It is possible for a Christian to accept evolution

It is possible for a Christian to accept evolution

Evolution and religion are two subjects that try to explain the emergence of life in the universe. However, they provide the world with contrasting information that continues to challenge people to date. The evolutionist believes that there was no creation but the evolution of all living and nonliving things. Some suggest that even religion is a product of evolution. In the contemporary world, people have to choose one worldview over the other because they are not compatible. At the same time, some schools of thought argue that science can explain religion away, while others suggest that the Bible and other religious books can explain some scientific theories. However, there is a section of Christians known as “theistic evolutionists” who believe in the scientific process of evolution. They prove that it is possible to be Christians who accept the scientific theory of evolution.

Evolutionists argue that people, animals, plants, the soul, the mind, and religion are products of evolution. These biologists insist that people cannot escape from their responsibilities to make critical decisions in their lives by taking shelter in divine authority. However, supporters of creation argue that there are only two ways of understanding the presence of being on the universe, and that is God and human-centered worldviews. It asserts that there is no evidence that an organism can evolve from one form to another. They also suggest that there is no evidence to prove that the world is old as evolution scientists would like the world to believe.

A literal reading of Genesis chapter one indicates the creation of the universe in six days, 6000 years ago. On the academic front, theology explains that creation is the work of the creator. On the other hand, evolution is the natural process of using molecules to create a living and nonliving things through chance. In the scientific realm, evolution is the natural process responsible for producing the heavens, the earth, and all living organism, including people. Evolutionary science suggests that a massive explosion known as “The Big Bang” led to the formation of space, time, and matter. Eventually, the changes led to the creation of the stars, moons, planets, and galaxies. According to geological evolution, planet earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago through natural processes, such as volcanic activities and erosion (Class notes 2017). At the same time, biological evolution suggests that inert molecules assembled into living cells whose evolution led to the development of plants and animals, including human beings. Thus, evolution significantly challenges the assertions made by Christians about creation by giving an elaborate plan that led to the formation of the living and nonliving creatures on the universe.

Evolution advances the theory that life is the product of natural selection and mutations that give nonliving material life over an extended period. It suggests that elements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, and others come together to form nonliving materials, such as metals, water, air, and living things, such as people, grass, elephants, birds, and insects. According to evolutionists, changes occur accidentally to the DNA of a person that later mutate into stronger and weaker individuals (Class notes 2017). After that, the environment selects the healthy animals and plants to survive, with the weaker ones losing the battle to the stronger ones. These changes give them the ability to withstand harsh environments that destroy less adaptive individuals.

For most of its history, the church claims that God is the creator of everything, both living and nonliving things. The Bible teaches that the creation began out of nothing. It affirms the concept from the first chapter of the Book of Genesis that avers that God is the creator of the earth and the heavens. It asserts that the trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit purpose to create a universe. Other scriptures in the Bible support the narrative. For example, Psalms 33:6, 9 argues that God made the heavens by the breadth of his mouth. Moreover, Hebrew 11:3 confirms that creation is not made from preexisting materials. Therefore, the creator did not merge two preexisting elements, such as oxygen and hydrogen, to fuse them into the water, but out of nothing.

According to the accounts of Genesis 1, God created all things by proclaiming them into existence. As a result, light, soil, air, vegetation, the stars, the moon, and people came into existence. The early church denounced the atomic theory suggests that everything existing in the world is the result of a collision of atoms that develops by chance into something tangible. Most Christian denominations, such as Roman Catholicism (325), Eastern Orthodoxy (1054), and Protestantism (1517), believe in the concept of creation. Although they differ on some of their statements of belief, they do not doubt the centrality of biblical teachings to their faith. The only time there was a challenge to this authority was during a period that witnessed the emergence of liberal Christianity. It was a school of thought that rejects the belief of the Apostle’s Creed and argues that Jesus was not a messiah, but an enlightened man. They also taught that the Bible was an inspiration literature written by human beings only. However, the idea was challenged in the early 20th century by Christian fundamentalists. These groups encouraged Christians to revert to the teachings of the Bible.

The fundamentalist type of Christianity challenged liberal Christianity in the early 20th century. The group viewed science as a threat to the existence of religion. Therefore, they understood science as an enemy of faith. Its adherence in the United States in 1920 began to demand strict adherence to strict biblical liberalism and hold anti-evolution campaigns.  Therefore, religion and science began as a conflict. Over time, adherents of both groups are learning to coexist. Although they do not fully agree with each other, they appreciate that each idea has some truths in it that they cannot ignore.

The creation is imperfect, showing that there are areas that require some improvements. For example, there are some blind spots in the human eye. Parasites threaten the survival of all living animals. Predators are cruel and destroy farmlands that people rely on their survival. They can cause food shortages and famine in some regions of the world. According to Ayala, the process of natural selection (evolution) can continually improve some species to ensure that they add value to the environment. Most science-savvy Christians argue that God continues to create changes in the real world through the process of natural selection (Class notes, 2017). They imply that creation is a continuous process that seeks to improve its products.

Today, there are Christians known as “theistic evolutionists” who believe in the scientific concept of evolution. They believe in the existence of God that created the universe and the life therein. They understand that biological evolution is a natural process that follows the patterns established by the creator. According to this school of thought, evolution is one of the methods that God uses to develop human, animal, and plant life. In most cases, the theistic evolution refers to all forms of all evolutions, including in astronomy, chemical, biological, and geological evolutions (Class notes 2017). However, theistic evolution is not a scientific theory, but a specific world view that explains the relationship between science and religion. Theistic evolutionists argue that scientific methods and religious teachings can coexist and explain the existence of life in the universe.

“Theistic evolution” is famous among most of the Christian denominations. It is acceptable to the Catholics, the Episcopal Church USA, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, among other leading protestant denominations. At the same time, Jewish and Buddhists believe in the ideas that the concept espouses (Class notes 2017). Prominent Christian and scientists insist that the warfare between science and religion is unnecessary. For example, protestant evangelist Billy Graham said that there was no conflict between science and the scriptures. He argues that the scriptures are correct to insist that all living and nonliving things are God’s creation. What was essential to this preacher was that the method of invention did not matter and could be evolution. What is critical is that God is the creator of the universe. As a result, the preacher insists that Christians must develop an individual relationship with their God. In his opinion, that is the true religion.

Religion and evolution indeed differ on the subject of creation. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Jews believe that the presence of living and nonliving things on the surface of the earth is a result of divine creation. However, some scientists think that it was the result of evolution. These conflicting points of view have led to the emergence of a middle ground by a group of Christians known as “theistic evolutionists.” These groups of Christians accept that it is possible to be Christians to believe in evolution. They do this by following the advice of evangelist Billy Graham in recognizing that God is the creator who may have used evolution to bring all things into existence. However, the most critical issue for a Christian is to have a personal relationship with their maker.