In a 1991 poll which has been discussed at length in another thread, 40% of scientists made a statement that they believed in God and also in evolution.
As a result of this statement, I became confused as to what some scientists believed about evolution. I have been told by others on this forum that the scientists that believe in God and evolution completely accept the same theory of evolution as those who do not believe in God. This did not agree with the models of Theistic Evolution that I have heard in the past. That makes me wonder what these scientists consider God’s role to be in the formation of the physical universe, and the origin of life on earth.
As I consider the evidence that is presented on this forum, I believe it would be of significant help to understand how these scientists have reconciled their scientific objectiveness to their beliefs regarding the existence of a supernatural deity. I would like to put together a model of the present beliefs of scientists who believe in God in relation to origins and evolution. I think that this would help me and others in our attempt to reconcile the existence of God with science. As a result, I would like to begin by determining how these scientists that believe in God would answer the following questions ("their" always refers to the 40% of scientists who believe in evolution and also believe in God):
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Is it their belief that God existed before the origin of the universe?
What part does God play in their theory regarding the origin of the universe?
What part does God play in their theory regarding the origin of our solar system, and the planet earth?
What part does God play in their theory regarding the origin of life on the planet earth?
What part does God play in their theory regarding the origin of man on the planet earth?
Is it their belief that God has intervened in the evolutionary process at any time (dramatic changes, complex organs, etc.)?
Is it their belief that God has intervened in the development of man to introduce an eternal spiritual presence that does not exist in other organisms?
Is it their belief that the miracles recorded in the Bible that contradict the physical laws of nature are true including the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
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I think if we could find answers to these questions then it would give us a better idea of how those people who have been educated in the scientific field have reconciled their religious beliefs to science.
The question is how to proceed with this thread. Obviously the best evidence would be the personal beliefs of those scientists who fall in this category of believing in God and evolution. I think it would be impossible for someone who does not believe in God to answer these questions for those scientists.
Therefore, I think the starting point would be for someone who believes in evolution and God to come forward and answer the questions. Then we can move on from there and see if other scientists who believe in God agree or disagree with the model that is formed from those answers. Hopefully, we can form a model that the majority of these scientists agree upon.
Please be patient with my responses. My internet connection is on and off at its own discretion.
"There is one thing even more vital to science than intelligent methods; and that is, the sincere desire to find out the truth, whatever it may be." - Charles Sanders Pierce
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