How to deal with evolution?

[arunma]

Regarding my mathematical biology class, I seem to have found myself in a possible dilemma. As a Christian who believes that the Bible is the inerrent words of God, I obviously do not believe in evolution. Unfortunately, I may have to write a final paper on a topic regarding evolution. Now, I'm not one to preach creationism, since such discussions often cause the Gospel to take a back seat. But by no means does this mean that I actually believe in any form of evolution. Since Jesus must be the Lord of our lives in all areas, I obviously cannot compartmentalize religion and science, and ignore the words of God while in the classroom.

Fortunately, it happens to be the case that I could easily choose a topic which doesn't involve evolution, so this dilemma isn't too significant of an issue. But it has raised the question in my mind: how is a Christian to deal with this?

 

[Phileoeklogos]

Hello Arunma, glad to get a chance to finally interact with you, I've lurked here a good while and read many of your posts, just call me Phil, glad to make your acquaintance.

To answer your question, I am not a scientist or in the company of scientists often, so any conversations I have in this area are normally with average joes like myself, so my answer to them is " I'm a Christian, I don't believe in evolution, and beyond any other reason I could give, I don't believe in evolution because I don't have any Biblical support for it".

Which normally leads to having to answer the follow up objections to the first answer with the following statement, " Explain to me how inanimate matter becomes living matter, and then we have grounds for evolution to be a possibilty, until then, evolution has no place to start ".

I don't think even the scientist has a real arguement for that, some may say that evolutionists don't concern themselves with origin, I'd have to reply " I understand why ", but if they want to argue for the inanimate becoming animate, I'd have to find out why they would object to the Resurrection of Jesus, it seems to me that if there is a mathematical possibility of the inanimate becoming animate, then the possibilty of reanimation should be greater.

 

[BigNorsk]

I really don't understand why you have a problem writing something on the theory of evolution.

Let's look at something a little closer to physics for a minute. As you know, no one has been able to reconcile quantum mechanics and relativity. Einstein spent the last years of his life trying to do so but he wasn't able to.

So lets say as a physicist you decide that you believe that quantum mechanics is correct, it is the truth.

Are you therefore unable to write a paper on the theory of relativity?

I wouldn't think so.

So we are back to the question, why would you be unable to write a paper on the theory of evolution? There is no good reason for that.
Let's use another example. Let's say you take a class on religions of the world. You are assigned to write a paper on Hinduism. Are you unable to do so because you don't believe Hinduism is correct?

You are creating a problem in your mind that doesn't exist. There are a lot of teachers who teach the theory of evolution more as though it was the law of evolution but that is to their discredit. I would think you as a physicist, who would study both theories and laws, would recognize the difference. Often biologists don't.

Marv

 

[Joykins]

It's always quite mind-bending to write a paper or speech one doesn't quite agree with.

I took a speech course where we had to do a persuasive speech on one side or another on a topic. I picked a side that I really didn't totally agree with (animal experimentation, pro), but I managed to be quite persuasive, and had research to back me up.

I think it's more of a lawyerly skill than a scientific one. The key is being really, really dispassionate. Lots of passive voice. There is no YOU there.

 

[tamtam92]

I had to study evolution for the baccalaureate (high school french degree). So at the exam, i explained everything as i had learned, with conditional tenses, and beginning with "according to evolution theory, it would...", etc. Being able to explain evolution doesn't mean you believe it, just as Marv pointed out.

And yet i fully understand your reluctance. I face about the same problem... and i'm studying computer engineering! There are some links with biology and psychology, and as the french scientists are always attached to evolution, they're inspired by it too. I find it disturbing too, but i just have to do with it. And eventually i'm getting more towards mathematics... lol. I wish i could find a theory inspired by creation... but in fact everything an engineer does is sort of creation, isn't it?

 

[JPPT1974]

There are things that don't exist
But only the Lord has created everything
As well as everybody in the world
Because we are His
All His!!

 

[constance]

Have you read "Inherit the Wind"? It was a play, it might be a movie too.

My sister is a Fundamentalist, and a Biology teacher. She understands that evolution theory fits within God's design.

Constance

 

[DawnTillery]

Same but not the same.. I am writing a paper about cotton and i look stuff up and it talks about the first findings etc etc.. and it doesnt line up.. But i have to write it.. Think about it as writing a fiction paper for a class for a grade. Do you get a paragraph for your opinion, put it in there.
with my degree I have to take a lot of science classes and usually find my professors as nonbelievers, doesn't change my opinion, stand firm in the words of God, and sometimes I just wonder at the amazement of Gods work as we study the earth, etc etc... Science proves nothing right, if they cant find a reason why its false (and believe me they arent looking very hard) then it "MUST" be true..

