Abstract

In this study we will be discussing the evolution of theology in the perspective of Christianity. The main theme of this paper is to analyze the question, “Is natural selection random or is it guided by providence?” Finally the research describes various debates and controversies on the natural selection.

Table of Contents

Abstract1

Introduction3

Thesis Statement4

Evolution/Creation Controversy4

Theory of Evolution5

The Development of the Theory of Evolution5

The Theory of Evolution6

Contemporaneous Reception of This Theory6

Early Controversy and Darwin's Response7

Modern Reception of This Theory8

Creationism8

The Judeo-Christian Creation8

Contemporaneous and Modern Theological Interpretations of the Creation Story9

Old Earth Creationism10

Young Earth Creationism10

Creation Science11

Non-Creationist Beliefs in the Evolution/Creation Debate12

Theistic Evolution12

Evolutionary Naturalism12

Manifestations of the Evolution/Creation Debate in the United States13

Why Does the Evolution/Creation Controversy Continue?13

Misconception #1: Argument That “Evolution Is Only a Theory”14

Misconception #2: Science “Contradicts” Religion14

Misconception #3: Creationism Is as Scientifically Valid as Evolution15

Misconception #4: Scientists Think Evolutionary Theory Explains How Life Originated16

Does the Catholic Church Accept Evolution?16

The Truth about Theistic Evolution17

A God of evolution may not be the God we have in mind.17

Conclusion18

Work Cited20

Evolution and Christian Theology

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a very important issue related to the human's belief that is God and His creation. In the universe, all the things are assumed to be created by the God. Different people who belong to different religions believe in the God, however, their belief is different due to some differences in the religions. Even today we find people, Christian or not convinced that the theory of evolution is contrary to Christian thinking. Indeed, when a century ago took shape scientific theory of evolution, there was something that could create this conviction. Judging by our modern mentality, it seems, however, it has been a confrontation between the theory of evolution and the Christian world, but rather appear to have been a confrontation, sometimes hard, between certain ways of doing science and certain ways of doing theology (Van, 344). The theory of evolution considers the development of life on Earth as a gradual evolution of living species from primitive forms of a few million years to the enormously complex and rich structure of spontaneity and psyche of our time, including man.

Indeed, since then the data and discoveries of fossils of paleontology, even about how pre-human, led to an evolutionary development of living beings. Born in followed a sharp contrast to the traditional, derivative was thought, of the biblical description of creation, that is, that God created the various species one by one. Indeed, if also wanted to attribute it to the Biblical description certain scientific intuition, it did not turn away from an evolutionary concept. In Genesis it says that God commanded the waters and then to the land that would generate all kinds of plants and animals, and he came to man, God brought the clay form after blowing the breath of life and making his image. Therefore, in the face of today's mentality, the biblical description rather suggests an evolutionary view of creation (Smout, 12).

Despite this, the anti-evolutionists relied heavily on the Bible, and for these, the theory of evolution has had many disputes ...