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Theistic Evolution: an Incoherent and Inconsistent Worldview?

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Theistic Evolution: an Incoherent and Inconsistent Worldview? Answers Research Journal 5 (2012):99–114. www.answersingenesis.org/arj/v5/theistic-evolution-worldview.pdf Theistic Evolution: An Incoherent and Inconsistent Worldview? Callie Joubert, P.O. Box 515, Hyper by the Sea, Durban, South Africa 4025 Abstract In recent years there has been an explosion of literature in which theistic evolutionists describe, explain, and defend three beliefs at the core of their worldview. Firstly, God was/is working in and through the evolutionary process. Secondly, the evolutionary story of origins is not only scientific but also compatible with the biblical record of creation. And thirdly, they believe their worldview is entirely plausible, intellectually satisfying, and logically consistent. The aim of this paper is to defend the following thesis: Christians are caught up in theistic evolutionism without realizing that the worldview of theistic evolutionism is incoherent and inconsistent with the teachings of Scripture. I first provide some preliminary remarks about worldviews and the way to assess them. I then contrast the core characteristics of young-earth creationism and theistic evolutionism as they apply to a description and explanation of the kinds of entities that exist, their natures, their coming to be, the cause of evil in the world, and how it can be known. Along the way, I highlight various critical issues to consider and provide a critique of theistic evolution. Keywords: theistic evolutionism, young-earth creationism, worldview. Introduction evil in the world, and how it can be known. Along the In recent years there has been an explosion of way, I will highlight various critical issues to consider literature in which theistic evolutionists describe, and provide a critique of theistic evolutionism. But explain and defend three beliefs at the core of their before I proceed, it will be useful to clarify a few worldview. The first belief is that although life issues. originated from non-life and humans from ape- It is a misconception to think that the creation- like creatures (so-called hominids) through an evolution controversy is a “battle” between “science” evolutionary process over billions and millions of and “religion” as so often portrayed by theistic years, God was/is working in and through the process. evolutionists in their published works (see, for example, The second belief is that the evolutionary story of Collins 2007, pp. 4–6). Neither do Christians lack the origins is not only scientific but also compatible with ability to understand the evolutionary story of origins the biblical record of creation. And third, proponents and/or Scripture, which is also the implicit message of the theistic evolutionary-scientific picture of the of theistic evolutionists to proponents of young-earth world believe it is “entirely plausible, intellectually creationism. Dr. Francis Collins is a world-renowned satisfying, and logically consistent” (Collins 2007, geneticist and founder of The BioLogos Foundation, p. 208; cf. Alexander 2008, 2010; Berry 2007; Bishop and the former executive vice president of BioLogos, 2011; Enns 2005, 2010a, 2010b; Falk 2009; Giberson Dr. Karl Giberson is professor in physics at Eastern and Collins 2011; Lamoureux 2008, 2010a, 2010b, Nazarene College. According to them, “evolution, 2010c; Louis 2011; Pope 2007). properly understood, best describes God’s work of My aim is to defend the following thesis: Christians creation” (Giberson and Collins 2011, p. 251; cf. Pope are caught up in theistic evolutionism without 2007, p. 2). Thus, evolution, “the grand story of the realizing that the worldview of theistic evolutionism creative world that God brought into existence,” is incoherent and inconsistent with Scripture, thus constitutes what they refer to as “the BioLogos contrary to what they believe. In order to show that, worldview” (Giberson and Collins 2011, p. 37). I will first provide some preliminary remarks about It is not difficult to see that the “battle” between worldviews and the way to assess them. I will then young-earth creationism and theistic evolutionism contrast the core characteristics of young-earth is a controversy that involves the inerrancy and creationism and theistic evolutionism. Details will be authority of Scripture, and the nature and character fleshed out as they apply to a description, explanation, of the Creator. The evidence will show that proponents and an understanding of the kinds of entities that of theistic evolution should not be taken seriously exist, their natures, their coming to be, the cause of when they inform us that they are committed to the ISSN: 1937-9056 Copyright © 2012, 2016 Answers in Genesis, Inc. All content is owned by Answers in Genesis (“AiG”) unless otherwise indicated. AiG consents to unlimited copying and distribution of print copies of Answers Research Journal articles for