Creation is Scientific but Evolution is Religious

Creation is Scientific but Evolution is Religious

Author: Doug Sharp
Subject: Philosophy
Date:

“Evolution is scientific, but creationism is religious!” So goes the argument you hear often from evolutionists.

I don’t think Christians should deny that creationism is “religious” in its motivation. If you define “religious” as having its ultimate goal in serving and worshipping God, there really isn’t any way we can or should take issue with that. But, in the same sense of the word, evolution is also “religious” in the worship of its own gods.

The whole purpose of the study of origins is the search for God or the denial of Him, depending on your point of view. Both are religious in nature, since neither can be verified by scientific experimentation. But, creation is more scientific, since it doesn’t violate any known scientific laws. In contrast, evolution requires much more “faith” since it bucks up against the laws of thermodynamics and probability. The molecular machines that manufacture proteins in fractions of a second can be contrasted with man’s attempt to duplicate it. To synthesize proteins, it requires a team of brilliant scientists, a large quantity of expensive chemical reagents, hundreds of steps, automated equipment and months of planning.

Predictions based upon the theory of evolution are not a reflection of reality. For example, fossils and strata are found in the wrong order, DNA content of certain animals does not follow the evolutionary pattern, and interdependence between organisms defies evolutionary explanation.

If the theory of evolution were true, it would be difficult to classify organisms, since there would be so many intermediate forms. Instead, all animals can be classified into distinct “kinds”, separated genetically by barriers in breeding.

A CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS EVOLUTIONISTS

Because the creation-­evolution issue is so complex, a Christian should approach the subject with caution and prayer. Many Christians choose to ignore the issue, saying, “I really don’t need to know how God created the world. I just know He did.”

I don’t have any problem with that statement, except that such a person will never be any help to an unbeliever who stumbles over evolution. Invariably, when a Christian shares his faith with other people, most of the time he will encounter the evolution issue. Those who are not ready to point others to the truth will be ineffective in their witness.

Other Christians cause a lot of damage by promoting their own pet theories without giving the matter proper research and thought. The resulting theory is neither scientific nor good theology. These people end up dividing the body of Christ and causing confusion. Many strange doctrines and cults have come from compromising with “science falsely so called.”

A cult-­like attitude on the part of well meaning Christians is another hindrance to the truth. If a person exhibits a moralistic or judgmental attitude, he immediately turns people off. Sharing our faith can be delicate; it involves an attitude that the other person is precious in the sight of God and immensely valuable, far more than gold or silver. A condemning or negative attitude is like throwing gold and silver in the trash. We must never try to “win” a debate, or condemn the evolutionist personally.

Rather, we should endeavor to separate the false doctrine from the person. Often a Christian will be so caught up in self-defense that he forgets the business God has called him to do. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and rulers of darkness. We hate the deception of the theory of evolution, but we should not hate those who are deceived. They should instead be the objects of our Christian love. A Christian with a persecution complex never wins anyone to Christ.

UNDERSTANDING THE EVOLUTIONIST

The motivation of the evolutionist is religious in nature, not scientific, since the goal is to define all phenomena in naturalistic terms. His “god”, so to speak, is man. His doctrine is that man is the highest ascent of the struggle of evolution, and that he’s the master of his own destiny.

An illustration of this was a quotation I saw on a chemistry professor’s office door, which said that if a student told him he wanted to go into the study of science to better mankind that he would advise him rather to go into charity.

“Science needs egotists, true egotists, who love science strictly for its own sake.”

When they make the statement that evolution is scientific, but creation is religion, evolutionists set the boundaries by defining the terms of the debate. If creationists use scientific evidence to bolster their arguments, this evidence is dismissed if it points to God since it is outside of their definition. Scientists have a tendency to be enamored with the scientific method. The more they discover, the more they want to think that they are their own “god.” Theories or facts that conflict with that idea are pushed aside.

