Theistic evolution
From RationalWiki
Theistic evolution is a theological concept associated with some versions of Old Earth Creationism which involves accepting the scientific theory of evolution and attempting to reconcile religious beliefs with that theory and with science in general.
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[edit] Areas of acceptance
The approach taken is different from church to church and a wide range of views and nuances are included in the concept. However, the generally accepted idea is that of a deity-assisted abiogenesis followed by an indeterminate amount of time during which evolution took place.
Some form of theistic evolution is the accepted offical position of the largest Christian denomination, the Catholic Church (Pope John Paul II reconciled religion and science somewhat by declaring evolution as "more than a hypotheis" and "compatible with Christianity".), along with many non-fundamentalist protestants and some liberal Muslims.
[edit] Theistic Evolution and Natural Selection
In some interpretations of Theistic Evolution the "evolution" part is assumed to have been carried out wholly by natural selection.
Nevertheless, if this definition is accepted it is not clear how such evolution would be "theistic" as evolution itself would be driven solely by naturalistic causes, as is the trouble with attempting to merge progressive science with pre-existing ideology. If by this definition, only abiogenesis was influenced by a deity the name "theistic evolution" may be inaccurate, as what is really being described is "theistic abiogenesis". A case may be made for this being an example of equivocation. If, in the future, science is capable of demonstrating a path to living organisms via natural selection (nucleic acids certainly have some catalyitic capability as well as the ability to replicate independent of a fully functioning cell so may be an indication of how to bridge between "life" and "non-life") or other naturalistic means
[edit] Theistic Evolution and Guided Evolution
Others feel that this philosophy refers to some form of "guided evolution" whereby God used evolution to create mankind.[1] While yet others hold a position closer to Progressive Creationism and feel that a series of explicit interventions were made. The scale of these interventions is not fully explained and varies. Some may claim that a God will generate whole new organisms (making humans's special and therefore separate to other animals that are wholely natural) while less extreme views may see a god proding atoms in a gene sequence around (i.e., directly causing mutations), giving it a small "helping hand" to be naturally selected and bringing higher lifeforms into existence. A deistic interpretation would say that the universe was set up at the beginning so that higher life would form.
[edit] Theistic Evolution and Intelligent Design
While its adherents are at pains to stress that this is a religious philosophy and not a scientific one it is difficult to see how, in practical terms, this concept of theistic evolution could avoid the objections made to Intelligent Design. Indeed, there are many similarities (or specifically, one BIG similarity); that God intervenes with the evolution and creation of life. Followers maintain the difference lies in the fact that theistic evolution relies primarily on faith while ID claims to be concerned with attempting to find evidence or at least interpret it the right way.
However, both Intelligent Design and Theisic Evolution are, despite the claims of ID supporters, religious ideas. Both would also need periodic or constant, unspecified, and miraculous interventions in order to function in reality.
[edit] Objections to Theistic Evolution
Whichever view of evolution is taken it is clear that most (and probably all) Theistic Evolutionists view mankind as the objective or final goal of the evolutionary process - something which is completely alien to the concept of unguided evolution by natural selection.
[edit] Footnotes
