home school evolution questions

Interesting discussion opener for a religious education class. Pity it was for a science class since it almost all seems to be about subjects other than science.AlanPS The idea that "evolutionists" wouldn't be care to address the Biblical passages rather presumptuous. I'm an evangelical christian, I believe the Bible to be the supreme authority on matters of faith and conduct. I also believe that the opening chapters of Genesis are not history (as we understand it) and definitely not science. I accept the theory of evolution as being the scientific truth.

truthlover, I'm sorry to have misunderstood your position. You seem to be in basically the same position regarding the subject as I am (as far as it is possible to judge such things through a couple of short texts on a forum such as this).I'd say you've got some good students there. Perhaps the answer to your question is to keep hold of the answers given each year, in a few years time you'd have quite a good collection. You can always come somewhere like this forum to discuss specific responses from your students.Alan

Zephan, I don't normally use my title - but I came here to find my name already taken by somebody expounding views as science that were a load of bunkum. It seemed appropriate at the time to use the title, and now I'm rather stuck with it. It is, however, as Karl has noted a title I have earned.To briefly answer your questions (not quite in the order you asked, but never mind)

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Perhaps your version of evolution is different from mainstream?

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No, my view of evolution would be the same as mainstream science. I believe science can produce the true materialistic picture of the world. I'm not an expert in biological systems and evolution, so I have to trust scientists in relevant fields to be as diligent in their research as I am in my field (and if they ever feel the need to know something about nuclear physics or radiation I hope they'd trust my expertise).

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Yet, if you are the random product of random mutations, what need there be of a God? Or what use would He be? Indeed, what does such a God do?

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What God is doing, in my opinion, is "sustaining all things by his powerful word". Though his hand is hidden from science, as science is concerned solely with the material not the spiritual, doesn't mean that he is absent or inactive.

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There is always the credible counterpart of theistic evolution to fall back on

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Well that depends on how define the nebulous phrase "theistic evolution". I don't believe that God intervened at intervals to push evolution in any particular direction if that's what you mean. Nor that he was directly responsible for every single random mutation (though if he was responsible they wouldn't actually be random, but I guess you know what I mean).I do believe that the way he has chosen to uphold the world has endued the universe with regularity we call the "laws of nature", reliable and steadfast are afterall hallmarks of the God of the Bible. I believe he has chosen to let the world operate with a certain amount of freedom (analogous to letting humans to have a certain amount of free will - not that I wish to imply there is any sort of consciousness, apart from God, in the structure of the material universe), and biological evolution is an example of the physical universe freely exploring possibilities.Alan

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To take this a bit further. Does the non-fundimentalist Christian church have a moral and/or theological obligation to take a stand against an aspect of theology (creationism), that they find destructive to their vision of Christian faith?

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I'm also inclined to say yes too. Creationism is often a symptom of a particular, very narrow, view of the Bible that if held consistently (and it almost has to be) would rob the Church of some true riches of non-literal literature, produce particular stands on moral or ethical issues that can be very harsh in their treatment of others, and perhaps worst of all creates an impression among those on the fringes of the faith (or beyond it entirely) that Christianity is only for those willing to turn their brains off.Alan

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I really like the wording of your comment that the natural world is "exploring its freedom," or however you put it. Just a neat thought.

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To be honest, it isn't my idea. The wording was mine, but derived more or less from somethings John Polkinghorne wrote.Alan(PS Alan is fine, as I mentioned earlier I don't normally use the 'Dr')

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I am almost certain that Richard Dawkins, in _The Blind Watchmaker_, says that the Coelecanth is almost unchanged over the last tens of millions of years

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I've just checked my copy of the Blind Watchmaker. This is what he says So, you were right in your recollectionAlan

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Instant creation is a great match for the altar call based, instant transformation mentality of most churches.

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That's something I've never thought of, but it has the ring of truth to it. Thanks for the interesting idea.Alan