Evolution - A Coherent Worldview?

This past week, I’ve heard from a few students that they are taking classes that in some way will discuss the idea of evolution. For many Christian students, this is a scary subject. The theory, simply stated, offers that from the dawn of the universe, atoms bonded to form molecules, these molecules bonded forming more intricate forms and this went on and on until, through natural selection (read "survival of the fittest"), organisms formed, changed, and eventually we came to exist. So, your great (x100,000) grandfather was a leech or a mold or a bird or a monkey.

Certainly, this is a cursory explanation of evolution, but it gives us the foundation for some thoughts on it. My first encouragement - be bold and know that it is good to be in a place where your ideas are being challenged. It will strengthen you like lifting weights would. James says that we are to persevere and that through this, God will make us mature, lacking nothing. That is what we all want, isn’t it?

So what do we do with the theory of evolution? Often, I see Christians battle with Ph.D.s in biology about the science of the theory. This may be an effective method for some people, but I would offer that many of us know too little to interact with a professor effectively at that level. Here are some ideas that may offer you insights into how to talk to your teacher about evolution.

1. Start off by not stating that "the Bible says...". Why not? Well, that is not the Scriptural method of sharing Jesus. Take a look at Paul in Acts 17. He eventually gets to the Word of God, but He doesn’t start there. He meets the philosophers of Athens on their soil and without making them too defensive. Though the Bible is Truth, it isn’t truth to many professors, so starting off by talking about the Bible often makes people think, "Well, he/she is a Bible-thumper. Can’t really discuss evolution with this person." There is an Indian proverb that says, "There’s no use cutting off someone’s nose and then giving him a rose to smell." If Jesus is the rose, than scaring your professor with the Bible may just cut of his or her nose. Rather than approach it from Scripture directly...

2. Ask good questions of your professor. This is Jesus’ method of handling tough discussion. "Good Master, what must I do to gain eternal life?" Jesus responds, "Why do you call Me good? There is none good but God." "Should we pay taxes to Caesar?" Jesus’ response? - "Whose face is on the coin?"

   If you can come up with a few good questions to ask your professor in front of the class, you will gain points with the teacher as being engaged and insightful. That will open up more discussion later on. Also, do your homework. You have no right to talk about a difference in opinion if you don’t even do what is expected of you as a student.

3. Know some facts. Here is an interesting one. First, evolution does not allow for objective ethics. If we are animals, and animals are allowed to kill and be killed according to strength/might alone, then we have no reason to say that a student killing all his or her classmates for their money and clothes is wrong. That person is simply applying "survival of the fittest" to his life, and he should - he’s an animal after all. A professor might argue against this, but one of the most well respected evolutionary biologists, Richard Dawkins, author of The Blind Watchmaker, admits that it is true. He says we are all "dancing to our DNA". William Provine from Cornell University, another big name, would also agree that there are truly no ethics that are universal or objective. That is just one example of good questions to ask. Look into Phillip Johnson’s books Darwin on Trial and Defeating Darwinism, or Michael Behee’s Darwin’s Black Box for more insight.

The bottom line is that evolution doesn’t work. We are not just animals and we all know this. Could God have used this method to create us? Sure, but the Scriptures say He made us "in His image". We are fearfully and wonderfully made the Psalmist tells us. And remember, the nose and the rose. If you try to destroy an opponent, you may win the discussion but you may lose the battle. Love people and guide people, and the Holy Spirit will bring them into the Kingdom.

Have more questions? Contact me at daxhiker44@hotmail.com

- Tim Carpenter, Campus Ministry, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at UNH