Parkstone

CREATION OR EVOLUTION?

As the 21st century nears its first decade the debate on this issue continues. Put in its most basic terms the question being asked is, does the universe and all that is in it come by the activity of a creator God or just by chance?
That a creation took place in the long distant past was accepted by all groups of humans as revealed by archaeology and written records. Many creation accounts are fantastic, involving mythological creatures and structures. The record in the Bible provides a simple factual account without giving details as to how it was accomplished, but is none the less believable, even in this scientific age. What must be noted in the Genesis record is the use of the words “KIND” and “KINDS”. This seems to be describing a basic life form that can diversify while remaining within its type. With the application of human intelligence to breeding programmes, a wide variety of domesticated animals and plants have been and still are being bred within their kind. This is not evolution, but rather an expression of the great variation present in the genetic makeup of all life.
Since the time that Darwinian Evolution took hold of human thinking and gave an excuse to many to reject God, the basic idea of change has been applied to other areas of scientific investigation as well as political and sociological thinking.
This biological theory now pervades Astronomy, leading to the origin theories resulting in the “Big Bang” concept and then the life of stars from “birth to death”. So we now have an explanation for the existence of the Universe, originating some 15 billion years ago. The one thing missing in this theory is the cause. This omission is rectified in the creation record, Gen. 1:1. God is the cause and is recognised as such in other parts of scripture, Psalm 19:1 and Job 26:7. When the theory is applied to Geology, two aspects become apparent. Firstly the formation and degrading of physical features and secondly, the record in the rocks of various fossilised forms of plants and animals. Darwin was sure that the fossil record would lead to an accurate dating system and evidence of many intermediate forms – the famous “missing links”. The situation has proved to be more complex than that of simply identifying the rock layers of increasing age and has lead to the circular dating of fossils by the rocks and the rocks by the fossils in them. To a creationist it is a simple fact that God created the earth and set in motion the physical laws that govern its behaviour.
Turning then to the fossil record, it should show a gradual change from one life form (kind) to another; from the simplest to the most complex.
This so called macro-evolution being brought about by supposed gradual changes selected from the natural variation seen in all life forms, during the struggle for existence. This theory has never been observed; rather we see sudden “explosions” of life as recorded in the rocks. All fossil organisms are seen to be already complex and their supposed intermediate stages are absent from the record. This brings us back to the kinds referred to in Genesis. Again we stress the need to recognise the evidence of fossils showing variation within their kind and not changing to another kind.
The work of Mendel led to an understanding of the laws of inheritance, while Darwin was still of the time when parental characteristics were thought to “blend” in the offspring. Mendel’s discoveries led to a rethink of Darwin’s basic theory, leading to a new one called “Neo-Darwinism”. Mendel discovered the genetic factors, now called genes, and realised that they did not blend, but rather remained identifiable from generation to generation. Mendel’s laws only explain the micro-evolution within a kind, giving no mechanism for change outside a kind. The idea of gene change (Mutation) was put forward to overcome this deficiency. Beneficial mutations were assumed to be the answer to the lack of major change within the genome, so providing a mechanism for evolution. The search for beneficial mutations has led to the realisation that most mutations lead to structural damage, genetic diseases and even death. The latest estimate relating to mutations is that for every beneficial one,
10 000 are harmful.
When life is observed with the naked eye, microscopes and chemical probes, the impartial person is soon impressed by the evidence of ‘intelligent design’ and then goes on to realise that the complexity is such that chance can not be the cause. It requires a great deal more faith to put our trust in ‘neo Darwinism’ than in a creator God. The benefits that follow give answers to all the basic human questions.
How did we get here?
Why are we here?
Is there more to life than mere existence?
Is there life after death?
The Bible not only makes sense of the Cosmos, it makes sense of our individual lives as well.