I did take a bio test on evolution and it was the worse grade i got in the class, because I just couldnt study for it, but I have to keep going to get the degree, just remember once you get your degree as I will, let us give something back to the world (God's word shown in our lives) God Bless and you're not alone
READ BELOW

This is a true story of something that happened just a few years ago at USC.
There was a professor of philosophy there who was a deeply committed atheist.
His primary goal for one required class was to spend the entire semester to
prove that God couldn't exist.

His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his impeccable
logic. Sure, some had argued in class at times, but no one had ever really gone
against him because of his reputation.

At the end of every semester on the last day, he would say to his class of 300
students, "If there is anyone here who still believes in Jesus, stand up!"

In twenty years, no one had ever stood up. They knew what he was going to do
next. He would say, "Because anyone who believes in God is a fool. If God
existed, he could stop this piece of chalk from hitting the ground and
breaking. Such a simple task to prove that He is God, and yet He can't do it."

And every year, he would drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and
it would shatter into a hundred pieces.

All of the students would do nothing but stop and stare.

Most of the students thought that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a number of
Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years, they had been too afraid to
stand up.

Well, a few years ago there was a freshman who happened to enroll.
He was a Christian, and had heard the stories about his professor.
He was required to take the class for his major, and he was afraid. But for
three months that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the
courage to stand up no matter what the professor said, or what the class
thought.

Nothing they said could ever shatter his faith...he hoped.

Finally, the day came! The professor said, "If there is anyone here who still
believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the class of 300 people looked at
him, shocked, as he stood up at the back of the classroom.

The professor shouted, "You FOOL!!! If God existed, he would keep this piece of
chalk from breaking when it hit the ground!"

He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped out of his fingers,
off his shirt cuff, onto the pleat of his pants, down his leg, and off his
shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled away unbroken. The professor's
jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked up at the young man, and then
ran out of the lecture hall.

The young man who had stood, proceeded to walk to the front of the room and
shared his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed and
listened as he told of God's love for them and of His power through Jesus.
God Bless You

 

[catch21wide]

I had sort of the same problem in High School. The teacher wanted us to write a paper on evolution and its effects on science. After class, I went to her and said that I don't believe in evolution and when it is taught that the information goes in one ear and out the other regardless of what the State says(State law requires that evolution be taught ). I said that if I had to write a paper on evolution, I would rebuke everything evolution had to say with Biblical teachings. I could tell she was agitated, but she also saw that I was serious. I wasn't the only one that felt that way. She allowed it and she was impressed with my paper. My stand on this issue is that if you don't believe in evolution, talk to the professor about it, even if he or she is an evolutionist. Pray and ask God for guidance on this issue and I'm positive He will lead you to the Right decision.

 

[handmaiden97]

I think you have a wonderful oppertunity to write a paper on creation and the scientifice evidence that back it up...you can write a paper on the evolutionist theories that have been disproven...There are many great websites you can use....pm me if you need any.

if your paper is well written and throughly reserched, if it is scientifice in its content and not just writtien "I believe cause the Bible says"....but say I believe the Bible is true when it says, and here is the scientific evidences to support that belief. If it is written acoridnign the the classes specifications then it has too be graded on those same specification and you cant get a bad greade just because your teacher does not agree. I think it is a great opertunity to speak up for truth!!!

 

[arunma]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

I think you have a wonderful oppertunity to write a paper on creation and the scientifice evidence that back it up...you can write a paper on the evolutionist theories that have been disproven...There are many great websites you can use....pm me if you need any.

if your paper is well written and throughly reserched, if it is scientifice in its content and not just writtien "I believe cause the Bible says"....but say I believe the Bible is true when it says, and here is the scientific evidences to support that belief. If it is written acoridnign the the classes specifications then it has too be graded on those same specification and you cant get a bad greade just because your teacher does not agree. I think it is a great opertunity to speak up for truth!!!

You know, you've given me an interesting idea. Unfortunately, this paper is worth the majority of my grade for the class. But as I said earlier, it wasn't that big of an issue, since in this case, I could simply choose a topic that has nothing to do with evolution. Perhaps I could write two papers, one for a grade (having nothing to do with evolution, of course), and one for an explanation of why I do not believe in evolution. Do you think this would be a good way to witness to Christ? Or would it simply be seen as foolishness?

 

[catch21wide]

I think it would be a wonderful way to witness the name of Jesus Christ. By writing the paper, you may be able to get the professor to learn more about Jesus and the Bible at the same time. If you decide this front, I as a fellow believer in Christ support you and I will pray for you and I will pray that through your hand, another life will be saved by the grace of God.

 

[United]

Regarding my mathematical biology class, I seem to have found myself in a possible dilemma. As a Christian who believes that the Bible is the inerrent words of God, I obviously do not believe in evolution. Unfortunately, I may have to write a final paper on a topic regarding evolution. Now, I'm not one to preach creationism, since such discussions often cause the Gospel to take a back seat. But by no means does this mean that I actually believe in any form of evolution. Since Jesus must be the Lord of our lives in all areas, I obviously cannot compartmentalize religion and science, and ignore the words of God while in the classroom.

