Objections to Evolutionism – Conclusion
13 September 2010
The five objections posted here sum up my primary reasons for disbelieving evolution, despite much evidence offered in its favor.
My difficulty in trying to understand these issues is in knowing whom to believe. Wells makes a strong case, using numerous examples, for doubting the credibility of evolutionist claims. Coyne and Dawkins, for their part, make the point that while scientists dispute many of the details surrounding evolution, they agree that the core evidence in favor of evolution is solid. But going back to Wells, it seems that some of the key cited evidence is not as solid as it would seem, but has been misrepresented, exaggerated or even falsified – leaving me wondering how much of the rest of the evidence for evolution is trustworthy. Then again, there are those who claim that Wells’ claims are utterly erroneous.
With the avalanche of material available, so much back-and-forth, so much you’re-wrong-no-you’re-wrong, so many biases seeming to underlie approaches and conclusions on both sides, this issue is an extremely difficult one to wade through.
In the face of such questions of knowing whom to trust, I must return to my Objection Number One, and choose to trust the God who has proved himself to me countless times. While I will continue to try to resolve the discrepancies I see among the various evidences and arguments offered, I will choose to first put my faith in the Lord.
I cannot ignore the fact, however, that much of the evidence offered by Coyne, Dawkins and others is not merely compatible with evolution, but does in fact seem to indicate that evolution is true. If creation is true, as I believe it is, then creationists must offer some explanation for this evidence, and show at the very least how it might be compatible with the biblical account of creation. This will be the subject of my next post.
Good Afternoon,
I have only just found your blog and I congratulate you on your honestity.
Four years ago, I was a staunch beliver in the literal interpretation of the Biblical account of creation. I had been so for as long as I can remember.
Over the past few years I have made the journey to accepting evolution and it wasn’t a smooth or easy journey. Many of the conversations I have had with evolutionsist have been unpleasant, and those conversations only hardened me against accepting evolution.
My conversion to accepting evolution as fact was a slow process and involved me critically examining what it was I accepted about a literal creation and what the theory of evolution has to say. There are many things I don’t understand about evolution, that is not a barrier to evolution being true. Just because I don’t understand it, does not make it false.
To cut a very long story short. I looked at the world around me and I weighed up the arguments and I listened to a long list of scientific podcasts. The net result was that I found the Creationist argument desperately wanting.
I have found this realisation quite liberating. Evolution is such a beautiful process to examine and investigate. Its not even a barrier to belief in God.
Just one more thing you may like to consider. Given Christians belive all things come from God and that the scientific process that is observeable all around us must also be from God. Surely if that scientific process points overwhelmingly to evolution; then surely evolution should be welcomed by Christians the world over. Which it is.