non-commercial, non-sale purposes only, provided the following conditions are met: the author of the article is clearly identified; Answers in Genesis is acknowledged as the copyright owner; Answers Research Journal and its website, www.answersresearchjournal.org, are acknowledged as the publication source; and the integrity of the work is not compromised in any way. For website and other electronic distribution and publication, AiG consents to republication of article abstracts with direct links to the full papers on the ARJ website. All rights reserved. For more information write to: Answers in Genesis, PO Box 510, Hebron, KY 41048, Attn: Editor, Answers Research Journal. The views expressed are those of the writer(s) and not necessarily those of the Answers Research Journal Editor or of Answers in Genesis. 100 C. Joubert truth of Scripture. Further, the evidence suggests angel, a leaf), a quality (strong, being wise), quantity, that proponents of theistic evolutionism have strong relation, place (it is always good to ask where reasons to think they are panpsychists, if not something exists), time (it is always good to ask when pantheists. In a nutshell, the worldview of proponents something exists), action, event, state, posture, and of theistic evolutionism is weakened by many so on. In short, categories help us to identify things disqualifications, which undermine their arguments. in the world; they help us to make distinctions; they The areas of confusion are ontology (God and man), prevent us from confusing one thing with another etiology (creation and life), epistemology (science and thing, and they help us to judge things as they are in Scripture), ethics (the moral nature of man), and the themselves. In other words, in categorical thinking, cause of evil in the world. It is to these issues that I the issue is about how to understand reality and to now turn. keep things apart that should be kept apart. Here is an example from Scripture. Isaiah 5:20 Worldviews: A Comparison reads: Preliminary remarks Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; For the purposes of this paper, a “worldview” is Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; understood as “a comprehensive and integrated Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! understanding of reality in all of its aspects” (Crowe Not only does our Creator think in terms of 2009, p. 229). At the core of this understanding is a set categories, but distinctions between good and evil, of interrelated assumptions and beliefs in response light and darkness, and sweet and bitter are also to four interrelated questions. The assumptions and not made without a reason. That is how things are beliefs are united in such a way that it provides a in themselves. It should therefore be a good thing to coherent understanding of everything that is or exists. bear in mind when assessing various beliefs. But before we look at the questions, it is of critical Finally, a crucially important issue about the importance to keep four things in mind. assessment of worldviews is naturalness. Any First, a worldview must accurately accord with the postulated entity or entity believed to exist in entities within its range of description, explanation the world should be naturally at home with other and understanding. In different words, it must accord entities in a worldview. If, for example, the worldview well with reality. It is therefore important to know the postulates the existence of an immaterial God, mental implications of what will be the case if its descriptions, substances, properties (qualities or attributes) and explanations, and understanding are false. If, for relations, then it would be natural for that worldview example, a human being is only a material body/brain, if it bears a relevant similarity to other entities in what are the implications for our understanding of the worldview. If God is an agent, then it would be life after death? For if it is true then human beings reasonable to think that humans, who have been decompose and eventually disintegrate upon death. created in His image, would resemble naturally their This would make a belief in life in an intermediate Creator. Also, if God is a paradigm case of a person, state between death and a reunion with a resurrection then it would be reasonable to think that human body impossible to hold. Second, it is important to have persons resemble naturally their Creator, and not an adequate understanding of what a belief is. A belief some imaginary hominid (ape-like creature). With is, first of all, what a person accepts about reality, to this in mind we can now consider the core questions varying degrees of strength. And since a belief is of every worldview must provide answers to. or about things in the world, a belief is either true or 1. What is real? This is an ontological question false. Put differently, the mental content of a belief is about the kinds of things that exist, their natures, identical to a proposition or a number of propositions.
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