By Juliette Cruz
Where we came from is always going to be a talking point. Right now there is two main ideas which are regularly floored in this debate. On one hand you have creationism and on the other evolution. Within these schools you have a number of opposing sub-viewpoints being debated, so it should be little surprise that is is hard to see creationism and evolution coexist.
Perhaps the most crucial factor is that one set of beliefs negates and contradicts the other. The creationist thinking goes that the universe and all things in it were created simultaneously by a supernatural being about 6000 years ago. At this point human beings were created as they look now, which is in the image of that creator. This creator is generally considered to be the God of Abrahamic religions.
Those who follow evolution believe life has developed over the course of billions of years through the process of natural selection. This idea, usually credited to Charles Darwin, is based it upon the perception of all life as producing more offspring then can survive and the offspring with certain character traits surviving ahead of others. There is much scientific evidence to suggest that this is, at least partially, accurate.
For this to be true, however, would mean the idea of a human being remaining in Gods image since the beginning of time is impossible. Also, as evolution puts the age of the earth at over 30 billion years, there can be no agreement on the date. So it would appear that one theory cannot live with the other.
Yet recently there has been a greater move for middle ground between the two ideas. Many scientists and religious philosophers are now conceding that there might be a legitimate viewpoint which houses both models of thought. Though this might seem contradictory, the voices behind it are growing.
Generally this concept stems from the idea of a supernatural being creating the earth but allowing the life upon it to develop over the course of evolution. The questions that this raises are just as many as those which it answers. For a religion to take up this stand point, for example, it means contradicting much of their earlier centuries held beliefs.
Steps taken into this area of coexistence generally require, therefore, some caution. Many creationists now accept that human and plant life develops on earth but does so due to the will of God. Similarly you will often hear creationist describe a belief in Darwinism as equally based on faith as a belief in God. Evolutionary theorists most certainly do not agree, but these arguments are evidence of the schism that exists between the current situation and any kind of compromise.
Considering the number of arguments and counter arguments at work here, the idea of a world where creationism and evolution coexist seems a strange one. Yet there may be some veracity in the compromise. What is certainly true is that a real truth will only be made by those who still welcome the debate.
Perhaps the most crucial factor is that one set of beliefs negates and contradicts the other. The creationist thinking goes that the universe and all things in it were created simultaneously by a supernatural being about 6000 years ago. At this point human beings were created as they look now, which is in the image of that creator. This creator is generally considered to be the God of Abrahamic religions.
Those who follow evolution believe life has developed over the course of billions of years through the process of natural selection. This idea, usually credited to Charles Darwin, is based it upon the perception of all life as producing more offspring then can survive and the offspring with certain character traits surviving ahead of others. There is much scientific evidence to suggest that this is, at least partially, accurate.
For this to be true, however, would mean the idea of a human being remaining in Gods image since the beginning of time is impossible. Also, as evolution puts the age of the earth at over 30 billion years, there can be no agreement on the date. So it would appear that one theory cannot live with the other.
Yet recently there has been a greater move for middle ground between the two ideas. Many scientists and religious philosophers are now conceding that there might be a legitimate viewpoint which houses both models of thought. Though this might seem contradictory, the voices behind it are growing.
Generally this concept stems from the idea of a supernatural being creating the earth but allowing the life upon it to develop over the course of evolution. The questions that this raises are just as many as those which it answers. For a religion to take up this stand point, for example, it means contradicting much of their earlier centuries held beliefs.
Steps taken into this area of coexistence generally require, therefore, some caution. Many creationists now accept that human and plant life develops on earth but does so due to the will of God. Similarly you will often hear creationist describe a belief in Darwinism as equally based on faith as a belief in God. Evolutionary theorists most certainly do not agree, but these arguments are evidence of the schism that exists between the current situation and any kind of compromise.
Considering the number of arguments and counter arguments at work here, the idea of a world where creationism and evolution coexist seems a strange one. Yet there may be some veracity in the compromise. What is certainly true is that a real truth will only be made by those who still welcome the debate.
About the Author:
To discover ways that creationism and evolution coexist in the world, take a look at website www.lifeandcreation.org. You will find reasoning using scripture, science, history, and common sense, when you come to http://www.lifeandcreation.org today.