BEYOND THE “” VS. “CREATION” DEBATE Denis O. Lamoureux DDS PhD PhD St. Joseph’s College, University of Alberta THE PROBLEM The 3-Tier Universe

Dichotomy: Division of an issue into two simple positions Caused by ‘black-and-white’ & ‘either/or’ thinking Secular Humanism: that humans alone determine morals Conflation: Sloppy blending of distinct ideas into one simple idea

TOWARD A SOLUTION Flood Account Chiasm (Gen 6-9) A. Terms & Definitions

Teleology: Belief the world has plan & purpose Dysteleology: Belief the world has NO plan & purpose Creation Account Parallel Panels (Gen 1) Evolution: Scientific theory that natural processes over billions of years produced all living organisms, including humans Creation: Belief that the world is the product of the Creator B. -Religion Relationship

CONCLUSIONS ● Define the Terms & Concepts ● Recognize the Step of Faith from Science to Religion : Belief that the beauty, complexity, and ● Move Beyond the “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate functionality in nature point to an Intelligent Designer/s FALSE DICHOTOMY ● Consider the Two Books Model: C. Views on the Origin of the Universe & Life Book of God’s Works ➜ Nature ➜ Physical (Back of handout) Book of God’s Words ➜ The Bible ➜ Spiritual Views on the Origin of the Universe & Life

YOUNG EARTH CREATION PROGRESSIVE CREATION EVOLUTIONARY CREATION DEISTIC EVOLUTION DYSTELEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION "Creationist" Position Old Earth Creation God-of-the-Philosophers "Evolutionist” Position Day-Age Theory . "Theistic" Evolution Atheistic Evolution

Teleology Yes Yes Yes Yes No Plan & purpose a delusion

Intelligent Design Yes Yes Yes Yes No Points to a Designer Points to a Designer Points to a Designer Points to a Designer Design a delusion

Age of the Universe Young Old Old Old Old 6000 yrs 14 billion yrs 14 billion yrs 14 billion yrs 14 billion yrs

Evolution of Life Rejects macro-evolution Rejects macro-evolution Accepts macro-evolution Accepts macro-evolution Accepts macro-evolution Accepts micro-evolution Accepts micro-evolution

God's Activity Yes Yes Yes Yes No in the Origin Direct 1. Direct for basic “kinds” of life Indirect Indirect Irrational necessity of the Universe & Life Interventions over 6 days Interventions over billions of yrs Ordained & sustained Ordained natural processes & blind chance 2. Indirect for inanimate universe natural processes God never enters the world natural processes Ordained & sustained God a delusion natural processes

God's Activity Yes Yes Yes No No in the Lives Personal God Personal God Personal God Impersonal God No God of Men & Women Dramatic & subtle Dramatic & subtle Dramatic & subtle God never enters the world God a delusion

Nature of the Bible Word of God Word of God Word of God Human beliefs about God Human superstitions Inspired by Holy Spirit Inspired by Holy Spirit Inspired by Holy Spirit Rejects divine revelation Rejects divine revelation God never enters the world God a delusion

Interpretation Strict literalism General literalism 1. Spiritual Truths Irrelevant Irrelevant of Genesis 1-11 Creation days = 24 hrs Creation days = geologic ages 2. Ancient science origins myth origins myth Global flood Local flood 3. Ancient poetry

Origin of Humanity Adam & Eve Adam & Eve Humanity evolved Humanity evolved Humanity evolved Accepts Image of God Accepts Image of God Accepts Image of God Rejects Image of God Rejects Image of God & human sin & human sin & human sin & human sin & human sin

Theology/ Conservative Conservative Christianity Conservative Christianity Deism & Liberal Christianity Accepts Incarnation & Accepts Incarnation & Accepts Incarnation & Rejects Incarnation & Rejects Incarnation & Physical Resurrection Physical Resurrection Physical Resurrection Physical Resurrection Physical Resurrection

Ethics Biblical Biblical Biblical Secular Humanism Secular Humanism

Examples Institute for Creation Research: Reasons to Believe: Francis Collins Charles Darwin Henry Morris Hugh Ross Genome Project Answers in Genesis: Ken Ham [Intelligent Design Theory]

Bibliography Greg Easterbrook, "Science and God: A Warming Trend?" Science (15 Aug 97) 890-893. www.ualberta.ca/~dlamoure Ed Larson & Larry Witham, "Scientists Are Still Keeping the Faith" Nature (3 Apr 97) 435-436. Web Lectures: Variety of Sci-Rel audio-slide lectures with handouts, including this lecture. Pope John Paul II, "Evolution" Origins: CNS Documentary Service (5 Dec 96) 414-416. Book Chapter: “Ancient Science in the Bible” JP II, "Scripture & Science" Origins: CNS Documentary Service (15 Oct 81) 279-280. Papers: Evolutionary Creation, Religious Beliefs of Darwin, Was Adam a Real Person? David Frost, Billy Graham: Personal Thoughts of a Public Man (1997) 72-74. Denis O. Lamoureux, I Love Jesus & I Accept Evolution (2009) 170 pages. CHRTC 350: Science & Religion: An Introduction DOL, Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach to Evolution (2008) 500 pages. 24 hours of audio-slide lectures, 200 pages of class notes, 100 pages of class handouts. DOL, Four Views on the Historical Adam (2013). www.ualberta.ca/~dlamoure/350homepage.html