The reason the doctrine that the present is key to the past (uniformitarianism) became popular was not because of the scientific evidence, but that it is a convenient way to push God as far away in space and time as possible. Theistic evolutionists try to retain a mechanistic view of the universe, created and set in motion by God, then abandoned. Atheists push God out of the picture entirely. George Gaylord Simpson, in his book Life of the Past writes this assertion of the evolutionist:

“Man stands alone in the universe, a unique product of a long, unconscious, impersonal material process with unique under-standing and potentialities. These he owes to no one but himself, and it is to himself that he is responsible. He is not the creature of uncontrollable and undeterminable forces, but his own master. He can and must decide and manage his own destiny”.

The theory of evolution reinforces a scientist’s self worship. If man is a product of the “long, unconscious, impersonal material process of evolution”, he thinks he somehow can take credit for his own position, and do things his own way.

He reasons: “Why should I need God? I am a self-made man!”

The religion of evolution has its own doctrines, traditions, lifestyle, and culture. Social Darwinism is the logical extension of the theory of evolution, which manifests itself in many different philosophies and religions. Examples of these are:

* The “do your own thing” philosophy.
* The “survival of the fittest, and I am the fittest” mentality.
* The “rugged individual” type of capitalism (like Ayn Rand).
* New Age movement.
* Rosicrucianism.
* Theosophy.
* Spiritism.
* Satanism.
* Marxism.
* Socialism.
* Racism.
* Nazism.

Since most people who consider Christianity start reading at the beginning of the Bible, I believe that there is a vigorous spiritual attack on Genesis. It is no wonder that such an elaborate theory has sprung up and maintained itself for 150 years in spite of the overwhelming scientific evidence against it.

If Genesis can be placed in doubt, the fall of man and the need for salvation is placed in doubt. The evolution question is not a side issue. It is central to the understanding of God’s word!

In Romans chapter 1, a picture is painted of those who proceed down the reprobate road. Romans 1:18­-20 tells us that they hold the truth in unrighteousness, because God has already shown it unto them through His creation. Therefore, they are without excuse. There is no excuse for unbelief!

They become vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart is darkened. As they profess to be wise, they become fools. Instead of worshipping God, they begin to worship man and animals. At a certain point, God gives them over to their own lusts, and they become captive to their own sinful desires.

We should be aggressive in explaining God’s creation to people. It is clear from scripture that the denial of God as Creator is the first signpost on the reprobate road. If Genesis is made real to people, more of them will come to Christ. If they see that they have no argument, God is able to work upon their heart.

RECOGNIZING EVOLUTIONARY BIAS

Evolutionary bias can take many forms, and it is important that we recognize the different arguments and tactics that are used on Christians. One of the most common is the bandwagon approach. The bandwagon tactic tries to get you to believe that all thinking people believe the theory of evolution, and the only ones who believe in creation are fanatics.

Of course, we should recognize first of all that a majority opinion does not always determine truth. Second, people on the bandwagon think that they are the majority opinion only because they make the most noise.

The bandwagon is a typical ploy we need to be aware of, not only when dealing with the creation issue, but in all aspects of life. We tend to feel intimidated if we are in the minority. But we also need to realize that the scriptures tell us “Broad is the way that leads to destruction, but strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life.” We should expect that those who hold to the truth to be few.

The barrage approach is another weapon often used against creationists. Questions are asked in a rapid-fire manner to try and confuse the speaker in a debate. Such people are usually loud and rude, and don’t let the speaker answer at all.

If you find yourself in such a situation, your only recourse may be to confront the person and expose the barrage as pure rudeness. For the sake of others listening, you will have to get tough with him and show him that by such behavior, he is not searching for truth but trying to win an argument.

Censorship of the creationist position is another tactic used by evolutionists. People who write science textbooks, or who write laws against the teaching of creationism use active censorship.

Passive ignorance of the issue is also a way creationists are discriminated against. Often, critical facts supporting creation are ignored in the textbooks, or if they are mentioned at all, they are glossed over, dismissed, or ridiculed.

Ad Hominem is a tactic that tries to discredit the person to focus attention away from the real issues.

The hasty conclusion is a fallacious argument that draws a conclusion based upon scanty evidence. For example, we could observe that the first ten people that exit a church are wearing red pants. The hasty conclusion would be that all church members wear red pants.

