things into existence. Human beings were the last to be
created by God, according to the Bible. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Genesis.
How did he create the world in just a
matter of days? After
all, he is all powerful god. Why did he created humans beings first? These are
the questions that most people, even some Christians, as in regards to the creation
account in the book of Genesis.
Darwin’s book
The Origin of Species explains in detail how humans, plants and other living
things came into existence. As we grow, the way we think, act and ask questions
when we are young differ from the way we think and do thing during old age.
Darwin’s
theory throws more light on the Christians’ account of creation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EUe_Vfi5IL0.
Darwin’s book never refutes the existence of God. In fact,
it concludes by suggesting that God himself created evolution. You cannot make
something out of nothing. The story about the creation of the world and the
science behind it is complicated. No wonder many philosophers have tried to
understand how the world came into an existence, yet failed. Some Christians do not take it well at all
when science tries to explain that the world was created with a big bang. The
big bang theory states that at one time, there was an explosion of matter. As
time passed, it condensed and became heavy, eventually forming stars, planets,
galaxies, and so forth.
I do not know
if the Biblical account of creation or the big bang theory is the correct one. Who
knows, but you cannot make something out of nothing as I already said. So if I
am to say that 2+3=0, I do not think that any of the mathematicians or scientists
will take it easy on me and they might conclude that something is wrong with my
mind. That is the same way some Christians think about the big bang theory. Who
created the matter? Where was the before it formed into the universe? What was
holding the ball of matter?
These are the questions one needs to ask
before taking a side and the big bang theory fails to answer all of these questions,
even though the theory has widely been accepted. I believe that the sky was
there before the ball of matter and that the force that was holding everything
together was the spirit of God. I believe that God wanted to make sure that before
he formed the earth, it would be ready and able to support humans and other
living things. That might be the reason
why it took so long for the universe to take shape. I believe that as soon as he
saw that the earth could sustain itself, he released his spirit, which is the
gravitational force in the universe.
The
Christians account of creation and the big bang theory might differ in terms of
narration, but they both conclude that there was something before the world and
that something is what many term as “God”.
Christians believe that, but scientists are still trying to understand it. Having a scientific explanation of the
evolution of the world does not mean that we should stop believing about what causes the evolution.
John,
ReplyDeleteYou're on solid ground when you raise skeptical questions about the ultimate genesis of the world, but it begins to get a little shaky under some of your more assertive statements.
"Darwin’s book never refutes the existence of God." No, nor does it ever presume to do so. As we've noted, Darwin himself was probably agnostic. He said the whole God question was ultimately too large for the mind of man. But that's no reason to suspend one's own critical judgment and assessment of the probability of a divine creation in the light of all we've learned and are learning about the origin of species on earth. The origin of life itself does indeed remain a mystery. We should continue our humble inquiries.
"In fact, it concludes by suggesting that God himself created evolution." In an early edition Darwin's editors apparently prevailed upon him to insert reference to a creator near the end of the book. In later editions that reference was excised: "There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”
"You cannot make something out of nothing." You and I can't. Maybe a god couldn't, who knows? And what a universe can ultimately do, we don't know yet either. Our science is in its early innings. Same goes for these questions:
"Who created the matter? Where was the before it formed into the universe? What was holding the ball of matter?"
"I believe that the sky was there before the ball of matter" - as some kind of immaterial Platonic form, or...?
"...the force that was holding everything together was the spirit of God. I believe that God wanted to make sure that before he formed the earth, it would be ready and able to support humans and other living things. That might be the reason why it took so long for the universe to take shape." Might be. These are interesting speculations. Is there any evidence at all to support them? Actually, btw, it didn't take the universe all that long to begin "taking shape," cosmic-calender-wise. From our finite human perspective, of course, it's taken US a long time to take shape. (If you're unfamiliar with my reference here, google "cosmic calendar"-either Carl Sagan's or Neil de Grasse Tyson's version.)
"...there was something before the world and that something is what many term as “God”. Christians believe that, but scientists are still trying to understand it." I think everyone's still trying to understand it. Or, everyone should be trying.
"Having a scientific explanation of the evolution of the world does not mean that we should stop believing about what causes the evolution." Believing about, or inquiring into?
In the end of course, John, and as I suggested n reply to your previous post, we must all decide for ourselves what inconclusively proven "world formula" ultimately makes the most sense to each of us. Let's hope we all can also respect one another's different sensibilities in response to these Big Questions. You're doing a fine job of laying out your own point of view, John. Looking forward to your presentation!