Fortunately, it happens to be the case that I could easily choose a topic which doesn't involve evolution, so this dilemma isn't too significant of an issue. But it has raised the question in my mind: how is a Christian to deal with this?

Hi there arunma,

There are some christians who believe that the Bible is the inerrent and literal word of God, while still believing in the theory of evolution. I would be reluctant to proclaim christianity by refuting evolution.

 

[JPPT1974]

Hi there arunma,

There are some christians who believe that the Bible is the inerrent and literal word of God, while still believing in the theory of evolution. I would be reluctant to proclaim christianity by refuting evolution.

Yeah you are right about that
The Bible is God's Word
Nothing can and will ever compromise that at all!

 

[PrincetonGuy]

As a biologist I believe in the theories of natural selection and evolution. As a Christian I believe that we have all sinned and have all come short of the glory of God, and that Jesus died in our place for our sins so that through faith in Him our sins are forgiven and we are empowered by God’s grace to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Evolution belongs to the realm of the natural sciences; salvation belongs to the realm of the Christian faith. Those who suppose there to be a conflict between the two typically don’t know very much about either of them. Believing in both of them should be no more difficult than to park a Chevy and a Ford in the same garage.

 

[Soldat_fur_Christ]

As a biologist I believe in the theories of natural selection and evolution. As a Christian I believe that we have all sinned and have all come short of the glory of God, and that Jesus died in our place for our sins so that through faith in Him our sins are forgiven and we are empowered by God’s grace to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Evolution belongs to the realm of the natural sciences; salvation belongs to the realm of the Christian faith. Those who suppose there to be a conflict between the two typically don’t know very much about either of them. Believing in both of them should be no more difficult than to park a Chevy and a Ford in the same garage.

Yea, but then you're kind of going against what Genesis states. Now I'm not against 'microevolution' or the adaptation, because we have all sorts of dogs, cats, etc. But the part about the amoebe's or whatever they were being the start of life, and everything evolving from there, just doesn't make sense. How can things have enough mutations to make us what we have now? Granted, like I mentioned, we have the variation among us, dogs, cats, etc... but a fish turning into a land walker, becoming something else... etc. It just can't work that way. Biology class is a joke whenever we have to read about it. Also, if evolution like that did happen, then death would have been in the world before sin... which is going against God's word. Remember in Genesis, nothing alive (animals) died before sin came in. Everything was supported by the plant life on earth. Humans, animals; Dinosaurs, aquatic life, etc... Also the Bible should be regarded as the innerant word of God. It was divinely inspired, he helped the people write it. So why would God lie? Wouldn't he have told us that we evolved? There's nowhere in the Bible that supports that.

 

[trinityisunity]

AMEN AMEN AMEN to what Soldut fur Christ said. I call it "EVILution" because it is satans way of totally destroying the truth of a God designed creation.I am passionate about this subject of creation versus EVILution and I totally believe that God created this universe and everything in it. I have attended some Creation Science seminars where the creation theory was presented beyond refute.I refuse to ever believe we came from pond slime or monkeys. We were created by a Loving, Caring God.

 

[arunma]

As a biologist I believe in the theories of natural selection and evolution. As a Christian I believe that we have all sinned and have all come short of the glory of God, and that Jesus died in our place for our sins so that through faith in Him our sins are forgiven and we are empowered by God’s grace to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Evolution belongs to the realm of the natural sciences; salvation belongs to the realm of the Christian faith. Those who suppose there to be a conflict between the two typically don’t know very much about either of them. Believing in both of them should be no more difficult than to park a Chevy and a Ford in the same garage.

Well, I don't think that one is a "bad Christian" for believing in evolution. Nonetheless, I think an honest reading of the Scriptures would suggest special creation. As a fellow scientist, and more importantly, as a Christian, I do respect your opinion, even though I do not personally believei in evolution.

 

[Tappanga]

Hey arunma!

Dr David Reagan (non-denom pastor who focuses on end times) had a good program about it recently. You can search his site lamblion.com for evolution and find many useful Christian articles.

Also, recently a Christian friend at work and myself were talking about evolution (I was explaining how I didn't believe in it, and something I add with non-Christians in addition to God is that all science has to be PROVEN. We can't recreate evolution in a lab, now can we?) and she said her thirteen year old daughter said something about evolution that was wonderful. She said, "Mom, if some believe that we are evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?"

I'm not guiding you, but I think if it were me, I'd show the Christian views on evolution.

 

[AutumnAnne]

Focus on the family has some really good resources for this stuff. We bought two DVDs recently.. One was called Icons Of Evolution, and the other was Unlocking the Mystery of Life. I'm tempted to just get your address and send them to you!! They are both commentated by highly respected scientists- all offering newly discovered GAPING holes in Evolution. The dvds aren't platforms for Creation- several of the scientists aren't even Christians... just people who have found proof in some sort of intelligent design. If you are interested- I'll send them to you.