What can a Christian do to find the truth? First of all, he must be able to separate fact from opinion. Underline in red all guesswork words such as probably, perhaps, maybe, could have, and so forth.

Some science books will look like they have the measles.

Keep a lookout for facts that contradict evolution, of which there are plenty. For example, a textbook on biochemistry stated that fish had 25 times as much DNA as some mammals! Write these statements down in a notebook and collect them. Underline assumptions, write them down and test them to see if they are valid.

Another problem, which adds to the student’s frustration, is the overuse of scientific jargon and unpronounceable words, burying him in a sea of confusion. Typically, evolutionists will have the tendency to redefine commonly used terms to mean something else. This is called obfuscation, and it is a tactic that is not only used against creationists, but it is used to create a general state of insanity.

Another particularly virulent strain of this disease is the paper which is made up of nothing but mathematical equations strung together by “and” and “therefore” with incomprehensible charts and graphs. To cut through all of the clutter, a student can ask himself these questions:

* What are the assumptions?
* Are the assumptions valid?
* What are the conclusions?
* Are the conclusions valid?
* How did he get from the assumptions to the conclusions?
* Is this paper worth reading at all?

Creationists also need to avoid this type of writing. It makes no sense to write something if you are going to lose your audience. Obfuscation is usually the result of a hyperactive ego, not high intelligence. It is possible for a scientist, if he takes the time, to make his writing understandable and easy to read.

DEVELOPING A METHOD OF STUDY

If a Christian student is going to succeed in his study of science, he needs to maintain a positive attitude. The best way to do this is to pray for a godly perspective on all of his studies, seeking to find evidence for God in everything he or she observes.

Part of the reason why many people find the study of science dry and boring is because its purpose has been lost. The early scientists were motivated to scientific observation by their faith in God. We should strive to think God’s thoughts after Him. There is so much of His creation still waiting to be discovered, and so much of His nature to find out and explore.

A Christian student should be marked by quality. Strive for excellence in everything. Try to live up to the expectations of the teacher, even though you may not agree with him. A test is no place to try to witness by giving an answer with which the teacher doesn’t agree.

We cannot expect everyone to agree with us. Do not be dismayed when you encounter opposition to your beliefs. Instead, rejoice! (James 1:2). If you want to disagree with your teacher, do it in an attitude of love and respect. Don’t give him a chance to stereotype you as fanatic. Make sure your behavior is beyond reproach.

Isolate what is important to learn, and what is not. There is a trick to cutting through to the heart of an issue. Highlight important points in your books by using a marker if you own the book. Take notes and organize them into a logical order.

The Christian student should be marked with CIQ: creativity, integrity, and quality. Depend upon the Lord for insights, ideas, and fresh approaches whenever you are given an assignment.

Keep everything honest and do your own work, don’t plagiarize or copy the work of others. Give ten percent extra on each assignment, and it will be multiplied a hundred fold.

SHARING CREATION WITH OTHERS

Do not be dismayed when you encounter a question you cannot answer. If you don’t know the answer, don’t try to fake it. Admit that you are not omnipotent, and don’t know everything. If you are able to, spend time researching the question until you do find the answer. Often, this can be a time of deep spiritual growth.

It is common for a scoffer to zero right in on a question or a subject you know nothing about. If you don’t know the answer, offer to research the answer for him and get back with him. If he declines, he probably doesn’t want to hear it anyway, or wouldn’t want to discuss it even if you had known the answer. Above all, don’t despair. When we get to heaven, God won’t give a test and expect us to have all of the answers before He lets us in.

Another thing to remember: use creationism as a vehicle to lead others to Christ. Creationism can be like salt: it adds spice to the discussion and captures interest. Don’t forget to move on into talking about Jesus, and don’t get sidetracked into a long debate about creation and evolution. Salt by itself makes a terrible meal. Likewise, creationism will only serve its purpose if it is served up in small quantities.

We need to concentrate on meeting the spiritual needs of the person. If we can come up with the proper explanation that satisfies a person’s intellectual questions, we can remove major barriers that hinder him from receiving God’s word. Once the barriers are removed, don’t forget to share the gospel!

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