Indent said:
If evolution is one of the strongest explanatory theories in any academic field, I mean, the evidence is simply overwhelming, how do Christians reconcile this?
From my experience, Christians reconcile this in one of two ways.
One is to recognize the One Creator God of the Universe as Eternal and having created (from scratch, from nothing) the entire Universe. This includes all physical things, like stars, planets, comets, nebulae, posies, puppies and people (list not all inclusive). This includes all 'foundational' things, like the laws of nature; gravity, electro-magnetism, the weak and strong nuclear forces and stuff like how - on Earth at least - moving water causes erosion, plate tectonics. Not to mention arithmetic, lift characteristics and even rules of chemistry, moving bodies, harmony in sound and how to make brownies.
It includes 'evolution' as it exists as well.
Way number two is to hide from everything and keep repeating "God didit! God didit! God didit! God didit!" (Which is true as far as it goes, but it doesn't really explain anything, especially the 'how' of things.)
Indent said:
What about the Biblical scholars that generally dismiss Genesis as a "historical" representation... but rather "myth" (however you want to define that)?
There are at least two ways to consider that, as well. Bear in mind I haven't discussed this with 'every' person who espouses this view; and the same with the other side.
One is the group who actually favor the no-god or 'clockmaker god' solution. They aren't really Christian, or much anything else; perhaps 'humanist'. They don't want a 'god' around, especially one who is all powerful, controls all of history and tells them what they can and cannot do to live a full and prosperous (by God's terms) life.
The second group sees the Genesis account as true in underlying substance, but a rather simplified version comprehensible to humans with no understanding of anything more complicated than the lever and pottery. And taking care of animals.
The Genesis account established God as Eternal and Creator - thereby owner and manager, so to speak - of the Universe. Also, the creator of humanity. However, the account is simplified. (Most people currently don't grasp how the Earth is continually 'falling' into the Sun. Or how volcanoes work from the inside.)
Indent said:
I understand I'm courting "controversy" here, but I'd genuinely like to hear this, supposedly, untouchable theological answer.
Oh, brother! Be glad those who differ cannot burn you at the stake right now. The people who burnt Giordano Bruno for suggesting the Sun is 'just' a star have ideological offspring around still.