Scientific evidence within a consistent Bible framework
Charles Darwin hesitated to publish his ideas on how new species of animals came to exist because he knew they would cause major controversy in the scientific and theological worlds of the 1850’s.1 He was right. And now, one hundred fifty years after publication of The Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection, the emotionally charged debate continues. Hundreds of books from all sides of the debate have been published in the last fifty years alone. Not all of these are worth reading. So where does the interested Christian reader who wants to be informed about the debate even begin? The resources I recommended in part one of this series should provide a good basic understanding of the issues.2 For those desiring a deeper understanding of the scientific failings of Darwinism, read the pivotal books, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis by molecular biologist Michael Denton3 and Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution by biochemist Michael Behe.4 These two seminal works have provided the foundation for the so-called “Intelligent Design” (ID) movement. Other books by William Dembski, Jonathan Wells, and Stephen Meyer are part of the same ID genre. ID proponents affirm that all we understand about the universe supports the existence of a Designer/Creator but do not identify who the Designer is. For the Christian, this position is ultimately unsatisfactory because it fails to take into account the self-revelation of God as the Creator, Sustainer, and Saviour found in the Bible.
While it is important to know and understand the scientific and philosophical criticisms of Darwinism, it must be appreciated that if, indeed, the fundamental molecules-to-man theory of evolution is false, this does not prove to the non-Christian that Christianity is true. But for those who by God’s grace have come to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is also important to understand scientific evidences within a consistent Biblical framework. Where does the serious Christian look for this type of information?
Many helpful resources can be found online from organizations like the Institution for Creation Research (ICR) or Answers in Genesis.5 ICR’s founder, engineer Henry M. Morris, believed that “the doctrine of creation is indeed the foundation of every other doctrine or precept of Christianity.”6 Historically, Morris is seen as the father of the creation science movement. The Creation Science Fellowship in Pittsburgh, PA provides basic, intermediate and advanced reading lists of recommended materials on their website.7 By far the best resource to help the reader choose appropriate level books is available free from the Creation Research Society in the form of their Resource Catalog.8 The catalog is divided into topical sections like biology, astronomy/physics, paleontology/anthropology, etc. Each section categorizes books as either popular or in-depth and gives a short synopsis of the content.
Not everything in print is worth reading, true. But a friend often comments that “the one who does not read has no advantage over the one who cannot read.”
1 Abigail Lustig, ed., Darwinian Heresies (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2004).
2 Michael G.?Windheuser, “Reader’s Guide to the Origins Debate (part 1),” Uplook Magazine, Jan/Feb 2009.
3 Michael Denton, Evolution: A Theory In Crisis (Chevy Chase, MD: Adler & Adler Publishing Inc., 1986).
4 Michael J. Behe, Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution (New York, NY: Touchstone, 1996).
5 www.ICR.org; www.AnswersinGenesis.org
6 Henry M. Morris, The Long War Against God: The History and Impact of the Creation/Evolution Conflict (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1989).
7 www.csfpittsburgh.org
8 www.CreationResearch.org and www.crsbooks.org